At the same time he was participating in the International Blues Challenge, singer, keyboard player and songwriter Ed Alstrom released a new album. Ed is an experienced musician who, besides to play blues, has excelled as a church organist and gospel choir director, also leading a mandolin orchestra, working as a DJ on the radio and getting numerous awards. He has also collaborated with such great artists as Bette Midler, Chuck Berry, Leonard Bernstein, Herbie Hancock, Odetta, Dion, Steely Dan. Hubert Sumlin, John Sebastian or Blood Swett & Tears among many others.

Alstrom’s impressive technique at the keyboards can be felt in this album where, besides composing seventeen of the eighteen songs, he also sings and is on Hammond, Farfisa, pipe organ, piano, Fender Rhodes, clavinet, synthesizers, guitars, bass, mandolin, alto sax, accordion, theremin and percussion. He has surrounded himself with other outstanding musicians like Robbert Hill on guitar, Rob Paparozzi on harmonica, Jerry Vivino on tenor and baritone sax, Don Guinta, Frank Pagano and Dennis Diken on drums, Maxine Alstrom on acoustic piano in one track and Ula Hedwig on backing vocals and arrangements.

If the recorded music is important, ranging from blues to jazz, ballads, New Orleans rhythms or the darkest rock, the lyrics are very interesting too, and describe deep suffering, melancholy, lost romances, but also optimism, joyful moments, freedom and even his complaints about the problems of music business.

An album that serves to know the concerns and the good work of this more than interesting musician called Ed Alstrom.