Jeff Healey - Heal My Soul
I can’t believe it’s been almost 8 years since we’ve lost Jeff Healey to cancer. In case you don’t know, Jeff Healey was a gifted Canadian blues/jazz singer songwriter that had a unique lap style guitar playing style.
In the late ‘90’s, Healey and his band took a few years off between albums and he wrote and recorded over 40 songs. Too many to put on an album, he shelved most of them.
Heal My Soul, released to coincide with what would have been his 50th birthday on March 25, 2016, brings many of these remastered unreleased songs to life once more. This is a fitting tribute to be sure.
When I first heard about this album of throwaway songs I was a bit apprehensive. Being a huge Healey fan I feared being disappointed. This fear dissipated after the first 10 seconds of the opening track, Daze Of The Night”. Apprehension was swiftly replaced with jaw dropping amazement.
When Healey’s wailing guitar kicks in there is nobody better. His highly recognizable original lap style playing creates a special sound that only Healey could make.
Throughout the album, Healey’s vocals moltenly meld in with the fiery guitar solos creating some of the most impressive songs of his career.
On” Mood Swing” Healey pushes to the high limits of his Strat and sings his heart out, brilliant.
I’m not usually a ballad fan but “Baby Blue” didn’t have to twist my arm to enjoy.
“Please” is a Cream flavored tune that is one of his best songs he has ever recorded. I don’t know how anyone can make a guitar sound like that! What?
All I can say about the song “Temptation” is it’s a blues masterpiece. Okay, I’ll say more about it, as you listen to this one loud, Healey’s blistering guitar solo will literally blow your mind. It’s been nice knowing ya.
While listening and devouring this album, I’m reminded that Healey left us way, way too early. He was one of Canada’s greatest talents to be sure.
I personally have Jeff Healey to thank for igniting and nurturing my love for jazz music to this day as I faithfully listened to his CBC radio program in the ‘90’s, My Kind Of Jazz. Healy had forgotten more about Jazz than most people ever knew. I remember listening to his radio show and he’d stop an obscure Jazz tune midstream just to comment on the bass guitar playing of an even more obscure bass player, unbelievably brilliant. I admired his love and passion for Jazz and envied his collection of thousands of 78’s of many a Jazz great.
Although Heal My Soul is a collection of B Sides and throwaways, in my opinion, this stands is his best album. I especially enjoyed the deep blues quality of the work and the lack of commercially releasable material was personally appealing. I can only hope that there are many more lost songs to be discovered. This one scores a perfect 10!
