Title: Light of Day
Artist: Vince Agwada
Label: Rocketnoodle Music/dist. CD Baby
Formats: CD, Digital
Release date: July 15, 2019

Blues singer/guitarist Vince Agwada got his start in music playing in bars like the historic Checkerboard Lounge on the South Side of Chicago, backing artists such as Buddy Guy, Magic Slim, Otis Rush and John Primer. After spending over two decades on the road, touring with the likes of Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, and Son Seals, he decided to take some time off for his own projects. Agwada’s self-produced debut album, “Eyes of the City,” was released in 2008, followed by Basic Blue in 2011. Now, after an eight year hiatus, Agwada has returned with a new album, Light of Day, featuring 16 original songs spanning the genres of jazz, rock, funk and blues.

Highlights include “Awakening,” a beautiful intro full of timpani and suspended symbols along with sultry guitar lines and soft chords, which segues into “Blue Moon Call,” a blues ballad that gradually builds in intensity from soulful to rock heavy guitar solos. In another unusual twist for a blues album, “Friend” adds a live string section while Agwada sings about mourning the loss of a close friend. Light of Day is truly a very a heartfelt and innovative album full of real life stories and driving blues rock ballads for the soul!

Reviewed by Bobby E. Davis Jr.