Carey & Lurrie Bell Dynasty (1989)

These are from the first and only recordings that brought the entire, legendary, Bell family together into the recording studio. Carey Bell is justly renowned today as the best blues harmonica man around and is of course father of all the other bells here. Not just genetically though, musically too because his style of bard, "50s" blues has been brought down to one more generation. Lurrie Bell is a stunning blues guitarist who would be a star if it was a fair world. Steve Bell is a maturing but definitely inventive blues harp player and Carey’s younger sons, Tyson and James, are a supremely powerful and well oiled rhythm section. The music on this CD defines the best of recent Chicago Blues.

The blues of Lurrie Bell comes from a turbulent place, but there's no denying the man can play. This album brings together tracks from three different sessions, the bulk being held in 1997. Supported by a spartan rhythm section, Bell sprays kamikaze guitar licks over a bevy of old standards like "Five Long Years," "Who Do You Love," "Mean Old Frisco," and "You're the One." The last four songs on the album are the real treat; cut in 1995 at the Mercurial Son sessions, this is just Lurrie and his electric guitar running through raw, soulful, and sometimes whacked-out versions of everything from "Rollin' and Tumblin'" to "If I Had a Hammer." If you've wondered what all the fuss is about, grab this CD and turn on to the blues world of Lurrie Bell.

Lurrie Bell returns with this CD he’s telling people is his best. It showcases all the passion, depth, rawness, and uniqueness that keeps Lurrie at the top of many Real Deal Chicago Blues lists. His ace working band and frequent collaborator Matthew Skoller (on harp) provide the drive and the safety net while Lurrie walks the tightrope vocally and instrumentally. Motivated by his 2013 Blues Music Award for “Song Of The Year” for the title track from Blues In My Soul, Lurrie had a hand in writing five of the thirteen tracks. “Driftin'”, “One Eyed Woman”, “Hold Me Tight”, “Sinner’s Prayer”, “Do You Hear”, “Born With The Blues”, “Hidden Charms” and more.