Otis Reeding

Though he released Live in Williamsburg back in 2014, it has been 44 years since guitar wizard Shuggie Otis released a studio album. Coming of age first with his father Johnny's wonderfully raucous R&B band and playing on sessions by T-Bone Walker and Big Joe Turner, Otis gained first notice from rock fans for his starring role on Kooper Session: Super Session, Vol. 2). He released three fine studio albums under his own name between 1970 and 1974 including the classic Inspiration Information. Here Otis leads a quintet that includes veteran rockers Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Beck, Bogert & Appice) and bassist Tony Franklin (the Firm, Roy Harper), keyboardist/producer Kyle Hamood (Them Guns), and guitarist Aaron Kaplan…

Otis Redding's now historic four-night stand at Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go in April of 1966 has been selectively documented on two previous releases. The first was 1968's In Person at the Whisky a Go Go, which included ten selections chosen from the run. Good to Me: Recorded Live at the Whisky a Go Go, Vol. 2, released in 1982 and expanded for CD release in 1993, was also assembled from various nights. This release is very different. No mere attempt to milk a few more gems from a legendary set of gigs, Otis Redding & His Orchestra Live on the Sunset Strip contains three full sets on two discs from that stand. It's a warts-and-all, rowdy, magical set of performances that reminds the faithful of Redding's singular gifts as a singer and performer, and will open the ears of the uninitiated…

This release catches Johnny Otis just as he made the switch from big band jazz-styled pieces to the pivotal R&B-based sound that would carry him into the rock & roll years. Everything here is from his first year with Savoy Records, but unfortunately doesn't include his biggest hits from that year with the label ("Double Crossing Blues," "Mistrustin' Blues," "Cupid's Boogie"). While this is an extremely satisfying disc, those omissions (each went to number one on the R&B charts) make this a poor choice for a first glimpse at this versatile and innovative musician.

This album was recorded in New Orleans on Feb. 1996 with some of America's top blues musicians, includinging Joe Louis Walker, Curtis Salgado, Luther Allison, and Eddie Bo. While retaining his signature sound, "Perfume & Grime" finds Otis moving forwards to create contemporary blues with the flavours and crosscurrents of World music, New Orleans Funk, and Southern Soul.