Shortly before his death in 1992, Dixon won a Grammy in 1988 for Hidden Charms. Not one of Dixon's stronger albums, Hidden Charms obviously gave the Grammy voters a chance to recognize someone who'd completely altered the blues. Not bad for roughly 70 years of struggle in the Depression, in the boxing ring, in jails, in recording studios, and in courtrooms. Dixon's ring career might have been short-lived, but he was a fighter to the core.
These songs present a willingness to reduce life’s complexities to simple, understandable equations. Truly an album that highlights his songwriting capabilities, you can hear an urgency to communicate in every word he sings. Floyd loves to play with guitar, and Tony Mathews is highlighted. The full band including the Ebony Horns shine out on this 2005 Highjohn Records release, and there are surprise guests in the fine! As always, Floyd’s brilliant piano virtuosity is featured prominently throughout.
The soundtrack to an obscure movie. "What I have tried to explain for years I've been able to express through this score". So says the Blues master and composer of this album in his sleeve notes.
Although this CD by pianist Memphis Slim and bassist Willie Dixon is marketed as a part of Verve's Jazz in Paris reissue series, it is, of course, a blues date, with a fair amount of boogie-woogie. The two veterans, who had worked together previously, are joined by drummer Phillipe Combelle during the two 1962 sessions recorded at Les Trois Mailletz, complete with a typically out of tune piano and a fair amount of noise from the audience at times. The pianist's gruff voice dominates a fair amount of the performances, although most of the songs are Dixon's. The bassist steals the show during the opener, "Rocking and Rolling the House," with a fine solo. In fact, the only standard not written by either man is a campy miniature take of Big Bill Broonzy's "All by Myself." Blues fans will want up to pick up this live recording by two legendary musicians.