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 John Valenteyn Toronto Blues Society
Beyond Words
Vancouver-based bluesman Wes Mackey hascaptured that Jimmy Reed sound here, making for a most satisfying listen.... he has found his sound.I wholeheartedly agree.
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 Blues Revue's Online Magazine
..This new album, Mr. Blues, is a languid, electric Blues sound. The playing is slick and clean .... this is a super-smooth and very groovin' album a very good gift to a budding Blues fan that's looking for something they'll nestle into right away as well as a complement to the collection of an already developed Blues ear.
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 Toronto Blues Society's #6 Top Pick March 2003
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Reviews for Beyond Words
Beyond Words Vancouver-based bluesman Wes Mackey has captured that Jimmy Reed
sound here, making for a most satisfying listen. If you're looking for an example of the ‘less is more’ school of playing,look no further. Mackey has enlisted some of BC’s finest to help out: Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne on keyboards, Chris Norquist on drums & David“Hurricane” Hoerl on harmonica, among others,to go along with his guitar & bass pedals. From the opening “Blues Shack”, you'll be caught up in that relaxed groove. And on “Prisoner”, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the new formulations of what could have been a song full of cliche's. “Rock Creek” is as uttermost as this CD gets, a delightful toe tapper about a party town.“Beyond Words” adds something a little different,with some wordless vocalizing by Mackey & Sandy Scofield, it adds a most effective First Nations aura. Several of the songs approach the relationship wars from a less confrontational perspective than do many others, making the disc even more attractive.“Lines”is a tour de force, a strong lyric about the lines of his face and the life experience that caused them set to a lovely soul melody. Almost as ambitious is the closer, “Full Moon in Lamanon”, the story of getting to a gig in the south of France. You can read all about it a www.wesmackay.com, which reprints life story, translated from Soul Bag magazine. He says in that story that he has found his sound. I wholeheartedly agree.
John Valenteyn Toronto Blues Society
Thanks again for the CD (BEYOND WORDS)
I like it a lot, and I've been playing it. I know it's a long way off, but don't forget to submit it to the Juno folks next year!
Paul Norton
www.paulnorton.ca
CFRO 102.7 One O'Clock Jump
CiTR 101.9 Code Blue
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Reviews for Mr. Blues
5 Bottles for a CD that does much to gain Wes Mackey
accolades, an audience and heaping respect.
After all, we know what Real Blues should sound like, right?
 Real Blues Magazine Andy Griggs
John Valenteyn Toronto Blues Society
Wes Mackey's second album is an extremely satisfying CD
.... a highly recommended CD
 Mr. Blues is "..a reminder that the blues is not about
being down on yourself; it’s about using the music to lift
your spirit and celebrate ..it’s an early runner for 2006’s
top ten lists of Canadian blues releases.
See Magazine Edmonton
..I have to say though that despite the overall excellent quality of this CD, the closing `In My Neighborhood', an affectionate and vivid portrayal penned by executive producer Laura Fisher and interpreted wonderfully by Wes, makes me hope for more originals next time around. Wes Mackey should be far better known than he is. He may not fit neatly into any of the 'contemporary blues'pigeonholes but so what? He knows what it is all about,no doubt about it.
Blues and Rhythm Magazine
Great Britain
Norman Darwen
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Reviews for Second Chance
I want to thank you for one of the best CD's I have
had the pleasure to broadcast. Pick a track cause they are all
from the heart by a real bluesman man.Damn few left but Wes is one of the few.
You can count on BluesFlight here at 88.9 kjlu fm in
Jefferson City Missouri to be spinning your disc
for a long time comin' Thankyou"
Mark T. Smith kjlu wrote:
..On the strength of this CD he certainly deserves his second chance
...and I am looking forward to future CD's
John Valentyn of TBS Maple Blues Magazine...
Wes can sing a song...(and )....plays his Gibsons
guitar with the expertise of a man that knows his blues.
A fine CD"
Roots Music Report....
Jean Claude Mondo
Ce titre clôture, par ailleurs, cet album d’excellente facture…
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