Fred Chapellier Under The Influence

The transcontinental soul/blues duo of Pittsburgh's Billy Price and France's Fred Chapellier took their show on the road (in Europe) to support the release of the duo's Night Work debut. The results are contained on this CD/DVD package, a logical and energetic follow-up to the studio recording that reprises some – but not all – of those tunes, adds logical covers, and generally ratchets up the sparks, as live albums typically do. The 11-song audio CD runs about half the time of the far more extensive two-hour DVD, but both nail the vibe of shows that featured tough, resilient backing musicians augmented by two horn players.

Double CD celebrating 25 first years of Fred Chapellier's career. One CD made of studio recordings including one unreleased track and one CD made of live recordings including one unreleased track. CD cover from illustrator Carlos Olmo.

Throughout his career, Fred Chapellier's live albums have become essential parts of his discography. This Live in Paris is no exception. Recorded at the Jazz Club Etoile, one of the capital's most famous roots venues, and accompanied by an impeccable horn section, Fred Chapellier gives free rein to his distinctive feel. There's clearly a Chapellier touch to this album.

The partnership of veteran U.S. soul singer Billy Price and French blues guitarist Fred Chapellier might seem like an unlikely pairing, but the results – chronicled in the song "Champagne Blues and Pittsburgh Soul" – are an impressive, occasionally explosive meeting of the minds. Price with his strong tenor voice, similar to Robert Cray's at times, first found popular acclaim as Roy Buchanan's singer for a short while back in the mid-‘70s. While guitarist Chapellier isn't in Buchanan's league, his deft touch and alternately snaking/scorching leads fit well with this set of predominantly original R&B.