Chris Perry

On his seventh album for Shanachie, singer and songwriter Phil Perry and longtime producer Chris Davis lay out a set of excellent covers, originals, and a throwback surprise. Highlights include the glistening groove in the opening title track, wherein Perry offers the set's statement of purpose – in some way, virtually each of these ten tracks zones in on what it takes to become a better man – in spirit, in thought, in relationships, etc.

On stage, Perry earned a reputation as a mesmerizing performer who plays with passion and excitement. Perry's rousing, crowd-pleasing performance at the Bishopstock Blues Festival in England in 1999 sparked the interest of Blind Pig Records and eventually led to a recording contract. The first album for Blind Pig, Fire It Up, was co-produced by Jimmy Vivino of "The Conan O'Brien Show" and released in 2001. His next CD for Blind Pig, Crazy Kind Of Life, was released in October 2002. Perry and co-producer Vivino wrote all the songs, with the exception of the Rolling Stones chestnut "No Expectations," on which special guest Richie Havens interprets one of the best blues tunes ever to come out of the rock idiom. Billboard called it, "An exceptional outing for guitarist/vocalist Bill Perry. He has definitely hit his stride as a solo artist."

The Gift of Love pairs R&B legend and Tony Award-winning actress Melba Moore with veteran R&B star Phil Perry. Co-produced by Chris "Big Dog" Davis, Preston Glass, David Nathan, and Dwayne Palmer and released on Shanachie, the set contains 11 upbeat, uplifting, and inspirational songs that run the gamut from contemporary gospel to adult contemporary. These duets are structured in an old-school soul style, but the sonic presentation is up to the minute for radio…

On his fourth outing for Blind Pig Records, Bill Perry takes his own brand of modern electric blues and turbocharges it. Perry's songwriting has been developing consistently from the 1990s during his tenure with Virgin's Point Blank label. And while it's true most blues fans only care about that fiery guitar playing of his, the real depth of his writing was revealed on the Blind Pig releases Crazy Kind of Life and Raw Deal. Here, combining tight, tough hooks on tunes like "My Baby Loves to Dance," and the National Steel-driven "I Don't Know Nothin' Bout Love" and "Waitin' for My Luck to Change," actually fall in line with a lyric sensibility that's clever and humorous.