Norton Buffalo and The Knockouts: King Of The Highway

Norton Buffalo is an accomplished harmonica virtuoso who has documented his fabled chops in both country and urban-blues settings. On his latest with The Knockouts, King of the Highway, the Bay Area blues harp ace wails in dynamic fashion on a set of originals, including the rocking “Let Me Be Your Man,” the funky title track, the haunting ballad “The Odds Are Against Us” and the N’awlins flavored “Hoodoo Roux.” Guitarist Steve Miller, with whom Buffalo has been playing for the past 25 years, guests on “Sweet Little Pumpkin,” and Elvin Bishop guests on the lazy shuffle “She’s Driving Me Crazy.” For sheer burn there’s the upbeat rocker “I’m Tore Down.” And Buffalo’s instrumental showcase, “Harmonica Mambo,” is bound to simultaneously inspire and intimidate aspiring blues harpists everywhere.

Originally Published January 1, 2001