Piano Blues

Like Slim's other Bluesville work, this is a characteristic and very consistent effort, though not what you would single out as the cream of his recorded work. He varies the program between originals and covers of standards like "Mean Mistreatin' Mama," "Rock Me Baby," and "Goin' Down Slow," providing a touch of unpredictability by switching from the piano to the organ on a few tracks.

Boogie-woogie pianist Meade Lux Lewis' next-to-last record was his first recording in five years and his final opportunity to stretch out unaccompanied. This solo Riverside set as usual finds Lewis generally sticking to the blues (with "You Were Meant for Me" and "Fate" being exceptions), mostly performing originals. On a few of the songs Lewis switches effectively to celeste. It apparently only took Meade Lux Lewis two hours to record the full set and the results are quite spontaneous yet well organized, a fine all-around portrait of the veteran pianist in his later period.

Virtuoso piano player who first recorded in his late seventies, on this compilation collected from concerts on different venues in Austria during "Stars of Boogie Woogie" tour in 1987, Booker T. Laury covers sides by Roosevelt Sykes, Sunnyland Slim, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers and Chuck Berry listening of which makes discussion about authenticity nonessential since covers sound as authentic and original as his own compositions. Unique and distinctive, lowdown, bone deep playing style with accentuated left hand lines if ocean is waiving, whisky soaked voice, self-confident personality whose recorded musical legacy is small but rich and influential, is Mr. Booker T. Laury.

Here are two legends of Chicago Blues - Pinetop Perkins & John Brim. John got a hit for Chess Records: “Ice Cream Man” in the 50´s. The Wolf All Star Band played together with him: John Primer, Willie Kent, Tim Taylor & Billy Branch. Pinetop was not only a sideman for Muddy Waters, he was a great piano player and singer too! On this CD, only Tim Taylor played drums with him and sang some great Blues Classics.

From the earthy guitar-driven country blues of Blind Lemon Jefferson and Charley Patton to the sequined glamour of the classic blues singers Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, this Rough Guide charts the early recorded history of the blues through its key pioneers.

The Genius Sings the Blues began as a simple compilation. Comprised of a dozen songs Ray Charles made between 1952 and 1960, the collection was released in 1961 by Atlantic Records to counter the singer’s migration to rival ABC Paramount. What Atlantic originally underestimated is that the album contained many of Charles’ greatest works, all unified by their bluesy emotions and stirring arrangements. A classic of the soul and R&B canon, The Genius Sings the Blues is a snapshot of the evolution of timeless American music captured by the pianist’s indelible rhythmic pace, gospel roots, jazz backgrounds, and Southern-styled accents.
From the iconic cover art to the distinguished music within, everything about the thematic record is iconic…