Several years back, I reviewed an excellent release from the Washington, DC blues/R&B band Vintage #18 that was fronted by this superb blues singer named Robbin Kapsalis, whose enthralling vocals really carried the day.

Flash forward about eight years, and I'm listening to a release from Ms. Kapsalis herself, The Blues Is In The House (Blues House Productions) that finds the south side Chicagoan joined by harmonica ace Giles Robson, who produced this marvelous 10-song set recorded in France.

Supporting Kapsalis, in addition to Robson on harp, are Francois Nicolleau (guitar), Nicolas Deshayes (guitar), Arnaud Gobin (bass), and Cyril Durand (drums), with Arnaud Fradin playing dobro on one track and the late, great Joe Louis Walker contributing guitar on the energetic title track, which opens the disc.

The opening cut is one  of two tracks written by Terry Abrahamson and Derrick Purcell. Robson is right at home on the funky cover of “Up The Line,” a Little Walter/Willie Dixon tune, contributing an excellent harp solo.

Kapsalis turns in a sultry performance on “Lead Me On,” the Bobby “Blue” Bland hit, which also features crisp guitar work from Nicolleau and Deshayes. “The Comeback” was written and recorded by Memphis Slim back in the early '50s, with Kapsalis delivering another smooth performance as Robson adds harmonica

The Mississippi Sheiks' classic, “Sittin' On The Top Of The World,” gets a gritty, down-home treatment, as does “Rollin' & Tumblin',” with the band adding a funky twist to the original.

“Love Hangover (Redux)” is a re-treatment of a Vintage #18 slow walking blues tune, one of the highlights, from their 2017 release, Grit. Kapsalis gives a spicy reading of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' “I Wanna Know.”

She then rocks the house down with a strong cover of Slim Harpo's “Shake Your Hips,” before closing with the second Abrahamson/Purcell song, “Gotta Hear The Blues,” a stripped-down deep blues track that adds Fradin''s dobro to Kapsalis' smoky alto and Robson's haunting harp playing.

It's great to hear Robbin Kapsalis' voice again after too long an absence. Even though The Blues Is In The House consists of cover tunes, she brings a freshness to all of them, making them sound like new, with interesting and original arrangements and, of course, her powerful vocals. Blues and soul fans will enjoy this fine release.

--- Graham Clarke