Michael Messer & Ed Genis
Ed Genis - Rhythm guitar and backing vocals
Time Out, London.
Michael Messer and Ed Genis first started playing music together in 1983. Since then they have worked on many albums together and toured extensively throughout the world, playing at numerous festivals, theatres, clubs, radio & TV shows. Firmly rooted in Mississippi delta & Chicago blues, this duo explores many different areas of roots and world musical styles. These days Michael Messer & Ed Genis concerts feature a range of material developed over many years of playing music together. The pair have an intuitive rapport with each other on stage. Their show is a relaxed unplugged kind of performance that includes songs from all Michael Messer's albums. "Michael is one of the world's finest slide guitar players and his slick sound is really enhanced by Ed's dexterous mastery of the rhythm guitar".
Michael Messer is a musician with a reputation as the foremost exponent of bottleneck blues in the UK, and on this performance, that reputation was totally merited. In Ed Genis he has a more than able second guitar player, whose versatility as a support was superior to some lead players. This was an excellent performance by two musicians at the top of their game.
Bill Smith, Blues In Britain
"Established now in the British blues conscience as a result of the widely acclaimed 'King Guitar' and recently released 'Second Mind'. His slide work was both deft and stunning. The set started with Drivin' Wheel Blues, with its roots firmly attached to Blind Willie Johnson. The audience sat in rapt silence hanging on to every chord whilst classics such as Rollin' & Tumblin and Walkin' Blues followed by one of the best versions I have heard of Diving Duck since Taj Mahal. The set closed with a driving rendition of Write Me a Few Short Lines. The second set could not have started better with the Messer/Clarke title Robert Johnson's Wake, with its haunting, swampy feel, which transported you back to the delta. Locomotive Skin from the new album was both poignant and hypnotic, together with the haunting Crow Blues are a clear indication of Michael and co-writer Terry Clarke's writing skills and you are left to consider when the song may have been composed. The evening closed with a rendition of the Furry Lewis classic Right Hand Road AKA Going to Brownsville, played with passion and panache. We were treated to an encore with Tail Feather Blues, which combined a smooth smooch with shades of Green Onions. The audience were on their feet roaring their approval".
Tony Pugh, Mojo
Michael Messer & Ed Genis by Alan Messer ©1999
Michael Messer & Ed Genis by Mark Ringwood ©2014
Michael Messer & Ed Genis by Alan Messer ©1988
Michael Messer & Ed Genis by Alan Messer ©1988