Choice CDs Considered
Mahalo to Neil for this statement, Peace!
A good example of this is the new release by guitarist James "Blood" Ulmer on Label M. "Memphis Blood-The Sun Sessions" was produced by Vernon Reid, who not only attempted to bring Blood back to his Southern roots but also features his incendiary fretwork on second guitar! The songs are all pretty much blues standards but their decidedly non-traditional approach to them is inspired by Blood's musical mentor, Ornette Coleman. The arrangements here are quite unique and probably the first significant reworking of some of these tunes in decades. Check out "I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline)" which sounds like Living Colour meets Howlin' Wolf via Ornette with Prime Time! Most of the other tunes aren't quite this aggressive though and songs like "I Love The Life I Live" and "Too Lazy To Work, Too Nervous To Steal" have a kind of rough and tumble, electric country blues feel to them. Another highlight of this set is their cover of Otis Rush's 1958 Cobra Records hit "Double Trouble" (which also featured the amazing whammy bar Strat playing of Ike Turner!). The pair's intricately interwoven guitar lines are supplemented by important sonic contributions from Charles Burnham, (Blood's associate from his 1980's trio Odyssey) on violin and slide mandolin, Rick Steff's keyboards and the harmonica playing of David Barnes. The rhythm section propelling it all features Aubrey Dale on drums and Mark E. Peterson on bass.
There is plenty to like about this CD and it would certainly be an excellent addition to any Jazz, Blues or Rock fan's collection.
This is easily one of my favorite CDs of 2001 and is highly recommended by "The Stoddard's Hale"!
"Milk Cow Blues" & "Funny How Time Slips Away" featuring Francine Reed, "Outskirts Of Town" with Keb' Mo', "Black Night" & "Fool's Paradise" featuring Dr. John, "Rainy Day Blues" & "Ain't Nobody's Business" with Jonny Lang, "Crazy" with Susan Tedeschi, "Kansas City" with Jimmie Vaughan & Susan Tedeschi, "The Thrill Is Gone" & "Night Life" featuring B.B. King and "Texas Flood" with Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Have no doubt about it though, this is Willie's album and although that's a lot of egos, these guests are all there to complement him. The backing band throughout consists of Derek O'Brien on guitars, George Rains on drums, Jon Blondell on bass, and Riley Osborne on keys. This is a very appealing disc which reunites the blues with one of it's long lost cousins, Willie's down home Country music. Willie Nelson's voice is a National treasure and it is well presented here. This one is a must for lovers of Blues and Country music!
Oh yeah, this CD features The King of the Blues with his touring band performing some new compositions by B.B. along with some well chosen covers. I love the version of tenor saxophonist A.C. Reed's "I'm In The Wrong Business" presented here; you've also gotta check out their reading of "Since I Fell For You"!! There are 14 songs here and they're all good, so at least you're not getting shortchanged there.
Unfortunately, the music industry just "doesn't get it" and are in danger of pricing themselves right out of a market! The Used Record retailers are gaining more customers daily ! Resist the music industry's attempts to milk the last few dollars out of the CD market, write to them and voice your displeasure with their greed but please, let's not take it out on B.B.
By all means, check out this Youngblood
"Marshall Chess now uses a technique combining the best of of both new and old recording styles. His goal was to get the trio to lock together, to play as one, just as all of the original greats had to play when there was only two track recording. The old way of recording without extensive overdubbing was a key ingredient in getting the feeling back into the music. When there is no chance to do it over repeatedly you are forced to focus more. That extra focus can take the music to a higher level."
The debut release on his new Czyz Records family label (the original spelling) is by one of legendary jazz guitarist Larry Coryell's sons. Murali Coryell This album reveals a maturity which seems far beyond Murali's 28 years. His intense, soulful vocals evoke a young Otis Rush and, while his guitar has a wicked distorted tone, it is always tasteful and never pretentious or overwhelming.
The trio, which includes bassist Bill Foster and drummer Rod Gross, stick mostly to classic Chicago blues tunes but they also do a couple of other interesting covers like "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye and "Pills" by Bo Diddley (& later the New York Dolls !). Murali also wrote one of the CD's 15 tracks - "Stop", showing promise as a songwriter as well ! There are also dynamite versions of the immortal Magic Sam's "All My Whole Life" and "All Your Love", but their rendition of "So Many Roads, So Many Trains" alone is worth the price of admission here. It must seem a little ironic to Otis Rush, whose tenure with Chess was not particularly satisfying !
Oh yeah, 'sup with the that title? 2120 S. Michigan Avenue was the Chicago address of Chess Records for many years. This CD is cool on so many levels, by all means, check it out!
If you like American Roots Music, you'll like Murali Coryell! Check him out......
It's about time this music was released on CD !!! (Now let's have the rest of it ;-) Doug Yankus passed away in 1982 from complications caused by his diabetes and 10% of the proceeds from this disc are donated to a Diabetes Foundation chosen by the Yankus family.
