Dave Specter & The Bluebirds Feat. Tad Robinson - Live In Europe

Album: Live In Europe
Size: 154,7 MB
Time: 67:09
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1995
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Full

1. West Side Stroll (4:37)
2. Little By Little (8:04)
3. Bad Boy (5:29)
4. Bluebird Blues (7:54)
5. It's Too Late Brother (6:35)
6. Kidney Stew (6:14)
7. Wag's Blues (4:41)
8. Dose Of Reality (6:25)
9. I Die A Little Each Day (3:40)
10. Sweet Serenity (5:21)
11. On The Outside Looking In (8:03)

Specter, his ultra-soulful singer/harpist of the time Tad Robinson, and his swinging Bluebirds ventured over to Germany on tour in 1994, cutting this fine set over two memorable evenings. Robinson, now on his own, was an exceptional match for Specter's concise, crisp guitar style; equally conversant in blues and soul, Robinson is also an exceptional songscribe who penned three of the disc's highlights ("On the Outside Looking In", "Sweet Serenity", "Dose of Reality"). More straight blues than on Blueplicity: "Little by Little", "Bad Boy", "Kidney Stew", Little Walter's "It's Too Late Brother." /Bill Dahl, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Live In Europe mc
Live In Europe gofile

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Dave Specter - Live At Space

Size: 177.6 MB
Time: 76:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2025
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. Rumba & Tonic (Live) (5:57)
02. Alley Walk (Live) (5:54)
03. Homework (Live) (5:08)
04. Blues From The Inside Out (Live) (7:33)
05. On Your Way Down (Live) (5:46)
06. March Through The Darkness (Live) (3:56)
07. Chicago Style (Live) (5:55)
08. Same Old Blues (Live) (5:13)
09. The Stinger (Live) (5:27)
10. Deep Elem Blues (Live) (6:09)
11. Bluebird Blues (Live) (7:17)
12. Ponchatoula Way (Live) (6:55)
13. Ridin' High (Live) (5:22)

Dave Specter and Delmark Records have been together for over three decades. Dave's acclaimed double album "Six String Soul" celebrated this amazing journey. Now, "Dave Specter Live at Space" writes a new and exciting chapter in this long and harmonious story on Dave's 14th album on Delmark. At home at Evanston's premier venue, SPACE, Dave and his smokin' tight band deliver a definitive live blues event, vibrantly captured in this recording. This is 21st century Chicago blues, anchored in tradition and open to the future.

Live At Space (Live) MP3
Live At Space (Live) FLAC

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Dave Specter - Six String Soul: 30 Years On Delmark

Size: 344 MB
Time: 71:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

CD 1:
01. Buzz Me (Feat. Barkin' Bill Smith & Ronnie Earl) (4:31)
02. Wind Chill (Feat. Ronnie Earl) (5:26)
03. Railroad Station (Feat. Barkin' Bill Smith) (7:13)
04. Specters Walk (4:58)
05. Fortune Tellin Man (Feat. Jesse Fortune) (4:30)
06. Ridin High (3:46)
07. Sweet Serenity (Feat. Tad Robinson) (5:21)
08. West Side Stroll (4:37)
09. Seventy Four (Feat. Al Miller & Willie Kent) (6:50)
10. Can't Stay Here (Feat. Tad Robinson) (5:12)
11. Get Back Home (Feat. Lynwood Slim) (4:02)
12. Unleavened Soul (Feat. Jack McDuff) (5:33)
13. St Louis Blues (Feat. Floyd McDaniel) (5:59)
14. You're Gonna Be Sorry (Feat. Lurrie Bell) (3:29)

CD 2:
01. Blues On My Mind (Feat. Lenny Lynn) (6:17)
02. Texas Top (4:41)
03. Riverside Ride (Feat. Steve Freund) (6:47)
04. Feels So Bad (Feat. Jimmy Johnson) (6:46)
05. In Too Deep (Feat. Sharon Lewis) (5:17)
06. Got To Find A Way (Feat. Otis Clay) (3:53)
07. This Time I'm Gone For Good (Feat. Otis Clay) (5:31)
08. Chicago Style (Feat. Brother John Kattke) (3:33)
09. The Stinger (5:16)
10. Blues From The Inside Out (5:15)
11. March Through The Darkness (Feat. Brother John Kattke) (3:44)
12. Sanctifunkious (5:04)
13. The Blues Ain't Nothin (Feat. Jorma Kaukonen) (5:16)
14. The Ballad Of George Floyd (Feat. Billy Branch) (5:14)

The remastered 2-CD set showcases his music journey with a stellar line-up of guests including Otis Clay, Jorma Kaukonen, Lurrie Bell, Billy Branch, Jack McDuff, Ronnie Earl and many more.

Dave Specter has earned an international reputation as one of the premier talents on the Chicago music scene. Since 1985 Specter has performed regularly at top Chicago venues in addition to clubs, festivals and concert halls throughout the USA. International performances include: Argentina, Brazil, England, Northern Ireland, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, Luxembourg, Israel, Canada and Mexico. Specter celebrates 30 years of prolific releases for Delmark Records with a 2-CD retrospective titled Six String Soul, 30 Years on Delmark Records, featuring a myriad of special guests he has collaborated with over the years.

Specter's career has been interwined with the deepest roots of Chicago blues and Delmark's rich musical history. This double CD release constitutes a definitive testimony to one of today's most tasteful and versatile blues artists, featuring Specter in a wide variety of styles. Specter's single, "The Ballad of George Floyd" is now showcased at the Woody Guthrie Center as part of the Songs of Conscience, Sounds of Freedom exhibit in Tulsa alongside Bruce Springsteen's lyrics. Specter spoke to Rolling Stone about his dark period in songwriting and why he was inspired to write it.

Before forming his own band in 1989, Specter toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe behind such blues greats as Son Seals, The Legendary Blues Band, Hubert Sumlin, Sam Lay and Steve Freund. Specter has also performed and/or recorded with such artists as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Jimmy Johnson, Jack McDuff, Johnny Adams, Snooky Pryor, Kim Wilson, Tad Robinson, John Primer, Johnny Littlejohn, B.B. Odom, Mighty Joe Young, Magic Slim, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Earl, Otis Clay, Floyd McDaniel, Pinetop Perkins and Jorma Kaukonen. Dave has performed for the President of the United States, the Governor of Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago.

Dave appears on over 50 albums and DVDs as a guitarist, bandleader and/or producer, with 12 albums as a leader or co-leader on Delmark Records. Specter appears on compilation albums with artists such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, T-Bone Walker, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Mike Bloomfield. Dave was inducted into The Chicago Blues Hall of Fame in 2018.

Six String Soul: 30 Years On Delmark MP3
Six String Soul: 30 Years On Delmark FLAC

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Dave Specter - Blues From The Inside Out

Size: 139,4 MB
Time: 60:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. Blues From The Inside Out (5:15)
02. Ponchatoula Way (6:26)
03. March Through The Darkness (3:44)
04. Sanctifunkious (5:04)
05. How Low Can One Man Go? (3:53)
06. Asking For A Friend (4:39)
07. Minor Shout (7:15)
08. The Blues Ain't Nothin' (5:17)
09. Opposites Attract (4:13)
10. Soul Drop (4:38)
11. Wave's Gonna Come (3:41)
12. String Chillin' (6:43)

Blues From The Inside Out is the most expressive project of Dave Specter's 35 year career. Featuring his debut as a vocalist, the album is an exciting and timely celebration of blues, soul, jazz, funk and gospel. With a guest appearance on guitar by Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna fame, who also co-wrote one of the album's 12 original tunes. These are exciting times to hear Specter, an evolving artist who embraces growth and discovery.

In times when darkness and doubt may seem to hang over us, we need to remember the world is illuminated by possibilities. With this new album, Dave Specter's brilliant light shines down on us all.

Blues From The Inside Out

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Dave Specter & The Bluebirds - Blueplicity

Year: 1994
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:55
Size: 128,9 MB
Styles: Electric blues, jazzy blues
Scans: Full

1. Ridin' High (3:42)
2. Sweet Serenity (5:45)
3. What Love Did To Me (4:30)
4. On The Outside Looking In (5:47)
5. Blueplicity (6:00)
6. What's Your Angle (4:05)
7. That's How Strong My Love Is (3:45)
8. Dose Of Reality (5:18)
9. Cool Azul (4:05)
10. What Have I Done Wrong (5:15)
11. You've Got Bad Intentions (3:09)
12. Cattin' (4:29)

Sometimes conviction, charm and humor can be as important as performing proficiency. While there's little in the playing or singing of guitarist Dave Specter or vocalist/harmonica player Tad Robinson that you haven't heard before, they so obviously enjoy what they're doing and communicate it so well that you eventually overlook their familiar material and become engrossed in their performances.

This disc has a gritty, rough-edged sound often missing from modern blues dates. The menu ranges from jazzy tunes to lowdown wailers, soul-tinged pieces, and uptempo instrumentals. /Ron Wynn, AllMusic

Personnel: Dave Specter (guitar); Tad Robinson (vocals, harmonica); Ken Saydak (piano, organ); Mike McCurdy (bass); Mark Fornek (drums); John Brumbach (tenor sax) Rob Mazurek (trumpet); Bob Dogan (piano track 12).

Blueplicity mc
Blueplicity zippy

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Dave Specter - Left Turn On Blue

Year: 1996
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:54
Size: 145,0 MB
Styles: Electric blues, jazzy blues
Scans: Front, inside, tray

1. Get Back Home (4:03)
2. Stop! Hold It (5:50)
3. Killer Jack (4:39)
4. Till The End Of Time (4:39)
5. Party Girl (3:25)
6. Juice Head Baby (5:39)
7. Left Turn On Blue (4:45)
8. Unleavened Soul (5:33)
9. Hopeless (5:04)
10. What's The Matter (5:23)
11. Tremble (3:39)
12. Roll Baby Roll (5:13)
13. When Will The Blues Leave (4:56)

This was Specter's fifth album for Delmark Records. It saw the Chicago guitarist team up with singer/harpslinger Lynwood Slim (who wrote or co-wrote four of the songs) and organist Jack McDuff. A smooth and easy listen, Left Turn on Blue shuffles, swings, and bops at the juncture of blues and jazz. From the blues chestnut "Party Girl" to the Albert Collins instrumental "Tremble" to the steady jazz groove of Slim's "Stop! Hold It," this is a very classy album. The horns are nicely done, and jazz buffs will particularly enjoy Specter's brief interjections of other tunes into the songs: "Til the End of Time," "Unleavened Soul," and "Killer Jack." /Ann Wickstrom, AllMusic

Left Turn On Blue mc
Left Turn On Blue zippy

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Dave Specter & Lenny Lynn - Blues Spoken Here

Year: 1998
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:01
Size: 168,3 MB
Styles: Electric blues, jazzy blues
Scans: Full

1. Blues Spoken Here (5:53)
2. Why My Baby (Keep On Bothering Me) (4:10)
3. Señor Blues (8:25)
4. Boss Funk (5:23)
5. I Stepped In Quicksand (5:48)
6. Just A Dream (10:50)
7. City Boy Blues (4:40)
8. Kiddio (4:28)
9. Blues On My Mind (6:18)
10. Listen Here (7:56)
11. Moanin' (4:59)
12. Roll 'Em Pete (4:06)

Guitarist Specter has always had good singers with him on his Delmark albums and Blues Spoken Here introduces Lenny Lynn. Similar to a previous Specter cohort Barkin' Bill, Lynn has been influenced by Joe Williams (the one who sang with Count Basie) and Brook Benton. Their voices all have that deep, warm sound and Lenny also has that jazz sensibility apparent on the tracks Listen Here and Moanin'.

With four albums of his own, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander is Delmark's most popular jazz artist. He's featured here on four tracks and knows Lenny from his early days of professional playing. Lenny gave Eric his first gig! Both the studio performances and the two live tracks from Buddy Guy's Legends blues club were recorded the last week of January, '98. /Amazon

Blues Spoken Here mc
Blues Spoken Here zippy

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Dave Specter - Message In Blue

Size: 135,6 MB
Time: 58:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Chicago Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Front

01. New West Side Stroll (5:07)
02. Got To Find A Way (3:50)
03. This Time I'm Gone For Good (5:28)
04. Message In Blue (4:15)
05. Chicago Style (3:30)
06. I Found A Love (3:49)
07. Funkified Outta Space (4:48)
08. Same Old Blues (5:01)
09. The Stinger (5:13)
10. Jefferson Stomp (5:50)
11. Watchdog (3:54)
12. The Spectifyin' Samba (4:30)
13. Opus De Swamp (2:50)

Dave Specter's 10th album, Message in Blue, is a soulful and compelling blend of Specter's original instrumentals along with powerful blues/R&B vocals. Soul legend Otis Clay makes his Delmark debut as special guest on three songs including a re-make of the classic "Got To Find A Way" with Willie Henderson and the Chicago Horns, The Falcons' "I Found A Love" (complete with Specter nod to Robert Ward playing through a Magnatone amplifier) and a tribute to the late Bobby "Blue" Bland, "This Time I'm Gone For Good". Brother John Kattke is on keyboards and vocals while harp ace Bob Corritore guests on two Specter originals. From tough and tone-full Chicago blues guitar to soul-jazz grooves and funky R&B, Message in Blue is sure to satisfy! "One of the few top-tier guitarists." - Down Beat

Message In Blue
Message In Blue (ZS)

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Dave Specter & Steve Freund - Is What It Is

Size: 156,1 MB
Time: 66:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Full

01. My Little Playhouse (4:08)
02. Is What It Is (5:35)
03. People Get Ready (6:44)
04. Hoverin' Hawk (5:49)
05. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (6:05)
06. Albatross (4:38)
07. Loan A Helping Hand (4:05)
08. Too Hot At Home (6:59)
09. Riverside Ride (6:47)
10. Rollin' Man (5:17)
11. Adrienne (5:41)
12. She Needs Some Loving (4:54)

The long established musical relationship between guitarists Dave Specter and Steve Freund goes back nearly 20 years, when Specter sought out Freund as a guitar teacher. They have shared many stages, but this marks the first occasion that they have recorded together. In the best of the Chicago blues tradition as illustrated by the legendary Delmark label, Is What It Is is a loose, swinging, tough blues date filled with great tunes, inspired playing and loose-groove vibes. While Specter has become well-known for his jazzy blues playing, his former teacher Freund has stayed close to the roots of the Chicago sound. That contrast works beautifully here on both covers and originals. Freund's tunes are some of the bets on the set as evidenced by the opener "My Little Playhouse." One of the reasons for this is his deep, clear soulful singing which adds punch and nuance to the dueling guitars Specter brings classy elegance to the set in his instrumentals, like the title track that carries a deeply Southern-fried funk to the more urban Chicago sound and the shuffling gutbucket stroll of "Riverside Ride," where the two players wind around and through one another exuberantly. Other highlights include a beautiful reading of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," with guitar interplay that is every bit as symbiotic and sensual as the Rolling Stones' "Beast of Burden." Elsewhere, an instrumental version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" adds colorful textures between the inventive rhythm performance by Freund and Specter's careful yet innovative play on the melody. The stomping slow blues in Freund's "Hovering Hawk" is raw, raucous and tough. Again his voice pushes the guitars into the pocket and keeps them there. The stinging, hip-shaking read of Peter Green's "Rollin' Man," and a graceful "Albatross" are wonderful surprises, as is the gorgeous version of Otis Spann's "She Needs Some Loving," that closes the set and caps a banner date. ~Review by Thom Jurek

Is What It Is

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Dave Specter & Barkin' Bill Smith - Bluebird Blues (Feat. Ronnie Earl)

Size: 112,7 MB
Time: 48:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1991
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Full

01. Things I'd Do For You (3:41)
02. Tell Me What's The Reason (4:47)
03. Bluebird Blues (5:46)
04. Wind Chill (5:26)
05. Get Me While I'm Free (4:23)
06. Buzz Me (4:31)
07. Lie To Me (5:11)
08. Railroad Station Blues (7:13)
09. Our Course Is Run (4:02)
10. Take A Little Walk With Me (3:16)

There wasn't any musical generation gap between young Chicago guitarist Specter and his much older front man Barkin' Bill Smith. Specter's love for the electrified 1950s styles of Magic Sam, T-Bone Walker, and B.B. King blended well with Smith's deep, almost crooning baritone pipes on what was the debut album for both men. Lots of breezy swing informs the retro-styled set. ~Review by Bill Dahl

Thanks to DrPeak.
Bluebird Blues

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Al Miller - 2 albums: ...In Between Time / Wild Cards

Album: ...In Between Time
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 72:03
Size: 165.0 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:48] 1. Rockin' All Day
[5:08] 2. I Need You So Bad
[4:07] 3. My Baby Walked Out
[5:10] 4. Old Friends
[4:57] 5. In Between Time
[3:00] 6. I Got It
[4:19] 7. Dead Presidents
[4:29] 8. A Better Day
[3:32] 9. Tighten Up On It
[6:57] 10. '1839'
[3:36] 11. Billy's Boogie
[2:58] 12. Make It Alright
[4:09] 13. Bachelor Blues
[3:28] 14. If You Don't Want Me
[6:06] 15. Lake Michigan Waters
[3:38] 16. Lawhorn Special
[3:34] 17. Blizzard

Harpist Al Miller’s blues timeline harks back nearly five decades. He’s had a frustrating habit of surfacing just long enough to cut loose with some succulent, stick-to-your-ribs traditional Chicago blues, only to recede into the shadows again for an extended stretch. The next time he pops up on the radar screen, he sounds just as fine as he ever did. This collection dates back to three sessions spread across 1999 and 2000 and was first released independently by Miller, who also served as its producer, but its appeal is timeless.

Miller was a proud member of the early wave of young white Windy City blues musicians. He gigged on the South Side with veteran mandolinist Johnny Young and Chicago Slim in 1964 before falling in with a crew of snarling blues-rockers, the Dirty Wurds who recorded on Chess Records. Emigrating to the Bay Area, he traded licks for a while with guitar wizard Michael Bloomfield around the end of the decade. Real life interrupted Al’s blues ambitions after that; he returned home to start a family and earn a weekly paycheck at a day job. But Miller never hung up his harp or his musical dreams altogether. In 1995, he released his first Delmark CD, Wild Cards (I had the pleasure of writing the liner notes for that one).

Miller exhibits excellent taste in covers on this album, reaching back for three numbers penned by his old friend Johnny Young as well as obscure gems by Jimmy McCracklin, Eddie Taylor, Percy Mayfield, and Elmore James. Though quite a capable singer, Miller brought in estimable guitarist John Primer to handle the vocal honors on B.B. King’s “I Need You So Bad,” Little Walter’s wry “Dead Presidents” (the only selection sporting a sax section), and Elmore James’ “1839,” adding to the fun and variety. There was room to lay down several rollicking instrumentals showcasing Miller’s mouth organ, Primer and Specter paid tribute to a long-gone (and too often-overlooked) Chicago guitar great on “Lawhorn Special.” Seems like it’s about time that Al Miller takes his spot among Chicago’s blues harp elite. ~Bill Dahl

...In Between Time

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Album: Wild Cards
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 69:16
Size: 158.6 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[3:29] 1. I Don't Play
[3:45] 2. Stuck In Chicago
[6:46] 3. Seventy-Four
[4:06] 4. Long Grey Mare
[5:07] 5. Can't Stay Here No More
[4:27] 6. Special Way
[5:19] 7. Deal The Cards
[4:18] 8. Red Top Boogie
[5:13] 9. Fallin' Rain
[6:10] 10. I Had A Dream
[5:03] 11. Jockey Blues
[5:00] 12. Big 'C' Blues
[6:20] 13. Blues For John Littlejohn
[4:08] 14. Sittin' Here Thinkin'

Al Miller has assembled a full house of Chicago talent for your listening pleasure on his first album. Not only does this stacked deck feature Miller's triple threat talent as harpist, guitarist and vocalist, it boasts the formidable presence of some of the hottest blues artists from the Windy City circuit - Willie Kent, Dave Specter, Tad Robinson and Steve Freund.

Wild Cards

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Jesse Fortune With Dave Specter & The Bluebirds - Fortune Tellin' Man

Size: 125,3 MB
Time: 54:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1993
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Dark Is The Night (4:58)
02. Fortune Tellin' Man (4:30)
03. Get Mad At My Money (5:05)
04. Sandu (4:45)
05. Too Many Cooks (3:47)
06. Lovingest Woman In Town (4:01)
07. Specter's Walk (4:58)
08. Gambler's Blues (6:08)
09. Be Careful With A Fool (4:14)
10. Ain't About Money (4:39)
11. Losing Hand (7:12)

Team one of the criminally overlooked blues vocalists inhabiting Chicago's West side with a tight young combo sporting a decidedly retro approach and you get this fine album, veteran singer Jesse Fortune's debut set. Guitarist Dave Specter & the Bluebirds admirably back the big-voiced Fortune as he recuts his Willie Dixon-penned USA label classic "Too Many Cooks," and shouts some lesser-known B.B. King gems and a few new items. Definitely a case of better late than never! ~Review by Bill Dahl

Thanks to Marc.
Fortune Tellin' Man

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Dave Specter - Live In Chicago

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 66:26
Size: 152.1 MB
Styles: Electric Chicago blues
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[7:56] 1. Boss Funk Riverside Ride
[6:22] 2. What Love Did To Me
[5:27] 3. How I Got To Memphis
[5:47] 4. What's Your Angle
[6:38] 5. Texas Top
[6:13] 6. Feel So Bad
[8:27] 7. Out On The Road
[7:02] 8. Is What It Is
[5:14] 9. In Too Deep
[7:16] 10. Angel

Blues guitarist Dave Specter is never prone to grandstanding. He communicates an inherent sense of style and form, subtlety and swing, keeping his magnetic needle always fixed on a steady, unalterable course. Recorded live at Buddy Guy's Legends and Rosa's.

Dave Specter is joined by a few special guests, including Sharon Lewis, Tad Robinson and Jimmy Johnson, on this live recording from Buddy Guy's Legends and Rosa's Blues Lounge. The CD contains four instrumentals and two songs by each of the guest vocalists.

Live In Chicago

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