On his first new album in four years (and first new U.S. release in seven years),
John Mayall reclaims the "
Bluesbreakers" name for the first time in 18 years to highlight a quintet featuring two lead guitarists,
Coco Montoya and
Walter Trout, along with a rhythm section of Bobby Haynes (bass), and
Joe Yuele (drums). The album was recorded in concert in Hungary in June 1985, and takes a fairly bluesy approach, with lots of space for the guitarists to shine, a format similar to that of
The Bluesbreakers lineups of 1965-1968. Sound quality is only fair, and this is not an inspired performance, but
Mayall has latched onto a cohesive unit here, and the results are encouraging for the future. ~ William Ruhlmann