Taken from several 1970s sessions in France, Pressure Cooker has a relaxed feel that belies its name, a loose vibe that's never sloppy, combining the best of blues and swing. While not as tightly wound as some of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's classic recordings--The Original Peacock Recordings and Texas Swing, for example--Pressure Cooker has its own strengths. "She Winked Her Eye" has some especially strong guitar work, and a hilarious monologue in the middle as a bonus, while the slow tempos of "My Time Is Expensive" and "Deep, Deep Water" allow Gate to stretch out (the latter also includes an excellent Jay McShann piano solo). Add to that the humorous touches on "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" and the thoroughly un-politically correct "Ain't That Just Like a Woman," and what you have is a strong CD that makes up in entertainment what it lacks in intensity. --Genevieve Williams