Cathi's Reviews 9/3/08
Bishop, Elvin – “The Blues Rolls On” (Delta Groove) A+Elvin Bishop partners with a bundle of blues musicians this time. Kim Wilson, Warren Haynes, Angela Strehli, John Nemeth, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Tommy Castro – you name it. A poor white kid who knew nothin’ bout blues, but sent to college in Chicago, he soon dropped out and haunted the clubs, proclaiming himself “in heaven.” I love it. He KILLS here with a group of great musicians. Bishop’s vocals are sometimes his weak point, but here he pulls in some killer singers to augment his great guitar chops. Check out # 2 with Angela Strehli and John Nemeth doing the soul backups – mercy!—Ray Charles is hollarin’ yeah man. There’s just so much good stuff on this disc, it’s hard to single out everything. You got blues-rock, a little funk, soul vocals, a little NOLA slow one--struttin’ his stuff indeed. Talks with BB King on 5 before doing a “Roy Milton” tune. A feast for blues lovers.
Burks, Michael – “Iron Man” (Alligator) B+
Learning guitar at a young age, Burk’s father (occasional sideman for Sonnyboy II) paid him a dollar for every song he could figure out from beginning to end. The result was a guitarist who could back up just about any blues player, but eventually took a money job for Lockheed, before once again trying his hand with the blues. He delivers good quality electric blues-rock here…heavy on electric sustain blues. A tough guy sound for a tough-guy bluesman. Vocally he can growl or deliver a smooth vocal on the slow ones and include7 originals here. .
Cummings, Albert – “Feel So Good-Live” (Blind Pig) B
Albert is a rocker who takes up a lot of room with all those heavy SRV chops. Like SRV he sticks with a three piece and tears up the landscape all around them. This is a party band as the live crowd will assert. A construction worker who was mad for SRV, he met up with Stevie’s band after SRV’s demise, and their recording together launched him big time. Blind Pig has a multi-record deal with him and he lets it hang out. A moderately good singer and a burning rocker on guitar, he’s having fun. This live recording has several pretty long tunes, but carries the crowd excitement. Not sure his live performance carries over to radio that well. Definitely a rocker.
King, BB – “One Kind Favor” (Geffen) 2008 A
BB is just so unique, it’s hard to imagine how even being produced by T-Bone Burnett would change his vintage sound. And of course, it doesn’t really. In fact, seems like Burnett mixes that huge horn band a little high over BB’s vocals on some tunes. But I’ve always liked the spare back-up instrumentation (like the early records) instead of the orchestra backup, yet BB’s stunningly soulful playing and vocal phrasing can’t be overcome/disguised. And when you turn the king loose on the slower ones, there’s nothing to stop BB’s Lucille from screaming and cryin’ all over your blues. Just can’t be bad with BB. They say this might be his “final” masterpiece.” I hope not. Sure don’t hear much so fine from many musicians, but can’t think of any others over 80 years old! Good for all mixes.
Magic Slim & Teardrops – “Midnight Blues” (Blind Pig) A
Magic Slim is a king of the live show. He knows how to get the crowd movin’ and just when to apply that guitar mojo. This doesn’t always come over on record, but the guy is FUN. This record brings that groovin’ Chicago feeling over as the steady support of his band testifies. Slim brings in a bundle of Chicago help too. The disc is produced by Nick Moss, and James Cotton, Little Ed (Imperials), Lonnie Brooks and Elvin Bishop tip the hat on various songs. Even Otis Clay warbles on track 13. Real Chicago stuff here, like you might find any blues night on the South Side.
McCall, Cash – “The Vintage Room” (Dixon Landing Music) B
Originally a fairly famous gospel singer, McCall was very tight with Willie Dixon and served a large group of R & B musicians as a session guitarist. (This disc is produced by Alex Dixon—Willie’s grandson—who contributes seven originals here.) He never seemed to “hit” it as a front man, and instead spent a great career as a session guy and producer (producing Willie Dixon’s famous album “Hidden Charms” for instance). However, in later years, he often sang with other groups like “Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows.” McCall definitely has the credentials, but this album seems to underscore the idea that though the blues run blue in his veins, he doesn’t seem to have the front man skills – or at least records don’t support that. I did play a great concert with him once and his vocals KILLED. Here they are slightly worn and don’t seem to catch his life spark. He’s a cool guy though I’ll tell you, and you can hear his tight friendship/influences with Willie Dixon all over this disc.
posted by Cathi N @ 9:10:00 AM
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