Colin James with Colin Linden

Colin James has truly tapped the roots of his apparently limitless style as he reaches to the heart of southern music-to the Delta blues and to the soul of Memphis funk.

James is a rocker by reputation, yet he excels at the funky nuances common to boogies and shuffles. Plus, he's a great guitarist, and his plaintive tenor voice is ideally suited to heartfelt ballads.

An energetic and charismatic presence, James has matured while working in clubs, concert halls and arenas for over a decade. He's opened shows for Steve Winwood, Keith Richards, Little Feat, ZZ Top and the Rolling Stones. He's been hailed by critics everywhere as a virtuoso's instrumentalist and an unforgettable singer. Furthermore, he's collected almost every entertainment award in Canada, and he's a sensational attraction in Europe.

A performer since he was 16, Colin James blends irresistibly rousing, foot-stomping rock with captivating torch ballads like no one else. His new Warners release, Bad Habits, is just the ticket to "spirit" him on his way to the new heights that are obviously his for the taking.

If there is one constant to the music of Colin Linden, it's the blues. They course through his veins the way the big muddy winds its way through Mississippi and down the Louisiana bayou. The blues find expression in the gentle optimism of Linden's compelling vocals, and in his agile fingers as they dance up and down the neck of his guitar.

There are very few musicians in Canada today who haven't shared a stage or a studio with Colin Linden at the helm. His resume reads like a who's who of Canada's recording industry, covering everyone from Bruce Cockburn to Tom Cochrane and others.

Linden's reputation also extends to the United States, where he frequently works as a session musician and with his long-time cohorts The Band. When T Bone Burnett came to Toronto last year looking for a quick pickup band for a hastily scheduled gig at the Horseshoe Tavern, he called Colin. There were no rehearsals, and the resulting show has become the stuff of local legend. Colin Linden is-in short-a musician's musician.