Chicago Blues Harmonica Project
More Rare Gems
Severn #4943500462
If the harmonica is your lead choice of instrument, then adding the Chicago Blues Harmonica Projects’ More Rare Gems to your CD collection is a must.
The song selections and bluesmen featured on them showcase veterans who have honed their craft through endless nights of playing. Reginald Cooper's sexual twist on "Shade Tree Mechanic" distills the essence of Willie Dixon's "Wang Dang Doodle" with swirling harp runs. The Chicago Bluesmasters consist of drummer Twist Turner, guitarists Rick Kreher and Illinois Slim, bassist E.G. McDaniel and pianist Mark Brumbach. They are excellent backing players who weave in and out of groove pockets and can work hot shuffles like "Ooh Baby, Hold Me" into locomotive finesse.
Harmonica Hinds' "Kill That Mouse" may be a bastardized cousin of Hound Dog Taylor's "Gimme Back That Wig," but it sure struts its stuff when Hinds moves it along with his harmonica smoke. Born in Mississippi in 1934, Little Arthur Duncan is an old beacon of Chicago Blues. His passing in August 2008 makes "Can't Stand It No More" a fitting epitaph when his harp style marries the spirit of the Windy City with the sweet smell of Delta soil.
It may be hard for a listener to pick a personal favorite as all of these tracks shine. Chicago Blues has never sounded better than when Jeff Taylor and Russ Green put their spin doctor on "Gangster of Love" that harp boogies like a Texas Twister. Big D may be the baby of the gang, but his spirit is an old one sermonizing lustful lore in "I've Got To Be With You Tonight”.
The Chicago Blues Masters are happy to remain in the background while the harmonica players grab the spotlight. Harmonica Hinds comes back around again and makes the train speed with his soaring harp maneuvers in the super-charged instrumental "Sunday Morning Blues”. Reginald Cooper's take on "Give Me Back That Wig" doesn't resemble the Hound Dog Taylor version. Slowing it down to an almost 12 bar blues setting isn't easy to get acclimated to. Especially when you are used to the songs shake and bake rhythms.
So it's up to Jeff Taylor to provide a happy uplift in "Honest I Do" with syrupy harmonica notes. Big D is a nice welcome back guest in the shuffle step of "Well You Know”.
Blues fans wanting a taste of true Chicago Blues should seek this disk out. They’ll find this too much of a precious treasure to
ignore.
- Gary Weeks -
Southwest Blues CD Review - October 2009
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2009 Reviews - available at our store
