Last night, I was reading Living Blues magazine and there it was - an ad for "Alone With The Blues" by Paul Oscher on Electro-Fi. I quickly ordered the cd ... and what a joy it is.

Opening up with "Walkin'", a mid-tempo instrumental, the chromatic harmonica sounds like a complete horn section. The vocals have a beautiful, down home feel. You don't get the overblowing of notes and histrionic vocals of many of his contemporaries. Oscher leaves space, going for the "less is more" approach. Dig the lonesome sound of "Standing At The Crossroads".

At times, "Alone With The Blues" sounds as if he's backed by a full band. But it's only Mr. Oscher, alone, with echoes of Big Walter, Cotton - intertwined with Oscher's own original style. Pay attention to the standout slide-and-vocal on "Blues and Trouble" that is just riveting.

Paul Oscher is a multi-instrumentalist who brings a gut-bucket-in-the-alley sound to every song on this CD. Harp players will find so many different positions utilizied by Oscher - and won't be disappointed.

So get this CD, turn down the lights, and dig: because this is THE REAL DEAL.