In his liner note on I-94 Blues, Matthew Socey (host of “Blues House Party” on WFYI 90.1, Indianapolis) points out that, on their Blue Bella Records debut, Cash Box Kings (Joe Nosek, Chris Boeger, Kenny Smith) have some mighty fine company joining them. Oscar Wilson shares vocal duties with Nosek (who wails on harp throughout). Also appearing are a few of the honorary “Kings” that regularly perform live with the band: drummer/percussionist Mark Haines, Jimmy Sutton on upright bass and backing vocals, Joel Paterson on guitar, Billy Flynn on guitar, mandolin and banjo, plus the one and only Barrelhouse Chuck on the black and whites. That’s a Blues House Party if there ever was one.

The band combines mostly original material with a few not-so-obvious covers. The first half of the album features two tunes from Muddy Waters, “Hard Days Blues” and “Country Boy.” Muddy’s spirit lives on in the stinging slide guitar of Joel Paterson on Nosek’s “St. Paul Wintertime Blues” and on Billy Flynn’s gritty slide work during the slow stomp “Tried So Hard.”

The ensemble also dips back into the blues of the 1930s with “Mellow Chick Swing” and “I-94 Blues;” both feature the standup bass goodness of Jimmy Sutton and “94” features Billy Flynn on banjo, an instrument not often heard in the world of blues music. Flynn also shows his prowess on yet another string instrument with some blistering mandolin playing on the CBK original “Quesadilla Boogie.” Wailing harmonica abounds on the Nosek original, “Fallin’ Down,” which also features Kenny Smith’s patented, hard-driving shuffle.

Plugged, unplugged, harmonica driven, piano driven, guitar driven, vocal driven, rhythm driven, these guys do it all. As it says in the CD’s liner as well as on the tray card, “The Cash Box Kings are another sign the Chicago blues scene is alive and well. Between the multiple voices and stellar instrumental play, there’s some tasty blues gumbo right here. Grab a spoon and enjoy.”