Many books have been published over the years pictorially depicting blues artists at work and play. So you might well ask, what is different about Blues Hands that would make you buy another? The clue is in the title. All musicians need hands to play and often vocalists too, to visually amplify aspects of the lyrics. The book opens with a quote from Willie Dixon; The Blues is the roots, everything else is the fruits. So here are some of the fruits in a unique perspective from the camera of Joe Rosen, drawn from over thirty years of covering the American blues scene. What lifts a photograph from a mere visual recording of a subject to an art form is the skill of the photographer. Inherent in that skill is a passionate interest and understanding of the subject matter and the technical abilities to fulfil it in the final print. Joe has it all in spades. Until you come across a book of this nature you dont realise how hands are as unique as faces and often reflect the character and experiences of the owners, especially those of the older generation. The photographs are enhanced towards the back of the book by potted histories of the artists careers to date and in some cases eulogies, drawn from Joes knowledge of them. Youll want this one on your bookshelf. - Mike Owens, Blues Matters June 2016