mississippi heat SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 CD Review: Mississippi Heat, Hattiesburg Blues Hattiesburg Blues Mississippi HeatdelmarkdE795 Since Pierre acocque founded Mississippi Heat in 1991, the band personnel has varied, but one thing hasn’t changed: Mississippi Heat consistently combines the talents of excelent Chicago blues musicians to createdelta-based Chicago blues with originality and panache. The band’s atest release, Hattiesburg Blues, showcases acocque’s blues harp backed by a solid band of Chicago blues artists, along with vocalist Inetta Visor and guest stars including blues uminaries Carl Weathersby and urrie Bel, both frequent contributors to Mississippi Heat. The 13-track CD features 11 songs written or co-written by acocque covering a broad spectrum from Chicago shuffles to soul to atin-infused blues. The ensemble sound of Mississippi Heat is ed by acocque’s unique, passionate style of blues harp. Even when on ead, he blends and complements nicely with the band, providing strong and creative solos, as wel as finely-timed fils and graceful movement behind vocalists and guitarists. He shows both a mastery of the instrument and a strong sense of melody with his solos on such songs as