Justin Witte's music isn't terribly complicated. He plays straightforward, acoustic blues with a soulful quality that is far too uncommon in today's music landscape. A guitar, a harmonica and a voice were all he needed to craft his latest album, "Projections & Reflections."

It's obvious from the first track, "Bring It on Home," that Witte is heavily influenced by Bob Dylan's early acoustic work. The harmonica alone is enough to draw comparison. His style, however, is much more blues than folk.

His lyrics tell tales of love and loss, heartbreak and hope. "It seems so long since you've been gone / Honey baby, some things won't go away," he sings on "No More." "I won't do it no more / I said I ain't gonna cry for you anymore." On "Babylon," Witte tells a story that's open for interpretation and analysis, allowing the listener to fill in his own personal situation to fit the lyrics: "I left my home / I'm just a simple man, Lord / I'm trying to find the promised land / I'm on my way to Babylon."

His recording approach on the album only complements his guitar style. The songs sound as if they're played through in a single take, and one can even hear the squeak of his chair on a couple of the tracks. It's a raw recording' a suiting approach for a simple-structured blues album.

Witte is making the rounds, playing bars and coffeehouses throughout the state, including an 8 p.m. Saturday show at Bolero Tapas Bar & Spanish Grill, 200 S. Oklahoma."”James Lovett