The long established musical relationship between guitarists
Dave Specter and
Steve Freund goes back nearly 20 years, when
Specter sought out
Freund as a guitar teacher. They have shared many stages, but this marks the first occasion that they have recorded together. In the best of the Chicago blues tradition as illustrated by the legendary Delmark label,
Is What It Is is a loose, swinging, tough blues date filled with great tunes, inspired playing and loose-groove vibes. While
Specter has become well-known for his jazzy blues playing, his former teacher
Freund has stayed close to the roots of the Chicago sound. That contrast works beautifully here on both covers and originals.
Freund's tunes are some of the bets on the set as evidenced by the opener "My Little Playhouse." One of the reasons for this is his deep, clear soulful singing which adds punch and nuance to the dueling guitars
Specter brings classy elegance to the set in his instrumentals, like the title track that carries a deeply Southern-fried funk to the more urban Chicago sound and the shuffling gutbucket stroll of "Riverside Ride," where the two players wind around and through one another exuberantly. Other highlights include a beautiful reading of
Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," with guitar interplay that is every bit as symbiotic and sensual as
the Rolling Stones' "Beast of Burden." Elsewhere, an instrumental version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" adds colorful textures between the inventive rhythm performance by
Freund and
Specter's careful yet innovative play on the melody. The stomping slow blues in
Freund's "Hovering Hawk" is raw, raucous and tough. Again his voice pushes the guitars into the pocket and keeps them there. The stinging, hip-shaking read of
Peter Green's "Rollin' Man," and a graceful "Albatross" are wonderful surprises, as is the gorgeous version of
Otis Spann's "She Needs Some Loving," that closes the set and caps a banner date. ~ Thom Jurek