CHICAGO BLUES ALL-STARS

Red, Hot & Blue

2014-05-14

The Chicago Blues All-Stars are not what you'd expect. Usually an "all stars" performance means putting together a bunch of famous musicians who haven't worked with each other, and letting them each take solos to show off their chops. These All-Stars are different. They're a bunch of working pros who joined together on Tuesday nights for regular jam sessions. Over the years they built up a core crew with a cohesive sound and they perform as a unit, not as individuals. At last they've got an album.

Five different musicians hop in on vocals: Anji Brooks, guitarist "Killer" Ray Allison, guitarist and physician Daniel "Chicago Slim" Ivankovich, harp (harmonica) artist Scott Dirks, and keyboardist  Roosevelt "Mad Hatter" Purifoy.  Add in Johnny B. Gayden on bass, Jerry Porter on drums, and horns by Johnny Cotton, Garrick Patten, and Kenny Anderson to make one fine performing unit. All the songs have been previously written and performed by others, but you'll hear new takes on all of them.

--Gerald Etkind

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Blues

  • reviewed 06/2014

    ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD
    HEARTSOULBLOOD

  • reviewed 11/2020

    VANESSA COLLIER
    HEART ON THE LINE

  • reviewed 03/2009

    DAMON FOWLER
    SUGAR SHACK

  • reviewed 04/2014

    KENNY 'BLUES BOSS' WAYNE
    Rollin' With The Blues Boss

  • reviewed 02/2008

    OTIS TAYLOR
    Recapturing the Banjo

  • reviewed 07/2012

    THE 44S
    Americana

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.