Deborah Coleman is a double rarity in the male-dominated world of contemporary blues: she's a female lead singer who's not imitating the bellowing "blues mama" persona so familiar to the genre, and she's one hell of a lead guitar player. Featuring
Luther Allison's backing band,
Where Blue Begins is a smooth blend of
Coleman's furious fretwork and pussycat purr of a voice.
Coleman's slide shreds up "Goodbye Misery," while her buoyant licks carry the Texas blues of "Travelin' South." Even when her lyrics come close to cliché, like on "Beside Myself" and "Hain't It Funny," she saves the songs with some wicked playing and her
Joan Armatrading vocal stylings. This album proves
Coleman's not a novelty but a rare talent in a genre that desperately needs some new blood. ~ Todd Deery