When singer and multi-instrumentalist Winwood started a solo career in 1977, he was already an 'unsung hero' of the British music world. He has been with the Spencer Davis Group since the mid-1960s, followed by Blind Faith and Traffic. He also remained a much sought-after session musician. In the meantime he seems to release solo albums when he feels like it. Nine Lives is the follow-up to About
… Time from 2003. It opens with the standard blues I'm Not Drowning, but fortunately this is just an outsider in the relaxed and soulful music that follows. Winwood is gifted with a warm, slightly gritty voice (which Paul Weller in particular has listened to well) and has surrounded himself with a group of smoothly playing musicians. Like old Blind Faith buddy Eric Clapton who cuts through the song Dirty City with a number of typical slowhand guitar licks and thus emphasizes the unpretentious playing pleasure that Nine Lives radiates. (MR)more
