Take four Northern California musicians with an obvious affinity for authentic American roots music, combine them with a stellar ability to sell a song, and you've got Tip of the Top's third terrific CD, "From Memphis to Greaseland." Producer and the group's outstanding bass player Frank DeRose and cohorts insist on getting to the true heart of their songs, 13 tracks that make this 55-minute recording a thrilling addition to their already impressive repertoire.

The four hip cats of TOTT [as they're referred to locally] have turned the greater Bay Area on its musical ear, bursting onto the scene just 3 years ago, and ringing with them a love for original-sounding music, and a superb feel for the '50s blues and roots music that inspires them. As much juke joint heroics as classic blues ("The Sportin' Life" and "One Way Out") with more than a little rock and roll (DeRose's "The Night Is Young").

Energetic harpist Akarsha "Aki" Kumar and guitarist "Little" Jonny Lawton take the lead vocals throughout, with a separate strength that combines into a powerful whole. They are both accomplished musicians and play off each other well, whether it be with several call-andresponses heard throughout the album, or in sheer ability. Recording the CD live in the studio helped maintain the intrinsic feel for the music the group abundantly displays.

Lawton jumps on his tunes with abandon, traversing a mean slide as well as showing his dexterity in single-note playing prowess. Kumar can take props for tackling Little Walter's instrumental "Rocker" with not only reverence for Jacobs' jumping composition, but a genuine feel for early Chicago Blues harmonica. His vocals are also wonderfully expressive, such on the groover, "She's Fine." Drummer Carlos Velasco holds down the beat with a very minimal kit and is just right for this band's sound.

Engineered by creative blues mastermind, and head honcho of Greaseland Studios in Campbell, California, Chris "Kid" Andersen, the CD just bursts out of the speakers good for bawlin', braggin', or boogieing. Bay Area pianist Sid Morris and guitarist Johnny "Cat" Soubrand, as well as Andersen, contribute instrumentation to several tracks. Seven of the cuts are originals and the other six are well chosen for the band's musical sensitivities. Charting all over the place as of this writing, the men have nowhere to go but national at this point, they're that good. (They were TGGBS' entry in The Blues Foundation's 2011 International Blues Challenge, where they reached the semifinals.)

The music is high class, as always, proving that you guys are one of the best traditional blues bands on the scene today. When you play the blues it does sound gooood.

What a welcome surprise of pure blues at the end of the year with all this other wall of noise crap that comes my way that other people call blues, but isn't.

Things get off to a rollicking start with Lawton's “I Ain't Worried” with Kumar blowing some wicked harp licks. They dig deep into Johnny Littlejohn's tale of a cheating woman on “She's Too Much” before switching to a hard shuffle on “My Baby's Gone (And I Feel Good)”, with Kumar once again supplying the musical fireworks. “The Night is Young” is a DeRose composition with a propulsive, train-like rhythm. Lawton contributes a sampling of his taut slide guitar playing, encouraged by guest Johnny “Cat” Soubrand on guitar. Kumar belts out a convincing vocal as another guest, Sid Morris, pounds away on the piano. Kid Andersen sits in on guitar for “She's Fine”, building a solo full of razor-sharp licks.

The band's laidback cover of “Fattening Frogs for Snakes” illustrates their feel for the blues tradition, as does their equally fine treatment of Brownie McGhee's “The Sportin' Life”. They create a smoky, late-at-night ambiance and Lawton's vocal conveys the resignation of a man who has learned too late the cost of a life of sin. “One Way Out” bristles with energy...

The two instrumentals are standout tracks. Using Little Walter's “Rocker”, Kumar plays his heart out, unleashing a series of dazzling runs that honor the legacy of the world's greatest blues harp player. Lawton's original, “Slidin' Home”, finds him firing on all cylinders as he does his interpretation of the classic Elmore James slide sound. He even adds a brief quote of the famous guitar riff from “Train Kept a Rollin'”.

You will be hard pressed to think of another band that performs in a traditional style while managing to make everything sound modern and exciting. It takes a serious commitment to the music. Give them a listen – I know that their stellar musicianship and spirited approach will win you over.

Tip of the Top is not just a cover band that you see at the bar every weekend going through the motions and calling it the Blues. These cats got the feel and groove that sets them apart from the aforementioned posers to the throne....(I Ain’t Worried) sets us up for what becomes a party on a disc.... (Rocker is) definitely one to get the feet moving...Nice harp work is an essential element here ...Tasty guitar work by Mr. Lawton adds to the classic feel... (One Way Out) comes up original and tasty as pie
.

"Outstanding Blues. I just received this CD recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. As the album liner says it's it's smokin' hot. I look forward to purchasing the others by this group that I don't already own."