Joanna Connor’s album “Live On 11/11” perfectly captures the essence of a raw, high-energy night of blues, even if the result might not thrill every listener.

Recorded live, the recording is an indisputable proof of her guitar virtuosity and her trademark slide mastery, widely showing the reason why she remains a respected figure in the Chicago scene. Her backing band sounds tight and incredibly solid, providing a flawless rhythmic basis that makes Connor deliver a good dose of intense, fiery solos. Tracks where she develops a powerful performance like “Cissy Strut”, “The Sky Is Crying” or “Magic Sam Boogie”, showcase her absolute dedication on stage, communicating a highly genuine and straightforward nightclub atmosphere.

However, despite the unquestionable technical quality and the amazing force of her delivery, the album exudes a certain lack of freshness or truly memorable moments that would raise it over other live records of the genre. At times, the solos and rhythmic transitions can be felt as somewhat predictable or monotonous if listened to in one single sitting, causing the experience to shift from vibrant to merely good. Production serves its purpose by capturing all the rawness of the moment, but it fails to mask a musical approach that takes few creative risks.

This is a notable and highly respectable work that electric blues fans will easily enjoy, but that unlikely will leave a deep mark or become a reference album in anyone’s collection.