Fanning the Flames

by Thom OwensFanning the Flames is an erratic but impressive set from Tinsley Ellis. While his basic sound is indebted to Stevie Ray Vaughan, the guitarist borrows from every other major blues artist. Furthermore, he has a tendency to overplay his licks, giving the album a feeling of unfocused fury. That sound can be overwhelming, though; his technique is impressive, even if he doesn't know when to reign it in. As a consequence, Fanning the Flames may not be of interest to general listeners, but for guitar fans, there's plenty of music here to treasure.