Zac Harmon grew up around the Farish Street region of Jackson, MS, where he was exposed to the sounds of artists like Sam Myers, Mel Brown, and Jesse Robinson. He learned to sing, play guitar and keyboards while at church and eventually served as guitarist for Z. Z. Hill, Dorothy Moore, McKinley Mitchell, and Myers. He also taught guitar to youngsters (including Eddie Cotton) at the local YMCA.

Harmon eventually relocated to Los Angeles, working as a studio musician and serving as a writer/producer for many R&B artists like Freddie Jackson, the Whispers, the O’Jays, and the Mississippi Mass Choir. Several years ago, he decided to return to his first love, the blues, and his band, the Mid-South Blues Revue, won the 2004 International Blues Challenge. His 2005 release, The Blues According to Zacariah, was a well-received effort that showcased Harmon’s myriad influences.

Harmon’s most recent release, From The Root (NorthernBlues Music), is a smooth mix of blues, rock, and soul. The opening cut, “Don’t Give Me Another Reason,” is a capsule summary of the disc, with its muscular rock-edged blues guitar and funky backbeat. “Fannie Mae” is a roadhouse blues rocker featuring Jimmy Z’s frenzied harmonica. Tracks like this and “Keep The Blues Alive” and “Honey Bee” feature rock-based blues, while songs like “Scratch” and “Man Is Not Meant To Be Alone” feature a more traditional approach. Harmon proves to be adept going in either direction.

The remainder of the disc focuses on soul/blues, with winning tracks like “Back Bitin’ Back Stabbers,” which sounds like a lost Malaco track, “The Price of Loving You,” featuring Sueann Carwell, and soul numbers like “The Older Woman” and “That’s What A Woman Needs” (spiced up with a reggae beat), that feature Harmon’s silky-smooth vocals. Also featured is a terrific cover of the Honey Cone’s “Want Ads.”

Zac Harmon is the total package. He’s a great songwriter, guitarist, and singer, plus he’s equally at home playing downhome blues or Southern soul, which makes him equally appealing to two different blues fan bases. By all rights, From The Root should be a breakthrough album for him.