Texas Piano Blues

Pee Wee Crayton - The Modern Legacy. Volume 1 (1996) {Ace CDCHD632 rec 1948-1951}
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© 1948-51, 1996 Modern Recordings / Ace Records | CDCHD 632
Blues / Jump Blues / Texas Blues / Electric Blues

As an overview of Crayton's work for Modern from 1948-51, this might not be ideal, as only about half of it appeared on singles during that time; the rest was mostly unissued until the 1980s and 1990s, some making their first appearance on this CD. It also means that some of his Modern singles, including his biggest hit for the label (the ballad "I Love You So"), aren't here, as they were saved for another Ace volume of Crayton's Modern sides. Those considerations aside, this is superior Los Angeles jump blues, with the rare vault sides holding up about as well as what came out on singles.

Austin-based pianist and singer Marcia Ball began her solo career in earnest with the 1984 album Soulful Dress, and 30 years later, she's still pounding out the blues and boogie on The Tattooed Lady and the Alligator Man. The biggest challenge of a career that's been chugging along for more than three decades is keeping things fresh, and while The Tattooed Lady doesn't blaze many new trails, the album proves Ball's mojo is still working as a songwriter and a piano player, and she clearly hasn't run out of things to say.

Brazil's leading electric blues player has recorded his third record at the source - Hit Shack Studios, Austin/Texas. With Stevie Ray Vaughan's old partners Tommy Shannon/Chris Layton and guests like Lou Ann Barton and Steve James, the Angola-born Mindelis pays tribute to some of his Texas Blues heroes. Also influenced by Jimmy Page, the man from Sao Paolo is a more than rewarding new bluesrock discovery.

NEAL BLACK, Texas Blues Rock, Roots Musician, has spent the last 25 years electrifying audiences around the World with his fusion of Blues, Rock, Roots Music. Referred to by one critic as "THE MASTER OF HIGH VOLTAGE TEXAS BOOGIE". His albums have received 4**** reviews from Rolling Stone Music Critics as well as reaching the Number One position on European Radio Charts. As a guitarist Neal Black's credits include performances on stage or in the studio with Blues/Rock legends: ​Chuck Berry, Popa Chubby, Jimmy Dawkins, Larry Garner, Lucky Peterson, Johnnie Johnson, The Chambers Brothers, Papa John Creach, Elliott Murphy, Johnny Copeland, Jimmy Vivino, Michael Meritt…

For this set, Willie Willis has reprised seven of the songs that appeared on 'Blues Food For The Soul' (1989), in many cases expanding on the originals, and with the addition of keyboards and more use of the piano, giving the songs a fuller sound that complements his voice, which has gained a rawer edge over the last few years, to perfection. His hit single 'It's All Over Baby', is slowed down in tempo, and with it's rolling piano and swirling organ, attains a far jazzier feel than the original, a formula that's also used on 'I've Been A Fool' where a slow-er tempo and the use of that rolling Texas piano at the expense of the horns used on the original, gives the number an altogether tougher feel. 'You Used Me Baby', with it's insistent bass and riffing horns, and the jazzier 'I Love This Woman', conjure up visions of ZuZu Bollin and T-Bone Walker respectively…

One of the easiest jobs in music has to be producer of a Little Joe Washington album. Make sure he shows up at the studio - itself no small feat, though not as difficult as it used to be - turn on the recording equipment and get out of the way. On his second album for Austin's Dialtone Records (following 2003's Houston Guitar Blues), the blues flows so effortlessly out of Washington's guitar it's hard to believe any of these 15 songs needed more than one take….

Once in a while, an album comes along to take your breath away. That is certainly the case with this boxed set, which contains no fewer than 25 CDs tracing the history of jazz piano from early 1899 to the end of 1958. Several years ago, the same record company issued a set ten CDs covering some of the same ground, but this expanded version is even more amazing.