A Sample of some of the critical acclaim that Drew Nelson has recieved:

"...rock steady blues whether it's the hardcore Hawk My Ring, the sad and lonely Razor Blade, or the leering Wee Wee Baby."
-- Norman Provencher, The Ottawa Citizen
"One of Canada's premiere blues artists! "
-- Holger Petersen: CBC Saturday Night Blues
"One of the hottest Blues Bands in the country"
-- The Edmonton Journal
".... half this CD is very solid blues and the rest blues-based. It opens with a killer version of Jimmy Rogers' "Ludella", and later a fine original in Razor Blade"
-- Maple Blues Magazine, Toronto Blues Society
"As a veteran of the ottawa music scene, an ottawa rock'n roll and juno award winner, Drew Nelson has, over the years, performed with many great local and international musicians...... Whether Drew tackles a lowdown blues number or a roadhouse rocker, whether it be serious or humorous, he just knows how to make it 'feel' right."
-- Pat Beaudry broadcaster, translator and host of "the midweek blues"on CHUO-FM 89.1 (1994)
"Nelson is one of the finer slide guitar players on the circuit. He slowly stokes the musical fire over the course of a tune until an intensity is unleashed that sends a searing succession of notes across the room like a lasso that slowly but surely tightens its grip on the crowd until everyone's attention is directed at the stage."
-- The Edmonton Sun
"Drew Nelson delivers straight-ahead Chicago blues without glitz or glamour."
 -- The Halifax Daily News
"Nelson, an Ottawa based guitarist, has opened for or played with the likes of Buddy Guy, James Cotton, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. The Edmonton Journal dubbed Nelson and his four sidemen 'one of the hottest rhythm and blues bands in the country."
-- The Calgary Herald
Complete Reviews:

Review of "Just Because"
MAPLE BLUES MAGAZINE
Toronto Blues Society

Ottawa's slide guitar ace Nelson returns after a seven-year break. About half this CD is very solid blues and the rest blues-based. It opens with a killer version of Jimmy Rogers' "Ludella", and later a fine original in "Razor Blade". "Hawk My Ring" sounded familiar and, sure enough, it was used on Dutch Mason's You Can't Have Everything CD, for which Dutch used the Drew Nelson Band, but this version smokes!

Guy Del Villano is on keyboards, Mike Ktenas, bass and Eduardo Flores, drums and on the blues tracks, "Southside" Steve Marriner guests with his heavily-amplified harp. The final song is a very good gospel rave up, "Comin' On Home" featuring Kathy Kennedy on vocals with Nelson.

OTTAWA CITIZEN - BLUES
NORMAN PROVENCHER Just Because ***1/2
Drew Nelson (Capon)

The liner notes claim it's been almost seven years so it's probably time Ottawa's Drew Nelson steps up with a new package of solid, professional guitar work and fine singing. Just in time for Christmas, too.

Nelson has been relatively steady over that period in live work and that translates into rock steady blues whether it's the hardcore Hawk My Ring, the sad and lonely Razor Blade, or the leering Wee Wee Baby.

In between, Nelson also gets into some satisfying funk and even dips his toes into some reggae with Guy Del ViUano on piano and a Dylan vocal proximation on I Shall Be Released.

In fact, Del Villano is strong throughout, as is his solid rhythm section of Mike Ktenas on bass and Eduardo Flores on drums. Add occasional flourishes from Southside Steve Marriner on harp and backup vocalist Kathy Kennedy (who's excellent on the weeper, I'd Do Anything) and you've got an excellent stocking stuffer.

(Nelson plays a Boxing Day show at the Black Sheep Inn Dec. 26, and shows at Tucson's Dec. 28 and 29.)


OTTAWA XPRESS
KAITLIN DEARHAM Just Because ****
The Drew Nelson Band (Capon Records)

Drew Nelson's singing, crying slide guitar dominates this record. His voice, sometimes gritty, sometimes soft and soothing, is impressive, but it's the guitar that really steals the show. It lends a touch of reggae to I Shall be Released, dances light and playful in Plenty of Nothing, and rambles lazily around the band in Just Because. 0ttawa is lucky to have a group of such seasoned blues artists in our very own city. Don't take local talent for granted; check out The Drew Nelson Band's CD release party on December 14th, at the Rainbow.

RADIO PICA - "La Hora del Blues"
VICENTE P. ZUMEL Just Because ****
The Drew Nelson Band (Capon Records)

The Drew Nelson Band have a powerful electrifying but, at the same time, elegant compact sound. This canadian singer and guitar player belongs to one of these powerful nowadays bands who perform american blues-rock. His road-rock music style is very hot, so hot that it becomes pure dynamite.

When he was a kid he was strongly impressed by Little Walter's, Muddy Waters' and Elmore James' music. Drew Nelson's band began to play in 1989 and since then they have regularly presented their flamming show all over Canada and USA.

Both cds (Just Because and Mr. Nelson's Neighbourhood) are great, really bright and full of creative imagination. Two complementary cds that must be understood as a whole, as 'Just Because' is a natural extension of Mr. Nelson's...' cd. I suggest you to listen to them altogether to reach all their special flavour. GREAT.