Deb Ryder – Live and Havin’ Fun

After five studio albums, American singer Deb Ryder has recently released her first live CD, titled “Live And Havin’ Fun”. Recorded at The Mint in Los Angeles, this album marks a new chapter in her career. Deb Ryder grew up surrounded by music, thanks to her parents who owned a club in Chicago where artists like Canned Heat, the Eagles, Neil Young, Big Joe Turner, Taj Mahal, and Etta James performed. These musical influences are reflected in her vocal style, which is strongly influenced by Etta James.

After moving to California, where she worked as a backing vocalist and appeared in various TV commercials, she returned to blues with her husband Ric W. Ryder. Their first album, “Might Just Get Lucky”, was released in 2013. Since then, Deb Ryder has released five studio albums, and “Live And Havin’ Fun” is her first live album.

The album features twelve tracks, written by Deb and Ric, who also handled the production. The band accompanying them includes Johnny Lee Schell (guitar), Tony Braunagel (drums), and Tex Nakamura (harmonica), with contributions from British guitar legend Albert Lee on three tracks. The tracklist opens with “Fun Never Hurt No One”, a swinging number, followed by the blues track “Enjoy The Ride” and “Temporary Insanity”, the first track featuring Albert Lee.

The album offers a fine blend of blues and rock, providing an engaging live recording. Tracks like the partially French-sung “Ma Misere” and the funky “Get Ready” deserve special mention.

A minor critique is that the audience – given that it’s a live album – remains somewhat in the background, making the overall sound feel a bit restrained. A bit more presence from the audience might have enhanced the experience. Nevertheless, “Live And Havin’ Fun” is a solid album performed with enthusiasm. (7/10) (VizzTone Records)