Blues purists are sure to chafe at the sound of Benoit's heartfelt but eminently smooth guitar lines. Nevertheless, this 1992 debut is easily his best effort to date, an unstrained mix of Cajun, R&B, and blues stylings honed by his then-recent apprenticeship in the bars of Baton Rouge. Recorded live over a two-day period, Benoit's clean, spontaneous phrases avoid both New Age somnabulence and overheated roadhouse clichés. His extended solo at the end of "I Put a Spell on You" puts a silky, authoritative sheen on that rabble-rousing staple, and both "Bone Pickin'" and "Voodoo on the Bayou" acknowledge his Louisiana roots without ruffling the fabric of his own identity. Nice and Warm isn't perfect: Benoit's rendition of "The Killing Floor" is simply too antiseptic beside Howlin' Wolf's definitive version, and Benoit's vocals are merely passable throughout. But overall, the music here is indeed nice and warm, and played with a self-assurance that adds substance to its relaxed attitude. --Britt Robson