I often shy away from albums when I hear them described as blues/rock, usually not my preferred branch of this far-reaching blues tree. But I really enjoyed Open Road (Stony Plain), the latest album by Canadian blues guitarist Colin James. There's a real diversity of sounds here, making this a very listenable set of 13 tunes. The media release proclaims that James moves more into the Americana and roots influences, and I agree with that statement.

The opening cut, a Tony Joe White cover, "As The Crow Flies," features James playing tasteful acoustic guitar in the intro to this 12-bar blues that later includes a stinging electric guitar solo. The acoustic guitar comes back in at times, resonating to almost sound like a banjo. James is a decent singer, not having a lot of power to his voice, but he's good enough. That leads into a strong soulful blues shuffle, "Can't You See What You're Doing To Me," done originally by Albert King.

James really shows off his guitar skills on the Magic Sam-penned slow blues, "That's Why I'm Crying," mixing in both blues and jazz licks to his solos. I like his vocals here as he pumps in the requisite emotion. Very nice. The title cut, the mid-tempo blues, "Open Road," has James playing slide on the acoustic guitar, making it sound almost like a dobro, while also trekking into the blues/rock vein with a heavy guitar solo.

James then takes us to Texas with the mid-tempo blues shuffle, "Change It," written by Austin legend Doyle Bramhall. This song was done by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble on their Soul to Soul album, and James represents well with a strong cover. "Raging River" is a slow number that James co-wrote with Colin Linden, the latter making a guest appearance with tasteful acoustic slide guitar notes. This one is more country than it is blues, but still a nice song to listen to.

James picks up the tempo on the blues mover, "Leave This House," one that he wrote in conjunction with Tom Wilson. Jesse O'Brien guests on piano, and I hear a lot of the early Fabulous Thunderbirds sound. Fellow Canadian bluesman Steve Marriner shows up on harmonica on the up-tempo Otis Rush blues shuffle, "It Takes Time," with James laying down a strong blues guitar solo. This is one of the highlights of the album, thanks in part to Marriner's appearance as well as the fact that anything from the Otis Rush catalog should be cherished.

Another James/Linden collaboration comes up next in a very solid slow blues, "There's A Fire," as James sings to his woman that the fire is burning in their hearts and they need to respond to that heat. Simon Kendall's organ accompaniment stands out here.