Boogie Disease

Produced by ace guitarist Kid Ramos who also played on four tracks. Then there's the topnotch material: two blues from the band, a Ramos instrumental called "Johnny Cochino," and lively, surprising interpretations of classics credited to the late, lamented west coast harmonica wizards Lester Butler and William Clarke and to past Chicago titans Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf. Johnny Main grounds his outstanding singing and guitar playing in real experience-his talent's as honest as the day is long. Tex Nakamura has forged his own stirring voice from studying Little Walter and other legendary harmonica mentors. Bassist Mike Turturro and drummer J. R. Lozano are as solid a team as any you'll hear, calibrating rhythmic flow with alertness and intelligence, never calling undue attention to themselves. For their one-of-a-kind blues, the 44's successfully mine the tension between the turbocharged passion of modern musicians and the thrilling allure of the rich blues history they love so much.