This CD absolutely blows me out of the water! I find it fascinating how many so-called new age pianists got their start by composing boogie woogie piano as kids. David Lanz and Spencer Brewer both immediately come to mind, but neither has recorded much in this style, although they will occasionally play it in concert. Sandy Owen did the music world a huge favor by committing some incredibly good songs in Boogie Woogie and Rhythm and Blues styles to tape and CD! This is good-time music through and through, and pure joy comes through the speakers, causing a reaction of toe-tapping and head-bobbing no matter where it hits. I discovered Sandy Owen earlier this year when his amazing double CD “One Late Hour With a Steinway” was sent to me for review. I knew I had found a new favorite artist, and I can’t wait to get into the rest of his collection! Back to Boogie Woogie Rhythm and Blues! Owen is joined by Paul Carman on alto sax, brother Ted Owen on percussion, and Steve Crum on trumpet and fluegelhorn - and what musical magic they make together! If this CD doesn’t quicken your pulse a little, you probably don’t have one! This is music to stir the soul, raise the spirits, and make you grin from ear to ear. Consummate musicians, they make it sound so effortless and spontaneous. I really don’t have favorite track on this CD - they are all so good. Owen’s solo pieces (“Beanface Boogie”, “Balboa Boogie”, and “Boogie D. Lux”) demonstrate his remarkable chops and show how colorful solo piano can be. The ensemble work soars and swoops on the upbeat pieces and slinks around on the bluesy stuff. The CD is sixteen years old as I write this, but the music is timeless. It just doesn’t get any better than this, and if I could rate it ten out of five stars, I surely would. Grab it if you can find it! It is available from sandyowen.com (samples of seven of the nine tracks are posted at Sandy’s site, as well) and used at amazon.com.