Years ago, singer/songwriter/guitarist, Roosevelt Dean told Carolyn Kelly she had to sing a song, “Somebody Told Me.” “Why me?” Kelly contested. Dean put his foot down, “Just sing the damn song!” And now, years later, Kelly is still singing the song and it’s absolutely clear why she was the one for the job. The band carries on proudly in the tradition of the late, great Rosie Dean, a fixture of the Syracuse blues scene until his passing in April 2009. Though his smile and laugh are absent, Dean’s presence remains audible in the band’s passionate sound, most obviously when the music induces chills up your spine. Armed with the most soulful voice in Syracuse, The Carolyn Kelly Blues Band keeps their slow-cooked blues steaming on stage and in the studio - and Somebody Told Me proves it. Familiar fan-favorite tunes including “I’ll Be Your Lover” and “Somebody Told Me” finally make the transition from live performance to album cuts on this record, without sacrificing an ounce of soul, smoothness or sensitivity. Kelly’s vocals deliver consistent richness, Todd Fitzsimmons and Nick Humez bring bright guitars or lamenting licks, Rick Jewitt solidifies the sound on keys and the rhythm section of John Boylan and Jim Pavente seals the deal. Somebody Told Me captures love of a man lost and the dedication of a band to carry his memory forward. Dean must be smiling down. -Jessica Novak