March 2000

Beverly "Guitar" Watkins
Back In Business
Music Maker

By Bill Milkowski

On the raw, hard-stompin' side is Beverly "Guitar" Watkins with Back in Business (Music Maker/Cello 00007-2; 47:48 ). Closer in spirit to the rough-housin' West Side Chicago sound of Magic Slim or Lefty Dizz than the more sophisticated blues of T-Bone Walker, Ms. Watkins kicks up a storm on "Miz Dr. Feelgood," "Right String But the Wrong Yo-Yo" and "Red Mama Blues," then gets all the way funky on "Impeach Me Baby" (which includes a salacious reference to "Clinton and Monicagate"). Her stinging guitar tone and sly vocal delivery make a dynamic one-two punch-and she scores more than a few knockouts here.