Steve Freund
"C" for Chicago
(Delmark 734)
Steve Freund has gathered an eclectic bunch of musicians for his latest
Delmark and Dave Specter produced release. Such legendary cats as Boz
Skaggs, Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds) and David Maxwell (Freddie
King, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and James Cotton) make
beautiful contributions to this fine Chicago-style blues album. Indeed the
blues put Freund on the road beginning in 1974, which is when he and his
street friend Paul Cooper decided to make their pilgrimage to the Windy
City in their youthful quest to experience the music firsthand that they
so dearly loved. A stop by Howlin' Wolf's saxophone player Eddie Shaws'
old 1815 club resulted in a meeting with the Wolf Gang band including
Hubert Sumlin as well as Detroit Jr., Shorty Gilbert and Chico Chism.
During the 20+ years that Freund lived in Chicago, he had the opportunity
to play guitar and bass with the who's who of Chicago's postwar musicians
including long stints with Big Walter Horton and Floyd Jones as well as
tours with Luther Allison and Koko Taylor. Within the context of material
featured here, all of Freund's various influences come shining through.
There's a little bit of Earl Hooker, Magic Sam, Otis Rush (on
"Working Man"), Lee Jackson (whom he pays homage to on the
swinging "Mr. Jackson's Boogie"), Albert and Riley "B.B."
King ("Please Love Me," "Cool Dream") and Sunnyland
Slim ("Everytime I Get to Drinkin'"). Maxwell delivers a
beautifully moving and stripped down rendition of the classic "Pallet
On the Floor," which sounds eerily close in both its arrangement and
passion of the version recorded by pianist Jimmy Yancey backing his wife
Momma flavored to perfection with guitarist Eddie Lang's influence.
- Matt Alcott -
Southwest Blues CD Review - March 2000
Current Reviews - 2000 Reviews
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