Coco Montoya: Just Let Go

Lefty guitarist Coco Montoya, a former sideman to John Mayall and Albert Collins, conveys a rockier edge on Just Let Go (Blind Pig 5043; 57:49). An impassioned vocalist with a serious command of the instrument, Montoya combines a handful of originals with well-chosen, fairly obscure covers like Robert Ward’s “Fear No Evil” and Albert Collins’ “Do What You Want To Do.” The title track seems more geared toward mainstream pop fans than blues fans, but Coco scorches the fretboard on the shuffle “My Side Of The Fence” and the jazzy jump blues instrumental “Cool Like Dat.” He showcases his considerable slide guitar prowess on “Beginner At The Blues” and highlights a more lyrical touch on the lovely instrumental “Mothers And Daughters.” But if sensitive ain’t your bag, check out the funky “What’s Done Is Done” or the heavy-duty “Hard Love,” both of which are chockfull of vicious Albert King quotes.

Originally Published January 1, 1998