Woman in Heat showcases eight songs from Chicago blues singer Ramblin’ Rose who’s also a very talented harmonica player. My only complaint with Woman in Heat is that it is far too short, clocking in at just under 36 minutes. I would have appreciated a couple of traditional Chicago blues covers, and a lot more harmonica from Rose.

Rich Wiktorowicz and Tommy Hollywood share note-bending duties with some exceptional solos, particularly on the opening cut, “Part Time Lover,” and some inventive slide work on “Dirty Old Woman.” Woman in Heat takes its title pretty seriously: three songs focus on love and sex, leaning heavily toward the latter, with few thoughts left to the imagination from two Denise La Salle covers (“Long Dong Silver” and “Dirty Old Woman”). Andy Dylewski’s jazzy “Para Pa Para” features Wally Wander on saxophone and Sam Maciejzczyk on trumpet, and this love song features some Russian or Polish samples (most likely ‘sweet nothings’ in keeping with the theme of the CD).

Mississippi native Ramblin’ Rose has played around Chicagoland with the Andy Dylewski Blues Band, and Woman in Heat was recorded at Andy’s Media Sound Studios on Chicago’s North Side. Lordy’s back cover photo catches Ramblin’ Rose in action at the Harlem Avenue Lounge in Berwyn. Lordy’s Chicago Blues Beat has some nice pictures of Ramblin’ Rose sitting in with the Harry Garner Blues Band at the Willie Dixon Garden online at .www.lordy.smugmug.com/gallery/3346972_gethN#P-1-15

Last month, Ramblin’ Rose was part of the 2009 Chicago Blues Festival Preview known as “Blues University.” The Chicago Blues Tour joint-cover pub crawl at Catcher’s Inn on West 35th with Robert Pasenko and the 35th Street Blues Band’s South Side Showcase with Tre’, Killer Ray Allison, and Linsey Alexander.

Whether she’s playing with her own band or sitting in as a guest performer at Harlem Avenue Lounge or other Chicago land nightspot, go see Ramblin’ Rose live.