Born in Harlem in 1995, Solomon Hicks has been carving out an impressive niche as a leading exponent of the blues. Passionate about the past, yet open to introducing new ideas into a genre that occasionally runs the risk of sonic conservatism, How Did I Ever Get This Blue? Finds Hicks touring the realms of blues, jazz, soul, funk, and gospel, while throwing in comprehensively reworked covers of Adele and Bruno Mars along the way. While this last may seem a bridge too far for the purists, when Solomon brings his impressive bag of tricks to bear, it’s hard to imagine too many caring – there’s a panache to his approach that is truly irresistible.
Not that How Did I Ever Get This Blue? opens on a controversial note. A swinging cover of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s irrefutable gem, Further On Up The Road, finds Solomon in a jazzy mood, bringing a laid back, smoky vibe to the song that opens the album with class. With Tommy Mandel tickling the ivories, it eases the listener in, simultaneously showcasing the wonderfully warm production skills of Kirk Yano, and it’s hard to imagine any blues aficionado not falling for its charms. That slinky lounge vibe remains on Dimples, a rock ‘n’ roll / blues shuffle with a touch of Robert Cray to it, delivered with such joie de vivre that it’s impossible not to raise a smile.
Having established the mood, Solomon raises the temperature of the guitar work, adding a touch of grit to Driftin’ and Driftin’. Slow paced, but with a real bite to the riffs, it’s a dense piece, wreathed in smoke, kept in check by Les Warner’s languid drums, and possessed of a great vocal. The temperature continues to rise on Otis Rush’s All Your Love (I Miss Lovin’). With Joanna Connor’s grazing slide work and Tommy’s haunting keys, it’s the sound of a long walk home along wet city streets, with only the flickering fluorescent lights for company.
Next up, the light touch blues of Johnny Copeland’s Flyin’ High (Yesterday) has an airier feel than the darker pair of tracks that precede it. Played with a sparkle, it leavens the mood nicely before Solomon and his band wrap up the first side with the title track. Bookended with the sound of police sirens wailing and with John Nemeth adding a touch of harmonica, it’s a track that gains a certain poignancy given the current febrile atmosphere in America, and it’s delivered straight by the band as Solomon asks, “how did I ever get this blue?”
Following an impeccable first act, the second side positively explodes with I’m Burnin’ Up, which pairs programmed, hip-hop style drums with ZZ Top blues-rock attitude. It’s delivered with verve and, with its blistering solos, hair-raising slide runs, and taut groove, it feels like a long-lost gem from the late 80s.
Having once placed his foot on the gas, Solomon keeps it firmly pressed down for a surprisingly punchy take on Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man. Despite a deceptively chilled backing that nods to Clapton’s output in the mid-90s, the track boasts some of the album’s hardest-edged guitar work, the leads leaping out with enthralling vigour.
It’s followed by Solomon’s biting rendition of Adele’s Rumour Has It. A fiery take on the track, it offers no quarter, the whole band digging in as if their lives depend upon it. Built around a monstrous beat and driven by an opening solo that crackles with that same soul power that Prince used to bring to the party, it’s a revelation, uncovering hidden depths in the arrangement. Ignore any raised eyebrows as to who wrote it, it’s an absolutely thrilling ride.
With the record edging towards its conclusion, Feels Like Rain is a slow, soulful rumination that trades fireworks for thoughtfulness and, after all the pyrotechnics of the second half, it’s a welcome shift that places the emphasis on Solomon’s excellent vocals. It leaves the short, sharp boogie of Memphis Tennessee, to bring the curtain down and this the band do in style. A toe-tapping, whiskey-chasing finale, it finds Solomon heading out in search of a good time, footloose and fancy free, and he takes the audience right along with him.
With How Did I Ever Get This Blue, Solomon Hicks has once again demonstrated both his mastery of his craft and his knack for picking a great tune – regardless of genre. With eleven tracks spread over just forty-five minutes, it’s a ruthlessly pared back album and every moment sparkles. While January might seem early to start calling albums of the year, it’s genuinely hard to believe that Solomon Hicks won’t be riding high at the end of the year – How Did I Ever Get This Blue is simply exceptional on every level. 10/10
