Guitar slinger Mark Henes released a summer EP comprised of what he calls, “the sounds most missed in the Nashville culture.” Transitions samples bits and pieces of Henes’ musical inspirations while offering a nod to the traditional pillars of Nashville music. The small EP is a confident march away from current trends in music. Garage-rock collides with traditional blues riffs. Gritty guitar tones line the edges of a few vintage pop tunes. Transitions is sewn with echoes of classic jams along with snapshots of Henes’ own creative personality.

Listeners get a hefty funk riff in “Lift Your Cup,” which eventually falls into luscious California harmonies at the chorus. Tilford Smith’s bass lines creep near the underside of the track, holding the band together tightly. Meanwhile, Carlos Guevera’s articulate drum fills lock in with Smith’s bottom end while Henes buries raw vocals next to his ’60s-era guitar tone.

More bluesy rock songs follow that replicate rock ’n’ roll forerunners of the ’50s and ’60s. “Blues” and “Blues II” have an air of nostalgia about them. While the blues slowly evaporates from much mainstream music in favor of other modern styles, Henes strives to keep the torch lit. Both tracks offer glimpses of the seeds from whence sprung rock ’n’ roll. His rocky slice of blues is peppered with the slightest bit of country; unfortunately, neither song really stands out.

A steady instrumental track called “Traveling,” near the end of the EP, might catch some listeners off-guard, being starkly different from the preceding tracks. The instrumental has an upbeat indie/alternative vibe that rubs against the grain of the other songs. With no trace of the blues to be found, it seems out of place in comparison. The oddball instrumental track is enjoyable to listen to, but it doesn’t mesh well with the traditional blues persona established earlier in the EP.

Mark Henes’ voice has heart, and his take on traditional blues-rock is mildly satisfying. Transitions tends to wander without a particular destination in mind, and its execution and production make it hard to clearly categorize or confidently recommend. Hopefully, Henes will continue to explore his affinity for the blues with more releases and shows to come.

Learn more about Mark Henes and Transitions at markhenes.com.