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
MARK HUMMEL
WAYBACK MACHINE
TOMMY CASTRO & THE PAINKILLERS
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
BOB BROZMAN
– Post-Industrial Blues
ROOT DOCTOR
- Live at the Cadillac Club
"Big" Al Dorn & The Blues Howlers
They Call Me Big Al
JEFF HEALEY
SONGS FROM THE ROAD
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