Arthur Lee

Like so many other musicians in New Orleans, guitarist, singer and songwriter Bryan Lee came to the Crescent City from somewhere else. But he's been carefully honing and refining his craft in Crescent City bars for so many years now, he's considered a New Orleans institution. He's played at 25 of the prestigious New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festivals, and marked his 25th year at the spring time festival in 2009. Blind since the age of eight, like many blind people, Lee has a heightened sense of hearing. He's a master at ensemble playing and knows how to read an audience.

Various Artists - Speak Easy: The RPM Records Story Volume 2, 1954-1957 (2014) {2CD Set, Ace Records CDTOP2 1421}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 567 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 347 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 45 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1954-57, 2014 RPM Records / Ace Records | CDTOP2 1421
Blues / Rhythm & Blues / Rock & Roll

As proof that Ace remains committed to the music that helped build its reputation as a foremost archivist of vintage R&B, this month we bring you our second package chronicling the output of Modern’s longest-running subsidiary of the 1950s, RPM. “Speak Easy” joins the RPM catalogue at the end of 1953 – the point where we left it on the first volume – and carries on through to the label’s final releases of late 1957. Although the focus is primarily on blues and R&B, a smattering of pop and rockabilly is also included. Every one of the important artists to record for RPM is heard on at least one selection – more in the case of bigger names such as B.B. King.

Costumes Are Mandatory is very collegially advertised as a collaborative album featuring Ethan Iverson, Lee Konitz, Larry Grenadier, and Jorge Rossy. And while the music may indeed be collaborative, even multi-improvisational at times, it's Iverson's date and he's very clearly the leader.

Nous savons tous qu'Arthur a extrait l'épée de la pierre, qu'il a fondé Camelot, que les luttes de pouvoir ont fini par détruire ses rêves. Mais comment la légende est-elle née ? …