Untitled DocumentChicago Blues Harmonica Project - More Rare Gems
12 tracks, 49 minutes. Excellent. If someone tells you that the art of playingblues harp is close to dead, or has been completely taken over by young and middle-agedcaucasians wearing porkpie hats, hand them a copy of the latest volume of theChicago Blues Harmonica Project. It's all the proof you'll need that the rumormill has its facts wrong. Sadly, Little Arthur Duncan didn't live to see thisrelease, but his two contributions are tough features in the classic Windy Citymode. Can't Stand It No More and Gone To Main Street display the influence ofboth Little Walter and Muddy Waters. Harmonica Hinds leaves another solid impressionas a carrier of the torch by offering up a pair of originals. The humorous KillThat Mouse sports a Jimmy Reed-like bounce along with Sunday Morning Blues, atop-notch harp shuffle. Charlie Love puts up a powerful version of Howlin' Wolf'sOoh Baby, Hold Me as well as a nice reading of The 12 Year Old Boy, and ReginaldCooper delivers the double-entendre Shade Tree Mechanic. However, it is Cooper'sslow and threatening take on Give Me Back That Wig that's a standout completewith gritty harmonica and gruff vocals. Russ Green's thick and distorted harpadds considerable interest to Johnny Guitar Watson's Gangster Of Love and JeffTaylor delivers another well-recognized standard with Honest I Do. And althoughthe name Big D might not register on your radar screen, he's a potent harmonicaplayer and soulful singer, as proven on Slim Harpo's I've Got To Be With YouTonight and the greasy Well You Know. The tight backing is provided by the dualguitar efforts of Illinois Slim and Rick Kreher, while Mark Brumbach adds finepiano with E.G. McDaniel and Twist Turner anchoring the grooves on bass and drums.More Rare Gems picks up right where Severn's 2005 release of Diamonds In TheRough left off. It's more pure and uncluttered Chicago Blues, with the spotlightaimed on some of the lesser-known but very talented proponents of harmonica.Well done.
© 2009 by Craig Ruskey The Blindman's Blues Forum
Charles Wilson - Troubled Child
" H*A*R*D*C*O*R*E S*O*U*L, I fully realize that everyone may not even knowor carewhat that term means. However for those that do, this album is a no brainierif you are a fan of 1960's style soul music and thought that you would neverever hear another new song done in that style, you will think that you have diedand gone to heaven...."
Bob Davis
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