MIKE ZITO Source: Blues Bytes Magazine Date: 10/2009 Writer: n/a

St. Louis native Mike Zito was first enthralled by the guitar of Eddie Van Halen, but eventually fell under the spell of guitarists like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Jimi Hendrix, who mixed their rock guitar with a healthy dose of the blues.  He has released four independent projects, plus his Eclecto Groove Records debut, Today, which garnered a lot of attention in 2008. 

His second release for the label, Pearl River, is a hard rocking tribute to the sounds of Mississippi blues and Louisiana soul and funk that follow that meandering river along its course from Far East Mississippi down through the eastern Louisiana swamps and bayous emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

Produced by David Z (Prince, Buddy Guy) and Eclecto Groove CEO Randy Chortkoff (who also plays harmonica on the disc), Pearl River features an impressive crew of guest stars, ranging from familiar Crescent City names like Cyril Neville (who co-wrote the socially conscious title track and provides vocals) and Anders Osborne (who supplies acoustic guitar and co-lead vocals on his own “One Step at a Time”), and young drummer Eric Boliver, whose standout time-keeping is the secret weapon on this disc.  Singer/songwriter and one-time child star (and Mississippi native) Susan Cowsill joins Zito on vocals for “Shoes Blues.”

Zito wrote or co-wrote nine of the thirteen tracks on Pearl River, and they show his wide range of influences.  Highlights include the raucous opening track, “Dirty Blonde,” the eerie “Dead of Night” (which features spooky accordion from Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone), the swaggering “Natural Born Lover,” “Big Mouth,” a funky rocker, and “C’mon Baby,” a solid slice of New Orleans R&B. 

Zito shows impeccable taste in his choice of covers, including “Eyesight To The Blind,” featuring Chortkoff’s harmonica), “All Last Night,” which showcases another harp player, Lynwood Slim, and “Sugar Sweet,” which is recreated as a loose-limbed funk workout.

Zito’s guitar work is first-rate, and his raspy vocals are perfectly suited for the material.  In addition to Boliver on drums, the rock-solid backing band includes bass player Lonnie “Popcorn” Trevino, Jr. and former SRV keyboardist Reese Wynans.  Pearl River will certainly please blues/rockers, but its charms go so far beyond that niche that fans of the New Orleans music scene and blues lovers alike will want to pick this one up as well.