December 2000

Rusty Zinn
The Chill
Alligator Records

By Bill Milkowski

Zinn, a former sideman to singer-harpist Kim Wilson, is an impressive plectrist with a penchant for old-school tones. His vocal chops, though pleasant enough, are not nearly as authoritative as his guitar chops. Still, he generates plenty of energy on originals like the revved-up "She's Got Style" and the shuffling "The Big Eye," both co-written by Rick Estrin of Little Charlie & The Nightcats. And he changes up the mood on the soul ballad "Ladies Choice" and the minor-key lament "Dying on the Vine." A serviceable though hardly essential outing.