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  • Al Miller review 01-18-13...

    AL MILLER

    CHICAGO BLUES BAND

    IN BETWEEN TIME

    DELMARK CD DE-826


    ROCKIN ALL DAY--I NEED YOU SO BAD--MY BABY WALKED OUT--OLD FRIENDS--IN BETWEEN TIME--I GOT IT--DEAD PRESIDENTS--A BETTER DAY--TIGHTEN UP ON IT--1839 BLUES--BILLY'S BOOGIE--MAKE IT ALRIGHT--BACHELOR BLUES--IF YOU DON'T WANT ME--LAKE MICHIGAN WATERS--LAWHORN SPECIAL--BLIZZARD



    Harp man extraordinaire Al Miller was an integral part of the mid-Sixties Chicago blues revival, along with the likes of Charlie Musselwhite, Paul Butterfield, and Mike Bloomfield, with whom he continued to play after both moved to Frisco in the late Sixties. Later returning to Chicago, Al released "Wild Cards" for Delmark, featuring, among others, Dave Specter, Willie Kent, Tad Robinson, and Dave Freund. His latest release for Delmark is the long-lost follow-up to that set, recorded around the turn of the century but unreleased until now and entitled "In Between Time." This one is seventeen cuts of pure Chicago blues manna from heaven, with an even more impressive array of backing players than its predecessor.



    Joining Al on this set are Billy Flynn, Dave Specter, and legendary John Primer on guitar, father-son Willie and Kenny Smith on drums, and Barrelhouse Chuck and long-time Delmark stalwart Ken Saydak on keys, making this a true All-Star affair. There are swingin' rockers like the leadoff "Rockin All Day," "My Baby Walked Out," and "Tighten Up On It." John Primer adds vocals to "I Need You So Bad," the walking lope of "1839 Blues," and a way-cool take on Little Walter's ode to some serious cash money, them "Dead Presidents." Al revisits his Bllomfield days with the help of Billy Flynn's guitar on two "bad weather" blues, "A Better Day" and the set-closing "Blizzard." Al takes us down to Mardi Gras with the second-line pattern of "Old Friends,' while Billy Flynn's slide hearkens back to the days of Muddy and Robert Nighthawk over Al's brooding vocal on the title cut, at that "In Between Time, where pleasure turns to pain."



    Every cut on this set is worthy of being called a favorite. If you are a fan of the classic, Chicago-style combo blues, then you simply cannot miss Al Miller's "In Between Time." Great harp work from a man who's a vital part of the rich history of Windy City blues backed by some of the best players on the planet makes for a sweet set indeed! Until next time....Sheryl and Don Crow.

    10:57 PM

  • Buddy Guy review December 26, 2012...

    BUDDY GUY

    LIVE AT LEGENDS

    RCA/SILVERTONE 88765-43762-2

    INTRO--BEST DAMN FOOL--MANNISH BOY--I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU--SKIN DEEP--DAMN RIGHT I GOT THE BLUES--BOOM BOOM..STRANGE BREW--VOODOO CHILE..SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE STUDIO TRACKS: POLKA DOT LOVE--COMING FOR YOU--COUNTRY BOY



    Urban legend has it that a bar patron asked Buddy Guy one evening if he intended to play some blues for the crowd. His reply was terse and to the point--"You're damn right I am," thus giving birth to the song that would help define his post-Chess career and give a whole new (younger) generation of blues fans a rallying cry. That song is included on his latest release, "Live At Legends," an incendiary set from January 2010 during his tenure at the now-closed original Legends club. Over these eight live cuts Buddy gives the crowd exactly what they came for--dazzling electrified blues that leaves no notes unplayed over his wild-in-the-streets vocals. He's also ably backed by Rick Hall on second guitar, Marty Sammon on keys, Orlando Wright on bass, and Tim Austin on drums. The party starts with Buddy's proclamation to a lover that "I'm The Best Damn Fool ever," over Rick's wah-wah-fueled backing. He then pays tribute to Muddy with an audience-participation "Mannish Boy" and "I Just Want To Make Love To You." He then slows things down for a poignant rendition of the "do unto others" anthem of growing up in the Jim Crow South, "Skin Deep."



    Often chided by the Chess brothers in his younger days for his desire to play the psychedelically-charged blues-rock of Hendrix and Cream-era Clapton, Buddy revisits the Sixties with two scintillating medleys that close the live portion, with spot-on imitations of these icons in "Boom Boom/Strange Brew" and "Voodoo Chile/Sunshine Of Your Love."



    Special mention must be made of the three studio tracks, unreleased from the "Living Proof" sessions, which can easily stand on their own merits. Writing collaborator Tom Hambridge produces and plays drums, and Reese Wynans is on keys. The slow-burn of "Polka Dot Love" reminds potential guitar slingers that "I took all their shots, and I'm still hard to stop." "Coming For You" is a soulful shot of funk, while "Country Boy" returns Buddy to his roots and his halcyon days with Muddy over Reese's yeoman work on piano.



    With a recent Kennedy Center honor bestowed upon him, perhaps emcee Tom Marker said it best in his introduction--Buddy Guy IS the baddest m*********er on the planet, and "Live At Legends" confirms it!! Until next time.....Sheryl and Don Crow

    8:19 PM

  • Stevie Dupree and the Delta Flyers review 12-14-12....

    STEVIE DUPREE AND THE DELTA FLYERS

    DR. DUPREE'S LOVE SHOP

    SOULBILLY MUSIC GROUP

    BROKE UP--FIRST DANCE--DR. DUPREE'S LOVE SHOP--ST. PAUL'S BOTTOMS--MY ANGEL OF MERCY--SOULBILLY MUSIC--AIN'T GONNA BE YOUR DOG--IT'S MY LIFE--THE WITNESS TREE--THAT OL' MULE--LUCKY SEVEN--A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW



    Formed in Texas in 2007 as an acoustic duo, Stevie Dupree expands and expounds in full-band format on his latest release, "Dr. Dupree's Love Shop," that serves as a blistering breakthrough. Twelve originals take the listener on a musical journey down thru Stevie's Texas roots, with stops in N'Awlins, Chicago, and even Sun-era Memphis blues on this rollicking, good-times-a-rollin' album.



    Joining Stevie are some excellent backing musicians, too. Travis Stephenson and Derek O'Brien are on guitar, Quentin Calva is on bass, Nick Connolly is on keys, and Steve Bundrick is on drums. The producer is Kaz Kazanoff, who also adds harp, tenor sax, and percussion. They kick out the jams with a scorching, Creedence-era blast of blues-rock, "Broke Up," fueled by Derek's deep slide runs. Marcia Ball tickles the ivories on Stevie's kiss-off to a lover guilty of a "back door love affair," and she's told that "this ain't my First Dance, and you've had your last chance!" "My Angel Of Mercy" and "The Witness Tree" show Stevie's softer side, while Kaz's harp rings loud and clear on the second-line pattern of "That Ole Mule."


    We had several favorites, too. Some fine Elmore James-inspired slide from Travis kicks "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" into high gear, over Stevie's lyrics that tell another no-good lover that he's sho' nuff through "steppin and fetchin" for her! Kaz's swampy harp and Travis' lead lines give "St. Paul's Bottoms" a Sun-era Howlin' Wolf and Hubert Sumlin feel, while the funky title cut has the female leads of Alice Stewart and Lisa Tingle extolling the virtues of the good doctor and his "bedside manner" and "potions to make any woman feel at ease!" And, beating the blues is easy with a "shot of roadhouse boogie, a taste of N' Awlins, with some Texas mojo and a cup of juju beans," cooked up into some sweet "Soulbilly Music!"



    Stevie Dupree's "Dr. Dupree's Love Shop" is a raucous, rockin' set of blues that is a sure cure for what ails you! Until next time....Sheryl and Don Crow.

    12:58 AM

  • Jake Lear review December 1, 2012...

    JAKE LEAR

    DIAMONDS AND STONES

    SELF-RELEASED

    STRANGE THINGS--GOING BACK HOME (NORTH MISSISSIPPI BOUND)--WASTING TIME--DIAMONDS AND STONES--DOWN BY THE RIVER--JACK 'O' DIAMONDS--WORK WORK WORK--I SEE A TRAIN COMING--QUIT YOU--BOOGIE TIME



    Since 2009, Vermont-born Jake Lear has been holding court down on Beale Street, playing every Friday and Saturday night outside People's Pool Hall. Along with bassist Carlos Arias and drummer Roy Cunningham, this power trio has just released "Diamonds And Stones," an eight-originals-and-two-covers affair that showcases the bands versatility and powerhouse sound, as well as their hard-earned "street cred," honed from playing to a different crowd every night, from bikers, NBA fans, college kids, and tourists, just to touch on a few of the folks one is likely to see on a weekend down on Beale.


    The set starts off with the thumping, voodoo-vibed minor-key groove of "Strange Things." Jake's Hill country influences are highlighted in the droning beat of "Going Back Home," while no power trio worth its salt can do a set without honoring SRV, and Jake does so two times, with the shufflin' "Quit You," and the last-call instrumental, "Boogie Time." Roy Cunningham's drums fuel the infectious groove of "Down By The River," and Jake recalls South Side greats Jimmy Dawkins and Magic Sam with another minor-key classic, "I See A Train Comin."


    We had two favorites, too. Junior Wells' "Work Work Work" is presented herein as a raucous, rolling roadhouse shuffle, while the title cut is an Absolutely Sweet slab of vintage Dylan, as Jake's lover learns that some days with her just aren't all that great, played over a slow, irresistible groove.



    Jake Lear has parlayed his time on Beale into a sweet niche' for himself, and gives us fans exactly what we all want---versatile songcrafting, blistering six-stringin, and a vocal style literally honed "on the streets,' showing us his sincere dedication to all things blues. "Diamonds And Stones" is a sho' nuff cool listen! Until next time....Sheryl and Don Crow
    11:42 PM

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