Henry Gray - Henry Gray Plays Chicago Blues

Size: 311 MB
Time: 48:07
File: Flac
Released: 2001
Styles: Piano Blues
Art: Full

1. Talkin' 'Bout You (2:36)
2. Times Are Getting Hard (4:36)
3. Henry's Houserocker (2:09)
4. Trouble Blues (5:34)
5. How Many More Years (3:04)
6. It Hurts Me Too (3:42)
7. How Could You Do It (2:34)
8. I Held My Baby Last Night (4:03)
9. Everybody's Fishin' (2:55)
10. Don't Start That Stuff (4:01)
11. They Raided the Joint (3:04)
12. Ain't No Use (3:18)
13. That Ain't Right (2:58)
14. Showers of Rain (3:27)

Henry Gray (January 19, 1925 – February 17, 2020) was an American blues piano player and singer born in Kenner, Louisiana. He played for more than seven decades and performed with many artists, including Robert Lockwood Jr., Billy Boy Arnold, Morris Pejoe, the Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf. He has more than 58 albums to his credit, including recordings for Chess Records. He is credited as helping to create the distinctive sound of the Chicago blues piano. In 2017, Gray was inducted in to the Blues Hall of Fame.

Henry Gray Plays Chicago Blues FLAC

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Henry Gray - Direct-To-Disc Sessions [Vinyl] (APO 001)

Source: Vinyl (clean)
Size: 40.3 MB
Time: 17:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Chicago Blues, Piano Blues
Art: Full

01. Out On The Road (3:45)
02. I Ain't Going For That (3:39)
03. Watch Yourself (2:54)
04. How Long Blues (3:58)
05. Let Me Go (3:04)

Recorded October 12, 2000 at Blue Heaven Studio.

The lustrous Chicago blues scene of the 1950's was predominated by great pianists. Otis Spann, Henry Gray, Johnnie Jones and Sunnyland Slim were among the era's very best. Henry's rolling two-fisted keyboard work graced countless Chicago blues recordings during the '50s for leading labels. Unlike most of his contemporaries there, he was from Louisiana rather than Mississippi-and since 1968, he's been living at his boyhood home just outside of Baton Rouge once again, a stalwart on the swamp blues circuit.

Born in Kenner, Louisiana, Henry arrived in Chicago in 1946, fresh from a stint in the Philippines during World War II. Strongly influenced by ivories master Big Maceo, Henry's rapidly escalating talents were soon in heavy demand. After starting out with Little Hudson's Red Devil Trio, Henry appeared on classic sides by Jimmy Reed, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Rogers, Little Walter, Billy Boy Arnold and Morris Pejoe before joining Howlin' Wolf's combo in 1956 for a 12-year run.

Although Henry's ability on the 88s is renowned worldwide, his warm expressive vocals may come as something of a revelation. There's more than a hint of Henry's Louisiana roots in his music. The brilliant piano style of Henry Gray once represented the very best Chicago had to offer. You know, some things never change. Henry cut 5 songs solo on this direct-to-disc. He plays a Steinway Concert Grand 9' model D.

Direct-To-Disc Sessions [Vinyl] (APO 001) MP3
Direct-To-Disc Sessions [Vinyl] (APO 001) FLAC

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Henry Gray - Shake A Hand (Live)

Size: 128.2 MB
Time: 54:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Piano Blues, Chicago Blues, Louisiana Blues
Art: Front

01. The Baron’s Introduction (Live) (0:20)
02. Shake A Hand (Live) (4:34)
03. How Long (Live) (4:19)
04. Sweet Home Chicago (Live) (3:05)
05. All In My Sleep (Live) (3:35)
06. Down Home Blues (Live) (4:31)
07. It Hurts Me Too (Live) (3:11)
08. I’m A Lucky Man (Live) (2:46)
09. Sinner’s Prayer (Live) (3:37)
10. How Can You Do It? (Live) (2:22)
11. Little Red Rooster (Live) (4:48)
12. Boogie In The Dark (Live) (2:06)
13. Tutti Frutti (Live) (2:23)
14. Everybody’s Fishing (Live) (3:02)
15. What I’d Say (Live) (2:38)
16. Howling For My Darling (Live) (2:48)
17. My Girl Josephine (Live) (2:35)
18. Good Bye Baby (Live) (2:03)

Louisiana-based pianist and singer Henry Gray had a career in American roots music that goes back to the 1940s. Gray was born January 19, 1925 in Kenner, Louisiana, now a suburb of New Orleans. He grew up in Alsen, a few miles north of Baton Rouge. He began playing piano as an eight-year-old, and he learned from the radio, recordings, and Mrs. White, an elderly woman in his neighborhood. As a youngster, he began playing piano and organ in the local church, and his family eventually got a piano for the house. While blues playing was not allowed in his parents' home, he was encouraged to play blues at Mrs. White's house, and by the time he was 16 he was asked to play at a club near the family home in Alsen. His father insisted on going with him, and once he saw that Gray made decent money playing blues, he had no ethical or moral problems with his son playing blues piano.

After a stint in the Army in the South Pacific in World War II, Gray relocated to Chicago in 1946. He began hanging out in the bustling postwar club scene there, checking out the Windy City's best piano players. One day while he was sitting in at a club, he caught the attention of Big Maceo Merriweather, then a big fish in a small pond of Chicago piano players. Merriweather took Gray under his wing and showed him around the city's blues clubs, and he got to know stars of the scene including Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. In 1956 Wolf asked Gray to join his band. He quickly accepted the offer and stayed on as Wolf's primary piano player until 1968. Gray also became a session player for other recordings made by Chess Records, and over the years he has recorded with many icons of the blues. In addition to Wolf, Gray has recorded or performed with Robert Lockwood Jr., Billy Boy Arnold, Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, Hubert Sumlin, Lazy Lester, Little Walter Jacobs, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Little Milton Campbell, Jimmy Rogers, Jimmy Reed, and Koko Taylor, among others. Although Howlin' Wolf did not pass away until 1976, Gray left Wolf's band in 1968, following the death of his father, and returned to Alsen to assist his mother with the family fish market business. Gray worked with the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board as a roofer for the next 15 years.

After returning to Louisiana, Gray performed at nearly every New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as well as other prestigious gatherings, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the San Francisco Blues Festival. In 1999 he was nominated for a Grammy for his playing on the Tribute to Howlin' Wolf album released by the Cleveland-based Telarc label, and in 1998 he was handpicked by Mick Jagger himself to play Jagger's 55th birthday soiree in Paris, along with a few other noted blues musicians. Having spent so much of his life as a sideman, Gray's recordings under his own name were few and far between, but that all began to change in the 1990s. Gray's recordings include Lucky Man for Blind Pig in 1988; Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 2 for Wolf Records in 1990; Watch Yourself in 2001 for Lucky Cat; Henry Gray Plays Chicago Blues for Hightone Records in 2001; and the Henry Gray & the Cats CD and DVD sets for the Lucky Cat label in 2004. In 2006, Gray received the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and 2009 saw the release of Times Are Gettin' Hard, issued by the Lucky Cat label. In 2017, the same year Gray was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, he brought out the album 92, the title referring to his age at the time it was released. Henry Gray died on February 17, 2020 in Baton Rouge; he was 95 years old. ~Richard Skelly

Shake A Hand (Live) MP3
Shake A Hand (Live) FLAC

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Henry Gray - Blueshouse

Size: 100.4 MB
Time: 42:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1996
Styles: Piano Blues, Chicago Blues
Art: Full

01. I'm Talking About You (3:07)
02. When Things Go Wrong (3:37)
03. Raided That Joint (3:11)
04. Things Have Changed (3:08)
05. Mojo Boogie (1:56)
06. It Ain't No Use (4:13)
07. Come On In (2:39)
08. How Long? (3:28)
09. Shake A Hand (4:24)
10. Love With A Feeling (4:00)
11. Everybody's Fishin' (2:33)
12. Dont't Start That Stuff (3:04)
13. Henry's Boogie (2:58)

Louisiana-based pianist and singer Henry Gray has a career in American roots music that goes back more than 60 years. Gray was born January 19, 1925, in Kenner, LA, now a suburb of New Orleans. He grew up in Alsen, LA, a few miles north of Baton Rouge. Henry began playing piano as an eight-year-old, and he learned from the radio, recordings, and Mrs. White, an elderly woman in his neighborhood. As a youngster, he began playing piano and organ in the local church, and his family eventually got a piano for the house. While blues playing was not allowed in his parents' home, Henry was encouraged to play blues at Mrs. White's house, and by the time he was 16 he was asked to play at a club near the family home in Alsen. After he told his father, his father insisted on going with him, and once he saw that little Henry made decent money playing blues, he had no ethical or moral problems with his son playing blues piano.

After a stint in the Army in the South Pacific in World War II, Henry relocated to Chicago where he had relatives. After arriving in Chicago in 1946, Gray began hanging out in the bustling postwar club scene there, checking out the Windy City's best piano players. One day while he was sitting in at a club, he caught the attention of Big Maceo Merriweather, then a big fish in a small pond of Chicago piano players. Merriweather kindly took Gray under his wing and showed him around the city's blues clubs, and he got to know stars of the scene, including Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. In 1956 Wolf asked Henry to join his band. Gray quickly accepted the offer and stayed on as Wolf's primary piano player until 1968. Gray also became a session player for other recordings made by Chess Records, and over the years he has recorded with many icons of the blues. In addition to Wolf, Gray has recorded or performed with Robert Lockwood Jr., Billy Boy Arnold, Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, Hubert Sumlin, Lazy Lester, Little Walter Jacobs, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Little Milton Campbell, Jimmy Rogers, Jimmy Reed, and Koko Taylor, among others. Although Howlin' Wolf did not pass away until 1976, Gray left Wolf's band in 1968, following the death of his father, and returned to Alsen to assist his mother with the family fish market business. Gray worked with the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board as a roofer for the next 15 years.

In the past 30 years, since he's been back in Louisiana, Gray has performed at nearly every New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as well as other prestigious gatherings, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the San Francisco Blues Festival. In 1999 he was nominated for a Grammy for his playing on the Tribute to Howlin' Wolf album released by the Cleveland-based Telarc label, and in 1998 he was handpicked by Mick Jagger himself to play Jagger's 55th birthday soiree in Paris, along with a few other noted blues musicians. Having spent so much of his life as a sideman, Gray's recordings under his own name were few and far between, but that all began to change in the 1990s. Gray's recordings include Lucky Man for Blind Pig in 1988; Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 2 for Wolf Records in 1990; Watch Yourself in 2001 for Lucky Cat; Henry Gray Plays Chicago Blues for Hightone Records in 2001; and the Henry Gray and the Cats CD and DVD sets for the Lucky Cat label in 2004. ~Richard Skelly

Blueshouse MP3
Blueshouse FLAC

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Henry Gray & The Cats - Watch Yourself (Feat. Little Paul 'Buck' Sinegal)

Size: 130.1 MB
Time: 55:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Chicago Blues, Piano Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Watch Yourself (3:52)
02. You Messed Up (3:00)
03. Hurt My Feelin's (3:26)
04. Dust My Broom (3:22)
05. Don't You Lie To me (2:59)
06. Shake A Hand (4:45)
07. Talkin' Bout You (2:47)
08. Cold Chills (4:55)
09. How Could You Do It (2:18)
10. Somebody's Got To Go (4:41)
11. Scratch The Cat (3:32)
12. Feel Like A Stranger (4:50)
13. Keepin' The Blues Alive (5:31)
14. Showers Of Rain (5:31)

The emergence of legendary Baton Rouge pianist Henry Gray as a featured artist, vocalist and bandleader well into his 70s has been a wonderful development for music lovers of the truly authentic blues persuasion.

One of the most influential pianists of the modern era, Henry helped define the keyboard sound of the Chicago blues after World War II on dates with Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells, and other modern blues giants. His work as a key sideman with Howlin  Wolf between 1954 and 1968 was featured on many classic Chess recordings and introduced him to audiences all over the world.

Henry left Wolf and the Chicago blues scene in the late 60s to return to the Baton Rouge area where he grew up. There he graced the bands of Louisiana bluesmen Slim Harpo, Lightnin  Slim, Tabby Thomas, Raful Neal, Whisperin  Smith and others before forming a working band with bassist Andy Cornett, Brian B.B.  Bruce on harmonica and drummer Earl Christopher.

Henry Gray & The Cats  joined by guest guitarists Sonny Landreth and Martin Simpson  cut their first album, Blues Won t Let Me Take My Rest, live  at the Grant Street club in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1999 and released it on their own Lucky Cat Records. Excellent reviews and brisk sales of the initial release inspired them to undertake the outing under hand, another stirring collection of Henry Gray originals and blues classics rendered to perfection by the band and their musical friends, including the great Louisiana guitarist Paul Little Buck  Sinegal.

Henry's piano is front and center here, rolling and rocking like a mighty force of nature, and his singing and playing are remarkably robust for a man of 75  indeed, for a man of any age. Henry Gray is a true American treasure, captured here at the very top of his form, playing and singing his heart out, and we are extremely fortunate to be able to enjoy the sweet late-blooming fruits of his life-long labor as one of the perfect masters of the electric blues. ~John Sinclair

Watch Yourself (Feat. Little Paul 'Buck' Sinegal) MP3
Watch Yourself (Feat. Little Paul 'Buck' Sinegal) FLAC

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Henry Gray & Bob Corritore - Henry Gray & Bob Corritore Sessions Vol. 2: Cold Chills

Size: 126,8 MB
Time: 53:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front & Back

01. Cold Chills (4:11)
02. Look Out Mabel (2:58)
03. Don't You Lie To Me (2:31)
04. John Brim Phone Message (0:18)
05. Moonlight Blues (3:07)
06. Going Away Baby (4:11)
07. Mother In Law Blues (4:10)
08. Hurt Your Feelings (6:09)
09. The Mojo (2:50)
10. Ain't No Use (3:15)
11. The Twist (2:40)
12. You For Me (4:16)
13. Javelina Jamboree (3:56)
14. Birthday Blues (4:55)
15. Going Down Slow (4:06)

Legendary blues piano master Henry Gray and harmonica ace Bob Corritore joined forces in 1996 with regular trips to Bob's Phoenix nightclub, the Rhythm Rhythm and to the recording studio. These shows and sessions continued until 2018 when Henry was no longer able to fly per doctor's orders. This collection provides a 14 song serving of some of the great sessions that these two collaborated on over a 22 year period! In addition to eight Henry Gray vocal features, special guests John Brim, Tail Dragger, Eddie Taylor Jr., Jimi Primetime Smith, Chief Schabuttie Gilliame all add to the blues magic! This album is the third entry in Bob Corritore's 'From The Vaults' series.

Henry Gray & Bob Corritore Sessions Vol. 2: Cold Chills MP3
Henry Gray & Bob Corritore Sessions Vol. 2: Cold Chills FLAC

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Henry Gray & The Cats - Live In Paris / Times Are Gettin' Hard

Album: Live In Paris
Size: 130,9 MB
Time: 55:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2003
Styles: Piano Blues, Chicago Blues
Art: Full

01. It Hurts Me Too (4:39)
02. Sweet Home Chicago (4:06)
03. Out On The Road (6:17)
04. Tutti Frutti (2:58)
05. Rock Me (5:55)
06. Showers Of Rain (4:29)
07. Fannie Mae (3:27)
08. Key To The Highway (3:58)
09. Stagger Lee (3:09)
10. The Twist (3:35)
11. Boogie In The Dark (3:19)
12. Lawdy Miss Clawdy (2:10)
13. What'd I Say (3:11)
14. Shake A Hand (4:22)

Personnel:
Henry Gray: Piano, Vocals
Brian 'BV' Bruce: Harmonica
Paul "Lil' Buck" Sinegal: Guitar
Andy Cornett: Bass
Earl Christopher: Drums

Live in Paris at Le Meridien Etoile Hotel in Paris 27 March 2003.

Henry Gray (January 19, 1925 – February 17, 2020)

Louisiana-based pianist and singer Henry Gray has a career in American roots music that goes back more than 60 years. Gray was born January 19, 1925, in Kenner, LA, now a suburb of New Orleans. He grew up in Alsen, LA, a few miles north of Baton Rouge. Henry began playing piano as an eight-year-old, and he learned from the radio, recordings, and Mrs. White, an elderly woman in his neighborhood. As a youngster, he began playing piano and organ in the local church, and his family eventually got a piano for the house. While blues playing was not allowed in his parents' home, Henry was encouraged to play blues at Mrs. White's house, and by the time he was 16 he was asked to play at a club near the family home in Alsen. After he told his father, his father insisted on going with him, and once he saw that little Henry made decent money playing blues, he had no ethical or moral problems with his son playing blues piano.

After a stint in the Army in the South Pacific in World War II, Henry relocated to Chicago where he had relatives. After arriving in Chicago in 1946, Gray began hanging out in the bustling postwar club scene there, checking out the Windy City's best piano players. One day while he was sitting in at a club, he caught the attention of Big Maceo Merriweather, then a big fish in a small pond of Chicago piano players. Merriweather kindly took Gray under his wing and showed him around the city's blues clubs, and he got to know stars of the scene, including Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. In 1956 Wolf asked Henry to join his band. Gray quickly accepted the offer and stayed on as Wolf's primary piano player until 1968. Gray also became a session player for other recordings made by Chess Records, and over the years he has recorded with many icons of the blues. In addition to Wolf, Gray has recorded or performed with Robert Lockwood Jr., Billy Boy Arnold, Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, Hubert Sumlin, Lazy Lester, Little Walter Jacobs, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Little Milton Campbell, Jimmy Rogers, Jimmy Reed, and Koko Taylor, among others. Although Howlin' Wolf did not pass away until 1976, Gray left Wolf's band in 1968, following the death of his father, and returned to Alsen to assist his mother with the family fish market business. Gray worked with the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board as a roofer for the next 15 years.

In the past 30 years, since he's been back in Louisiana, Gray has performed at nearly every New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as well as other prestigious gatherings, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the San Francisco Blues Festival. In 1999 he was nominated for a Grammy for his playing on the Tribute to Howlin' Wolf album released by the Cleveland-based Telarc label, and in 1998 he was handpicked by Mick Jagger himself to play Jagger's 55th birthday soiree in Paris, along with a few other noted blues musicians. Having spent so much of his life as a sideman, Gray's recordings under his own name were few and far between, but that all began to change in the 1990s. Gray's recordings include Lucky Man for Blind Pig in 1988; Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 2 for Wolf Records in 1990; Watch Yourself in 2001 for Lucky Cat; Henry Gray Plays Chicago Blues for Hightone Records in 2001; and the Henry Gray and the Cats CD and DVD sets for the Lucky Cat label in 2004. ~Richard Skelly

Live In Paris

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Album: Times Are Gettin' Hard
Size: 133,4 MB
Time: 56:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Piano Blues
Art: Full

01. Trouble, Trouble (3:43)
02. Times Are Gettin' Hard (3:36)
03. Come On In (3:47)
04. Wanda Faye (4:31)
05. Goin' Downtown (4:25)
06. Please Be Careful (4:18)
07. Katrina Katrina (4:47)
08. How Could You Do It (3:25)
09. Jump On Board (3:07)
10. Going Down Slow (4:23)
11. Stroll Is Back (1:34)
12. How Much More (3:26)
13. That Ain't Right (4:41)
14. Barack Obama Boogie (3:48)
15. What You Gonna Do (3:17)

Personnel:
Henry Gray: Piano, Vocals
Brian 'BV' Bruce: Harmonica
Marty Christian: Guitar
Andy Cornett: Bass
Frank Kincel: Drums
Jackie Bruce: Tambourine

Scotlandville blues piano legend Henry Gray is one of those rare musicians—in the blues field they can be counted on one hand— whose style is instantly recognizable. Case in point is the intro on opening track “Trouble, Trouble” from his latest album, Times Are Gettin’ Hard. Now pushing 85—35 years ago the UK blues press reported our man was retired!—Gray is no less than brilliant here.

While he hails from Louisiana, Gray is the heir to the Chicago blues piano throne via 25 years of backing Howlin’ Wolf, J. B. Lenoir, Little Walter and Jimmy Reed on the south side. Today, his playing still recalls the golden age of Chicago blues, and it’s on display here. Playing solo and with an enthusiastic small combo, his repertoire is largely traditional. Besides the aforementioned “Trouble, Trouble,” Gray sparkles on the proven “That Ain’t Right” and the classic “Goin’ Down Slow.” Realizing it’s no longer 1955, Henry came up with the timely title track, as well as the predictable “Katrina, Katrina” and Alex Rawls’ favorite, “Barack Obama Boogie!” Granted, there are one or two stumbles along the way—at times the Cats are a little too enthusiastic—but this is superb release from a true legend. This is what the blues are all about. ~Jeff Hannusch

Times Are Gettin' Hard

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Bob Corritore & Friends - Do The Hip-Shake Baby!

Source: Lossless Digital Download
Size: 116,1 MB
Time: 49:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock, Blues Gospel
Art: Full

01. Shake Your Hips (Feat. Mighty Joe Milsap) (4:06)
02. Gonna Tell Your Mother (Feat. Alabama Mike & L.A. Jones) (2:40)
03. Bitter Seed (Feat. Oscar Wilson) (2:27)
04. The Twist (Feat. Henry Gray) (2:41)
05. You Better Slow Down (Feat. Bill 'Howl-N-Madd' Perry) (4:05)
06. Worried Blues (Feat. Alabama Mike) (4:07)
07. Love Deep As The Ocean (Feat. John Primer) (4:13)
08. Trying To Make A Living (Feat. Sugaray Rayford & Junior Watson) (3:40)
09. Stand By Me (Feat. Alabama Mike & Andy T) (4:25)
10. I'm Gonna Keep What I've Got (Feat. Mighty Joe Milsap) (3:27)
11. I Got The World In A Jug (Feat. John 'Primetime' Smith) (3:15)
12. Few More Days (Feat. Alabama Mike) (2:20)
13. Keep The Lord On With You! (Feat. Sugaray Rayford & Kid Ramos) (7:29)

DO THE HIP-SHAKE BABY! is the brilliant follow-up to harmonica ace BOB CORRITOREs acclaimed 2018 release, DONT LET THE DEVIL RIDE. The thirteen songs culled from recording sessions from 2016 to 2018 feature an amazing array of special guests, including Alabama Mike, Sugaray Rayford, Oscar Wilson, Henry Gray, Bill Howl-N-Madd Perry, Jimi Primetime Smith, The Fremonts, Andy T band featuring Anson Funderburgh, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Main, Bob Stroger, Fred Kaplan, Bob Welsh, LA Jones, Adrianna Marie, Nathan James and more! Sterling vocalists, amazing guitarists, killer piano, fantastic rhythm sections, and Bob Corritores soulful harmonica to connect it all together.This is a carefully assembled collection of fun loving blues, rhythm and blues, early rock n roll, soul and gospel rock songs. Imagine a live-music dance-club in 1968 complete with go-go dancers! Bob refers to this as his Harmonica-a-go-go album! Mixed at Greaseland Studios by Kid Andersen, this the 14th album of Corritores illustrious career, and his best yet!

Do The Hip-Shake Baby!

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VA - Sean Carney's Blues For A Cure: Blues Cures Studio Jam Vol. 2

Size: 128,5 MB
Time: 55:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01 JP Soars, Trampled Under Foot, Ricky Nye & Gene Walker - The Hustle (Is On) (5:16)
02 Trampled Under Foot, Jimmy Thackery & Jonn Richardson - Voodoo Woman (4:52)
03 Henry Gray, Sean Carney & Jonn Richardson - Goin' Downtown (4:07)
04 Matt O'Ree Band, Jimmy Thackery, Ricky Nye & Micah Kesselring - No Whiskey Blues (8:15)
05 Matt O'Ree Band, Sean Carney, Jimmy Thackery & Ricky Nye - I Need You So Bad (4:37)
06 Ricky Nye, Trampled Under Foot & Jonn Richardson - Central City Blues (3:38)
07 Matt O'Ree Band, Nick Schnebelen & JP Soars - Chloe's Song (5:17)
08 Henry Gray, Sean Carney & Jonn Richardson - Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest (3:58)
09 Trampled Under Foot, Jimmy Thackery & Micah Kesselring - Maggie Campbell Blues (4:36)
10 Henry Gray & Ricky Nye - Jump On Board (4:31)
11 Trampled Under Foot, Jonn Richardson, Sean Carney & JP Soars - IBCn You (5:54)

Featuring an unprecedented 4 International Blues Challenge (IBC) "Albert King" award winning guitarists and 2008 champion band Trampled Under Foot. Jonn Richardson (2005), Sean Carney (2007), Nick Schnebelen (2008) and JP Soars (2009). In addition, Blues legends Henry Gray and Jimmy Thackery along with 2006 Guitar Center "King Of The Blues" national Champion, Matt O'Ree, along with Ricky Nye, Gene Walker and 2009 IBC Youth Showcase "Best" Micah Kesselring. Contains 4 new original tracks and a few old standards with a new modern Blues vibe.

If you like it, please buy it. It's for a good cause.

Blues Cures Studio Jam Vol. 2

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Henry Gray & The Cats - Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest

Year: 1999
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:35
Size: 167,5 MB
Styles: Piano blues, Chicago blues
Scans: Full

1. Greyhound Blues (5:47)
2. Rock Me Baby (5:20)
3. Dust My Broom (3:30)
4. Sweet Home Chicago (4:10)
5. Out On The Road (4:08)
6. They Raided The Joint (3:17)
7. Ain't Goin' For That (4:10)
8. Worried Life Blues (5:37)
9. The Twist (5:02)
10. It Ain't No Use (5:25)
11. CC Rider (3:58)
12. Stagger Lee (4:50)
13. Fannie Mae (6:44)
14. Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest (5:19)
15. Lord Have Mercy (5:12)

Louisiana-based pianist and singer Henry Gray has a career in American roots music that goes back more than 60 years. Gray was born January 19, 1925, in Kenner, LA, now a suburb of New Orleans. He grew up in Alsen, LA, a few miles north of Baton Rouge. Henry began playing piano as an eight-year-old, and he learned from the radio, recordings, and Mrs. White, an elderly woman in his neighborhood. As a youngster, he began playing piano and organ in the local church, and his family eventually got a piano for the house. While blues playing was not allowed in his parents' home, Henry was encouraged to play blues at Mrs. White's house, and by the time he was 16 he was asked to play at a club near the family home in Alsen. After he told his father, his father insisted on going with him, and once he saw that little Henry made decent money playing blues, he had no ethical or moral problems with his son playing blues piano.

After a stint in the Army in the South Pacific in World War II, Henry relocated to Chicago where he had relatives. After arriving in Chicago in 1946, Gray began hanging out in the bustling postwar club scene there, checking out the Windy City's best piano players. One day while he was sitting in at a club, he caught the attention of Big Maceo Merriweather, then a big fish in a small pond of Chicago piano players. Merriweather kindly took Gray under his wing and showed him around the city's blues clubs, and he got to know stars of the scene, including Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. In 1956 Wolf asked Henry to join his band. Gray quickly accepted the offer and stayed on as Wolf's primary piano player until 1968. Gray also became a session player for other recordings made by Chess Records, and over the years he has recorded with many icons of the blues.

In addition to Wolf, Gray has recorded or performed with Robert Lockwood Jr., Billy Boy Arnold, Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, Hubert Sumlin, Lazy Lester, Little Walter Jacobs, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Little Milton Campbell, Jimmy Rogers, Jimmy Reed, and Koko Taylor, among others. Although Howlin' Wolf did not pass away until 1976, Gray left Wolf's band in 1968, following the death of his father, and returned to Alsen to assist his mother with the family fish market business. Gray worked with the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board as a roofer for the next 15 years.

In the past 30 years, since he's been back in Louisiana, Gray has performed at nearly every New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as well as other prestigious gatherings, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the San Francisco Blues Festival. In 1999 he was nominated for a Grammy for his playing on the Tribute to Howlin' Wolf album released by the Cleveland-based Telarc label, and in 1998 he was handpicked by Mick Jagger himself to play Jagger's 55th birthday soiree in Paris, along with a few other noted blues musicians. Having spent so much of his life as a sideman, Gray's recordings under his own name were few and far between, but that all began to change in the 1990s.

Gray's recordings include Lucky Man for Blind Pig in 1988; Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 2 for Wolf Records in 1990; Watch Yourself in 2001 for Lucky Cat; Henry Gray Plays Chicago Blues for Hightone Records in 2001; and the Henry Gray and the Cats CD and DVD sets for the Lucky Cat label in 2004. /Biography by Richard Skelly, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Henry Gray, Cousin Joe - The Blues Of Henry Gray & Cousin Joe

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:12
Size: 131.0 MB
Styles: Chicago blues, Piano blues
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[2:55] 1. Blues Dance
[5:03] 2. Cold Chills
[3:16] 3. Come On Woman
[2:46] 4. Bright Lights, Big City
[3:44] 5. Ain't No Use
[4:01] 6. Shake A Hand
[3:36] 7. Boogie
[2:11] 8. Blueberry Hill
[0:58] 9. I'm In Love Again
[3:18] 10. I Don't Know My Name
[3:42] 11. Everything That's Made Of Wood Once Was A Tree
[2:00] 12. Come Down People
[2:54] 13. Married Life
[4:23] 14. Life Is A One Way Ticket
[2:56] 15. Beggin' Woman
[2:55] 16. Hard Work
[3:44] 17. I Wouldn't Give A Bllind Sow An Acorn
[2:41] 18. Prodigal Son

On August 29, 1984 a pair of veteran blues pianists-vocalists were recorded in New Orleans at separate sessions. Henry Gray is best remembered as Howlin' Wolf's pianist during 1956-1968 and he also worked with other top Chicago blues musicians before deciding to return to the Baton Rouge area in the late '60s. His solo performances are quite effective, featuring repetitive but creative blues piano and his own straightforward and expressive singing. Cousin Joe was on the borderline of jazz throughout much of his career and he was a fixture in New Orleans from 1948 on. His lyrics on "I Wouldn't Give a Blind Sow an Acorn" were often used by Dizzy Gillespie. Cousin Joe was a better pianist than Gray but not as strong a singer. He is in solid form during his performance which was cut five years before his death. These two otherwise unrelated sessions are musically complementary and together they make for an enjoyable set of traditional-style blues. ~Scott Yanow

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Henry Gray & The Creole Cats - 92

Size: 105,3 MB
Time: 44:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Come On In (2:30)
02. Bright Lights, Big City (2:45)
03. Worried Life Blues (3:12)
04. Henry's House Rocker (3:41)
05. Corrine, Corrina (1:35)
06. It Ain't No Use (3:02)
07. Everybody's Fishing (4:17)
08. Interview (The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow) (Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest) (2:24)
09. Rock Me Baby (3:36)
10. Cold Chills (4:00)
11. Stagger Lee (2:02)
12. How Could You Do It (3:50)
13. Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest (4:17)
14. Henry's Story (3:40)

92 is a collection of 3 original Henry Gray classics and 10 traditional blues songs known and loved worldwide. However there are are few artists 92 years of age, who can play with a sensibility that Henry can – bringing a lifetime of experience to the music makes these songs more poignant and relevant than ever! Henry holds a unique place in a rare category of nonagenarians – those between the age of 90 and 99- men and women who are still living full lives and accomplishing great things in their profession. Gray is a living legend, a national treasure, a pioneer of postwar Chicago blues, and a Grammy nominated artist whose storied and enduring music career is as intriguing as any artist living today.

92

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Various - Howlin' at Greaseland

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:45
Size: 105.4 MB
Styles: West Coast blues, Chicago blues
Year: 2017
Art: Front, Back

[3:44] 1. Alabama Mike, Kid Andersen, Rick Estrin - Meet Me in the Bottom
[4:00] 2. John Blues Boyd, Rick Estrin, Rockin' Johnny Burgin - Smokestack Lightning
[1:19] 3. Terry Hanck - Terry Hanck Speaks
[5:32] 4. Terry Hanck, Johnny Cat Soubrand, Jim Pugh - Howlin for My Darling
[0:38] 5. Tail Dragger - Tail Dragger Speaks
[3:11] 6. Tail Dragger, Rockin' Johnny Burgin, Aki Kumar - I'm Leaving You
[4:04] 7. Henry Gray, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, Aki Kumar - Worried Life Blues
[1:13] 8. John Blues Boyd - John Blues Boyd Speaks
[3:54] 9. John Blues Boyd, Kid Andersen, Rick Estrin - Riding in the Moonlight
[3:54] 10. Lee Donald, Aki Kumar, Johnny Cat Soubrand - Forty Four
[0:30] 11. Tail Dragger - Tail Dragger Speaks II
[4:49] 12. Tail Dragger, Rockin' Johnny Burgin, Aki Kumar - Dont Trust No Woman
[5:37] 13. Henry Gray - Kid Andersen - Little Red Rooster
[3:15] 14. John Blues Boyd, Kid Andersen, Rockin' Johnny Burgin, Rick Estrin - Spoonful

“HOWLIN’ AT GREASELAND" is an exciting new tribute CD, showcasing the music and lyrics of the legendary Howlin' Wolf.

This collection of recent recordings of songs originally recorded and performed by Howlin Wolf features many of the best Norhtern California artists working today. Rockin Johnny Burgin, Kid Andersen, Aki Kumar & Rick Estrin are just some of the talent on display here along with Wolf's piano player Henry Gray and Wolf emulator Taildragger. The bands all play with the respect and taste required to cover a Howlin Wolf song.......something rarely attempted and seldom done right.........

Here’s a the story of how this unique recording came to be: THE PLACE:  Guitarist and recording engineer Kid Andersen started Greaseland Music Services in San Jose CA as a humble home studio to record and rehearse with his musician friends.  In the last five years, Greaseland has grown to be a locus of exciting blues activity that is known to blues lovers the world over, with a client list including the best in the business such as Chris Cain, Elvin Bishop and more.  The consistent stream of exciting and notable recordings from Greasleand garnered Kid Andersen a Keeping the Blues Alive Award in 2016 from the Blues Foundation.

THE MUSICIANS:  Over the last few years, a core group of loosely affiliated Bay artists became a sort of blues “wrecking crew” — regular players for sessions which seem to go on practically every week, year-round.  These players have an easy camaraderie that comes from working with each other consistently in various combinations, and many of them are featured on “Howlin'”:  Alabama Mike, Rick Estrin, Terry Hanck, Aki Kumar, Johnny Burgin (Rockin' Johnny), Johnny Cat Soubrand, Vance Ehlers, long-time Robert Cray pianist Jimmy Pugh, John Blues Boyd, D’Mar Martin and many others.   Each of the participants has always been inspired by the gripping voice and haunting music of the Chicago blues legend Howlin’ Wolf.  To collaborate with this group and bring the music and spirit of Howlin’ Wolf back to life and back on disk, producer Stephanie Tice brought in two legendary blues singers, Taildragger and Henry Gray.  These two artists have deep personal and professional connections to Howlin’ Wolf.   Taildragger started singing in the early 70s under Wolf’s strict mentorship, and has since performed much of Wolf’s material in addition to his own.   Henry Gray played piano on many of Wolf’s most famous recordings and at 92, he’s considered a national treasure.

For the cherry on top, Kid kept the recording light on as the musicians  spoke among themselves, informally and between takes, about personal remembrances of Howlin’ Wolf.  These unguarded anecdotes turned out to be precious spoken word histories.  Interspersed through the songs on this CD, they illustrate in a unique way the impact Howlin’ Wolf and his music has had over the decades.

Thank you M@j@.
Howlin' at Greaseland

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Kilborn Alley Blues Band - The Tolono Tapes

Size: 114,8 MB
Time: 49:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Fire With Fire (3:29)
02. Going Hard (4:46)
03. Misty (3:59)
04. Do What I Do (4:20)
05. Terre Haute (3:39)
06. Christmas In County (4:19)
07. Home To My Baby (3:14)
08. Town Saint (5:00)
09. Cold Chills (5:18)
10. Easy To Love You (2:58)
11. Sure Is Hot (3:29)
12. Night Creeper (4:33)

Personnel:
Andrew Duncanson: Vocals, Guitar
Josh Stimmel: Guitar
Chris Breen: Bass Guitar
Ed O'Hara: Drums

2 time Nominated Blues Music Award artist
Best New Blues Band, 2006 "Put it in the Alley"
Best Contemporary Blues Album, 2007 "Tear Chicago Down"

Kilborn Alley blasted on to the blues scene in 2006, with award nominated and winning releases on Nick Moss' Blue Bella Records label. Kilborn is known for their traditional Chicago blues and R&B sounds with a rollicking contemporary sensibility. With seventeen years on the road, The Tolono Tapes is a taste of what happens when Kilborn Alley gets together in the studio with some of the friends they've made in their travels. Jackie Scott stops by to share some sweet R&B, piano man Henry Gray and harp master Bob Corritore lay down some Chicago blues, guitarist Monster Mike Welch and piano guru Anthony Geraci give a fresh take to some Kilborn Alley originals, Ronnie Shellist and Joe Asselin contribute harmonica work on some Kilborn and Scott originals, Corey Dennison and Gerry Hundt lend their blues wizardry to some ''in the studio'' compositions, and Cerbo raps over ''Sure Is Hot.''

The Tolono Tapes

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Kenny Wayne Shepherd - 10 Days Out: Blues From The Backroads

Year: 2007
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:50
Size: 181,8 MB
Styles: Blues
Scans: Full

1. Prison Blues (w. Cootie Stark & Neal 'Big Daddy' Pattman) (4:38)
2. Potato Patch (w. Jerry 'Boogie' McCain) (5:46)
3. Honky Tonk (w. Buddy Flett) (3:13)
4. The Thrill Is Gone (w. B.B. King) (8:30)
5. Tina Marie (w. Bryan Lee) (4:22)
6. Born In Louisiana (w. Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown) (6:26)
7. Chapel Hill Boogie (w. John Dee Holeman) (5:49)
8. Tears Came Rollin' Down (w. Henry Townsend) (3:15)
9. Knoxville Rag (w. Etta Baker) (1:48)
10. Big Daddy Boogie (w. Neal 'Big Daddy' Pattman) (5:15)
11. U-Haul (w. Cootie Stark) (5:00)
12. Red Rooster (w. Henry Gray & Howlin' Wolf Band) (6:20)
13. Sittin' On Top Of The World (w. Hubert Sumlin & Howlin' Wolf Band) (3:58)
14. Spoonful (w. George 'Wild Child' Butler & Howlin' Wolf Band) (5:18)
15. Grindin' Man (w. Pinetop Perkins & Muddy Waters Band) (8:05)

10 Days Out may well be Kenny Wayne Shepherd's most important and intriguing album, even though the guitarist is hardly the featured artist on any of these tracks, working instead more as a sideman and facilitator for the impressive cast of venerable blues players who get a chance to shine here. Make no mistake about it, this recording belongs to such senior citizens as Henry Townsend, Etta Baker, Pinetop Perkins, and Henry Gray, and Shepherd's presence (and the presence of Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble rhythm section of bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton) simply helps to focus the attention on these veteran blues players.

Shepherd embarked on a ten-day journey into the American South in 2004 with a documentary film crew, a portable recording studio, and Double Trouble as a house band in an effort to catch the blues in its natural habitat of living rooms, kitchens, porches, back yards, and local watering holes, and the performances that resulted are priceless.

Here is one-armed harp player Neal Pattman and blind guitarist Cootie Stark turning in a joyous, ramshackle version of "Prison Blues." A little later, Stark delivers further on a delightful song called "U-Haul," complete with a marvelous improvised rap over the tune's run-out coda. Here, too, is the then-96-year-old Henry Townsend turning in a poignant "Tears Came Rollin' Down." Etta Baker, then 93, shows that age hadn't slowed her as a guitarist at all as she delivers an elegant "Knoxville Rag." Shepherd wisely stays in the background on cut after cut, allowing these amazing musical treasures to unfold naturally and without intrusive elements.

There are absolutely no hotshot guitar histrionics anywhere on this disc, which speaks to Shepherd's sincere vision for this project. He's after the preservation of blues history with 10 Days Out, and as if to underscore that aim, five of the album's participants (Neal Pattman, Cootie Stark, Gatemouth Brown, George "Wild Child" Butler, and Etta Baker) passed away before the album and concurrent documentary film were finally completed and released in 2007. Shepherd's name may be above the title, but he knows full well to whom this album belongs, and to his immense credit, those are the voices he lets speak the loudest. /Steve Leggett, AllMusic

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Bob Corritore - All-Star Blues Sessions

Year: 1999
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:02
Size: 131,0 MB
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. Hip Shakin' (3:47)
2. Out On The Road (3:49)
3. Naptown Blues (3:21)
4. Everybody's Fishin' (2:50)
5. Hear That Rumblin' (2:24)
6. Five Long Years (4:09)
7. How Many More Years (3:03)
8. Goin' Down South (2:30)
9. Cool Calm Collected (2:54)
10. Coal Black Mare (3:52)
11. Little Girl (3:48)
12. Tired Of Being Alone (1:53)
13. Showers Of Rain (3:29)
14. I Had My Fun (3:18)
15. Jennie Bea (3:38)
16. Nappy's Driftin' Blues (8:09)

Recorded, helmed, and mostly produced by Phoenix, AZ blues renaissance man Bob Corritore (club owner, record label exec, writer, manager, radio DJ, and harp player), this hour-long disc is a potent example of loose, straight-ahead blues played with guts and low-boil intensity. Spanning 1986-1998, these 16 tracks recorded in Phoenix and Tempe studios feature a variety of classic bluesmen such as Lil' Ed Williams, Henry Gray, R.L. Burnside, Bob Margolin, Jimmy Rogers, Pinetop Perkins, and Bo Diddley (who is prominently pictured with Corritore in the CD's tray). It's well-recorded - clean but never slick - and the performances find a genuine and spontaneous rugged midtempo groove. Which is exactly what the blues should be.

So even if you've never heard of such vocalists as Dino Spells, Jimmy Dotson, Clarence Edwards, or Chico Chism, they prove nearly as gifted and freewheeling as some of the more recognizable names. Corritore, who plays prominent harp on every track, is an exceptionally talented musician, even if his instrument seems a little higher in the mix than you might expect. The songs, all of which are covers, are especially well selected. Instead of jaunts through traditional, often stale standards, most are relatively obscure choices that allow the band to stretch out in a variety of established blues tempos. Even when Nappy Brown digs into Charles Brown's oft-covered "Driftin' Blues," (altered here to "Nappy's Driftin' Blues"), the vocalist tears through it with the passion and intensity of someone who wrote the song. A take on Eddie Boyd's popular "Five Long Years" is similarly inspired.

This is a real find for deep blues fans and an enjoyable if not essential listen for everyone else. Bob Corritore has assembled a classy collection that finds all of his players - both popular and obscure - in top form. /Hal Horowitz, AllMusic

(See booklet for recording info and personnel details.)

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Bob Corritore And Friends - Harmonica Blues

Year: 2010
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:34
Size: 142,8 MB
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Scans: Full

1. What Kind Of Man Is This? (4:18)
2. Tell Me 'Bout It (4:09)
3. Things You Do (3:01)
4. Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes (2:50)
5. 1815 West Roosevelt (3:58)
6. That's All Right (3:17)
7. Tin Pan Alley (5:30)
8. Sundown San Diego (3:50)
9. That's My Baby (4:42)
10. Things Have Changed (3:09)
11. Big Fat Mama (3:51)
12. No More Doggin' (4:24)
13. Bumble Bee (3:37)
14. I Need To Be Be'd With (3:32)
15. 6 Bits In Your Dollar (7:20)

Over two-plus decades, Bob Corritore has become one of the most reliable sidemen as a talented blues harmonica player, popular with younger musicians and veterans. This compilation features Corritore in a variety of settings over that 20-year period, with all-star bluesmen galore. Each track singles out his exploits with such notable blues legends as Koko Taylor, Louisiana Red, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Eddy Clearwater, Henry Gray, Pinetop Perkins, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, and Little Milton among countless others.

There's no way to pick the best songs (they're all great) unless you favor certain types of blues from boogie, choogling struts, or rough-edged, down-and-dirty Southside Chicago shouts. The funniest track is Nappy Brown's feature "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes," sung in a deep, ribald manner. In an ultimately classic style, vocalist Lockwood and pianist Gray team up on "That's All Right," while Clearwater takes the cake on an upbeat and joyous "That's My Baby." The lesser known Chief Schabuttie Gilliame cops Howlin' Wolf during "No More Doggin'" and "Tell Me 'Bout It" whiles Louisiana Red comes closest to the immortal style of Muddy Waters.

Throughout is Corritore's biting, literate, clean harmonica playing that fortifies, glues together, and inspires these-well known artists. Nothing less than a fantastic collection of authentic American music, Harmonica Blues is a must-have item for any fan of this music. /Michael G. Nastos, AllMusic

(See booklet for recording info and personnel details.)

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Clarence Edwards - Swamps The Word

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:42
Size: 139.0 MB
Styles: Swampy blues
Year: 1988/2013
Art: Front

[3:54] 1. Stoop Down Baby
[3:31] 2. Rocky Mountains
[3:56] 3. Chewing Gum
[3:37] 4. I'm Your Slave
[3:15] 5. Driving Wheel
[3:29] 6. Walking The Dog
[4:13] 7. Still A Fool
[3:45] 8. Lonesome Bedroom Blues
[2:34] 9. Done Got Over It
[3:31] 10. Let Me Love You
[3:58] 11. I'm The One
[2:29] 12. I Want Somebody
[4:01] 13. Born With The Blues
[2:01] 14. Coal Black Mare
[3:54] 15. Thing I Used To Do
[4:09] 16. Hi Heel Sneakers
[4:17] 17. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man

Bass – A.G. Hardesty; Drums – "Pick" Delmore; Harp – Harmonica Red; Piano – Henry Gray; Violin – Michael Ward; Vocals, Guitar – Clarence Edwards.

Good renditions of Swamp Blues are to be found on this cd. Clarence Edwards dates back to the days when Jay Miller produced other artists like Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester bringing Louisianna blues to everyone's attention. ~John Walsh

Swamps The Word

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Various Artists - Bluesin' By The Bayou: I'm Not Jiving

Year: 2016
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:53
Size: 179,6 MB
Styles: Blues, Louisiana blues, zydeco
Scans: Full

1. Henry Gray - I'm A Lucky Man (2:14)
2. Juke Boy Bonner - I'm Not Jiving (2:39)
3. Lightnin' Slim - Miss Fannie Brown (2:53)
4. Slim Harpo - Things Gonna Change (2:25)
5. Boogie Jake - I Don't Know Why (2:20)
6. Lazy Lester - I Told My Little Woman (2:46)
7. Lonesome Sundown - I'm A Mojo Man (2:19)
8. Boozoo Chavis - Oh Yeah She's Gone (2:14)
9. Clifton Chenier - Everbody Calls Me Crazy (2:39)
10. Blue Charlie Morris - Don't Bring No Friend (2:48)
11. Lonesome Sundown - No Use To Worry (2:55)
12. Jimmy Anderson - Baby Let's Burn (2:06)
13. Slim Harpo - Wild About My Baby (1:59)
14. Silas Hogan - (Roaches In My Kitchen) Trouble At Home Blues (2:28)
15. Elton Anderson - I Want To Talk To You (Baby) (2:35)
16. Lazy Lester - Patrol Wagon (2:43)
17. Ramblin' Hi Harris - Early One Morning (2:09)
18. Schoolboy Cleve - She's Gone (2:11)
19. Chris Kenner - Don't Let Her Pin That Charge On Me (2:53)
20. Clarence Garlow - I Feel Like Calling You (3:21)
21. Boozoo Chavis - Bye Bye Catin (2:37)
22. Clifton Chenier - Night And Day My Love (2:40)
23. Henry Clement - Late Hour Blues (3:03)
24. Henry Gray - Cold Chills (4:48)
25. Elton Anderson - Prove Me Guilty (2:51)
26. Johnny Sonnier - Sitting Here All Alone (3:21)
27. Vince Monroe (Mr Calhoun) - Prisoner's Song (4:28)
28. Jimmy Anderson - Frankie And Johnny (3:13)

Raw blues gems trawled from the swamps of South Louisiana, plus a touch of zydeco. Ten tracks are previously unreleased or alternate takes, while the other 18 are extremely rare.

Baton Rouge was arguably the blues centre of Louisiana and just about all of the artists featured in this compilation spent part of their lives there. Long-time favourites Lightnin’ Slim, Lazy Lester, Slim Harpo and Silas Hogan certainly honed their skills in its clubs and bars, although they travelled some 70 miles west to record at J.D. Miller’s studio in Crowley. Everything here emanated from Miller’s studio or from his close rival Eddie Shuler’s facility in Lake Charles, except series newcomer Chris Kenner’s track, which was cut in New Orleans. Other artists new to the series are Henry Gray, Juke Boy Bonner, Elton Anderson, Ramblin’ Hi Harris and Schoolboy Cleve.

All of which means we have another feast of classic blues, led by guitar, piano or harmonica, plus a little zydeco from Clifton Chenier and Boozoo Chavis, whose tracks sit comfortably alongside the work of Lonesome Sundown, Jimmy Anderson and our other artists. During the 50s and 60s zydeco was the blues of the French-speaking black population of Louisiana, with the accordion replacing the harmonica as instrument of choice. Today the music is enjoying huge popularity, with thousands of aficionados from across the globe flooding to festivals in Lafayette, Breaux Bridge and other small towns across southwest Louisiana.

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Tab Benoit - Live: Swampland Jam

Year: 1997
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:21
Size: 145,8 MB
Styles: Electric blues, Louisiana blues
Scans: Full

1. Let Love Take Control (5:24)
2. Ain't Gonna Do It (5:14)
3. Moon Coming Over The Hill (2:59)
4. Too Many Dirty Dishes (w. Henry Gray) (7:53)
5. Keep On Moving (3:52)
6. Heart Of Stone (7:45)
7. Gone Too Long (4:35)
8. Garbage Man (w. Raful Neal) (5:02)
9. Crawling Kingsnake (w. Jumpin' Johnny Sansone) (4:41)
10. Louisiana Style (w. Jumpin' Johnny Sansone) (4:37)
11. It Takes A Long Time (w. Tabby Thomas) (5:07)
12. Hot Tamale Baby (w. Chubby Carrier) (6:07)

This is by far the best album this Louisiana blues/swamp-rocker has come up with to date. Benoit is playing with basically a three-piece, with Doug Therrien on bass and Allyn Robinson on drums. The rest of the sound is filled in by various guests, some exceedingly strong Louisiana players. Therein lives both the problem and the strength of this disc - the sound is a bit thin when there's no guest taking up some space. Only on the slow burner "Heart of Stone" and "Gone Too Long" does the basic band fill up the airwaves. The music is good, but without that fourth player, it doesn't have enough density. When there is another player, the sound is as gritty and raw as they come - Cajun-based blues with a swampy sensuality. Benoit's singing and guitar playing have taken giant steps forward and are up there with the best. /Bob Gottlieb, AllMusic

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