Blues Show Review: Joe Price at Legends

Blues Show Review – Joe Price
by BlackJack

(This is a reprint of a review posted September 24th, 2010 in order to celebrate Joe’s return to Legends on March 11th at 5:30)

Headed on over to Buddy Guy’s Legends tonight to see Joe Price for the free after-work set. Walked in and couldn’t believe the place was packed (hundreds)- a rare sighting for the early show, which started at 5:30. Joe was hammerin’ away and I was lucky to be able to share a table up front. He hasn’t been seen more than 2 or 3 times in Chicago the last 5 or 6 years, and I was fortunate to see him for a couple performances during that stretch. He mainly plays in Iowa where he and his playing-partner/wife Vicki reside.

Joe was in his usual rare form, and I had forgotten about his amazing, unique energy- a combination seemingly somewhere between in-the-gutter blues and the hills of the country, along with a touch of something else, but I can’t put my finger on what other influences his music has, and that’s the way it should be. I’d later speak to Joe and he’d clarify that “it’s just me trying to play the blues”, so anyone thinking this ain’t blues definitely has the wrong picture.

It was a two-plus hour stint of infectious raucousness, and Joe would ask “are you having fun” but it was evident he was having even more fun than we were- a passionate player who was there to perform with heart and soul, in no way just going through the motions. His playing and the notes were too unpredictable to be anything sketched out beforehand, and you could tell he just played based on the mood and that night’s vibe. You can’t help but be drawn into his mesmerizing show. He’s comparable to none- I’d say a mix of Joe Cocker, L.C. Ulmer, Louisiana Red, Robert Pete Williams and the Standells (the band from one of the “Munsters” episodes from 1965), yet unlike any one of them. His personality, aloofness and focus might be compared to jazz great Chet Baker.

Okay, I’m crazy, but his music messes with your senses in the best way possible, leaving you wondering what just hit you. His music is simultaneously chaotic and hypnotic. Now I don’t know what gut-bucket blues is, but I’m sure Joe has some ideas- it just sounds like something Joe would intimately understand. He indicated that he was fortunate enough to grow up in Waterloo, Iowa where Earl Hooker died, and he was able to see Earl perform many times, and Earl gave him some early tips on tuning as Joe opened for him several times. He also was heavily influenced by Muddy Waters and met him early on as well. Ninety percent of the songs Joe played were originals, including his “25 degrees below”, in fine delta blues style, and his “Beer Tent Boogie” was a delight.

I’m not sure if Joe’s stage antics, including his wild foot dancing, are some for show or more likely inseparable from his emotive play, but you can’t help but enjoy his performance- the music, the shared stage with Vicki’s laughing smile, and his intertwined stories and quips.

Get out and see Joe if he’s within roadtrip distance- I promise he won’t hold anything back. See you at the next show…BlackJack

Blues at the Crossroads: The Robert Johnson Centennial Concert

Blues at the Crossroads: The Robert Johnson Centennial Concert (WCBS MEMBERS GET TICKETS 2 FOR 1)
With Big Head Todd and the Monsters, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Hubert Sumlin, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm.

When: February 11 : 8 p.m.
Price: $15-$70      WCBS MEMBERS GET TICKETS 2 FOR 1
Event Phone Number: 312-294-3000    BECOME A MEMBER FOR DETAILS!
Box office: 312-294-3000

Symphony Center
220 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60604

Low-reen’s Half-Century Birthday Blues Jam Extravaganza!

January 30 at 3:30pm
Polk St Pub
548 W Polk St (from 94 & Taylor go east 2 blks, Jefferson go north 1 blk, Polk go right)
Chicago, IL

Hosted by Low-reen’s Maxwell St Market Blues Jam Band featuring Bobby Too Tuff & Little Scotty. Come on out & celebrate that I made it this far! All musicians welcome to jam - let’s blow the roof off the joint! Underage musicians must be accompanied by legal guardian. $5 per day parking 1 blk north. Some are asking if they can bring a dish- sure, if you feel like it! But PLZ no gifts!!! I just want everyone to come out and have a good time!

Jamiah On Fire and the Red Machine

It’s cold outside in Chicago and it’s Memphis or Bust! Warm up at La Rosas Bar & Pizza. on Saturday, January 22 with Jamiah On Fire and the Red Machine, winners of the WCBS Chicago Blues Challenge Youth Award. Showtime 2:00p. La Rosas Bar & Pizza, 6817 S. Indianapolis Blvd, Hammond, IN

Rob Blaine’s Big Otis Blues!

It’s cold outside in Chicago and it’s Memphis or Bust! Warm up at B.L.U.E.S. on Friday, January 28 with Rob Blaine’s Big Otis Blues, winners of the WCBS Chicago Blues Challenge Award. Showtime 9:30p. B.L.U.E.S., 2519 N. Halsted, Chicago, IL

Donna Herula/John Jochem IBC Fundraiser

It’s cold outside in Chicago and it’s Memphis or Bust! Warm up at C. J. Arthur’s on Saturday, January 15 with Donna Herula and John Jochem, winners of the WCBS Chicago Blues Challenge Solo/Duo Award. Showtime 8:30p. C. J. Arthur’s, 1168 Wilmette Ave, Wilmette, IL Saturday, January 15th 8:30p

Important Delta Blues Recordings

Here’s a detailed listing of Important Delta Blues Recordings.  We hope it’s of use/interest, and you are urged to listen to, and learn about, all of these important delta blues artists:

Important Delta Blues Recordings

© by “BlackJack” in Chicago

“The Delta blues is one of the earliest styles of blues music. It originated in the Mississippi Delta, a region of the United States that roughly stretches from Memphis, Tennessee in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the south, the Mississippi River on the west to the Yazoo River on the east. The Mississippi Delta area is famous both for its fertile soil and its extreme poverty.  Guitar (especially slide) and harmonica were the dominant instruments used (although piano and other mountain & stringed instruments often accompanied the musicians, especially at the jukes, fish fry’s and plantation parties).  The vocal styles ranged from introspective and soulful to passionate and fiery.” 

Artists/recordings were selected based on a number of weightings (wherever possible): Best Songs, Quality of Recording/Label, Availability, Importance/Influence, Number of Tracks, Variety, Earliest, Revival or Re-Mastered Recordings, and true to the Delta region/style.  These recordings all come among the highest recommendations, and likely cover 95% of the most important and available early delta-related recordings. 

I urge you to listen to, and read more about, the artists, as all were influential keys, from early blues through today… 

The Big 3

Charley Patton (c. 1891 in Bolton/Edwards, MS) rec. (first recorded in) 1929

“King or Founder of Delta Blues” hosted plantation dances and notoriously rollicked in jook “juke” joints.  Mentored by Henry Sloan, he became a star especially due to his recordings and gyrating performances.  He was the leader and everyone followed, and was part Cherokee, Black and Caucasian.

  Complete Recordings: 1929-1934 (JSP) 92 tracks, mostly of Patton

  Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton (Revenant) Contains

    all 54 known Patton sides and extensive interviews

  Founder of Delta Blues and King of the Delta Blues (Yazoo) Nice pairing of single CD  

    compilations

  Masters of the Delta Blues: The Friends of Charlie Patton (Yazoo) Bracey, T. Johnson,

    Willie Brown, House, Louise Johnson, Kid Bailey, Bertha Lee.

Son House (b. 1902 in Riverton, MS) rec. 1930

“Father of Delta Blues”.  Intense, emotional delta innovator.  Influenced by Rubin Lacey, he played alongside Patton, Willie Brown & Robert Johnson- heavily influencing Johnson & Muddy. 

    Delta Blues (Biograph) Son House’s Library of Congress “Field recordings” by Alan Lomax in the early 40’s

    Heroes of the Blues: The Very Best of Son House (Shout! Factory) Includes early 30’s

    and 40’s pressings, and 60’s revival recordings

  Preachin’ the Blues (Catfish) All the Paramount recordings, decently transferred from

    masters.  Also 1941/1942 Lomax recordings.  Hear House, Patton and Willie Brown

    on “Walking Blues” test pressing.

  Father of the Delta Blues: The Complete 1965 Sessions (Columbia/Legacy)

Tommy Johnson (b. 1896 in Terry, MS) rec. 1928

“King of Country Blues”.  The devil’s bluesman, fond of drinking strained sterno, he was a disseminator of blues, teaching or influencing countless players, including: Howlin’ Wolf, Spann, Nighthawk, Temple, Muddy, Shines, Honeyboy.  He heavily influenced Jimmie Rodgers, the “Father of Country Music”, especially the yodeling affect. 

  Tommy Johnson, 1928-1930 (Wolf) Complete Recordings

  Tommy Johnson & Associates (Catfish) Mostly Johnson- also Bracey, McCoy, Carter

The Other 3

Skip James (b. 1902 in Bentonia, MS) rec. 1931

Bentonia-style player that moved early to the Delta, influencing R. Johnson, Muddy & John Lee Hooker.

  Today! (1965) Vanguard

  Hard Times Killing Floor Blues Biograph

  I’d Rather Be the Devil: The Legendary 1931 Session Revola

Robert Johnson (b. 1911 in Hazlehurst, MS) rec. 1936

Master innovator of the “turnaround” in blues songs, and wildly popular for both his music and the folklore surrounding his life.     

  Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings (Legacy)

Muddy Waters (c. 1913 by Jug’s Corner, MS) rec. 1941

Popularized the electrified blues in Chicago once he fled the plantation via Clarksdale on the Illinois Central Rail Line.

  The Complete Plantation Recordings (MCA/Chess) 1941/1942 must have Lomax record

  At Newport – 1960 (MCA/Chess) Classic early live revival re-issue

  The Chess Box (MCA/Chess) Amazing set of 72 Chess studio tracks

  The Collection: Hard Again/I’m Ready/King Bee (Epic/Legacy)

The Rest of the Best (ordered by first recording date)

Gus Cannon & Cannon’s Jug Stompers (b. 1883 in Red Banks, MS) rec. 1927

Jug and Banjo.  Not necessarily Delta, but among the first to be recorded, and he bridged the gap between early blues and the minstrel and folk styles which preceded it.

  The Best of Cannon’s Jug Stompers (Yazoo) 1928-1930 recordings

Ishman Bracey (b. 1901 in Byram) rec. 1928

Highly influential partner of Tommy Johnson- he gave up the blues for preaching.

  Complete Recorded Works, 1928-1929 (Document) Also 4 tracks by Charley Taylor

Leroy Carr (b. 1905 in Nashville, TN) rec. 1928

Piano-playing songwriter, included here mainly for his wide influence on the likes of Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Count Basie and many others.  Born in Tennessee, he lived and traveled throughout the midwest.  Partnered with Scrapper Blackwell on numerous recordings, despite dying at 30, and known for playing house rent parties.  Muddy recounted that Carr’s “How Long Blues” was the first song that Waters learned and played, and the prevalence of Carr’s recordings (along with Blind Lemon Jefferson and Leadbelly) played on Victrolas throughout the delta had unquestioned influence on the spawning of early blues. 

  Whiskey is my Habit, Women is all I Crave: The Best of Leroy Carr (Columbia/Legacy)

Mississippi John Hurt (c. 1892/1893 in Teoc, MS) rec. 1928

Piedmont style finger-picker, especially popular during the 60’s Folk/Blues revival.

  Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings (Columbia/Legacy)

  Memorial Anthology (Genes Records) Live 60’s folk recordings, including 30-minute

    interview with Pete Seeger  

Booker “Bukka” White (b. 1906 near Aberdeen, MS) rec. 1930

B.B. King’s uncle and mentor- a premiere slide player.  His “Fixin’ to Die Blues” was popularized by Bob Dylan.

  The Complete Sessions 1930-1940 (Travelin’ Man – U.K.)

  Revisited (Fuel 2000 Records) 1963 recording

  The Complete Bukka White (Columbia/Legacy)

Big Joe Williams (b. 1903 in Crawford, MS) rec. 1930

Nine string guitarist.  “His “Baby Please Don’t Go” and “Crawlin’ King Snake” were recorded at Aurora, Illinois’ Leland Hotel on the Bluebird label.  As protégé  Honeyboy Edwards describes “Williams in his early Delta days was a walking musician who played work camps, jukes, store porches, streets, and alleys, as did several of the key players.” 

  Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1, 1935-1941 (Document)

  Piney Woods (Delmark) Late 50’s recording

  Shake Your Boogie (Arhoolie) Double re-issue of early live re-discovery period

  Delta Blues: 1951 (Alligator) Early 50’s recording originally

    on Trumpet Records, also includes tracks by Willie Love and the Huff Brothers

Tommy McClennan (b. 1908 in Yazoo City, MS) rec. 1939

Influential Bluebird recording artist.

  Bluebird Recordings, 1939-1942 (1997) Bluebird RCA

Robert Jr. Lockwood (b. 1915 in Helena, AK) rec. 1941

Learned from “stepdad” Robert Johnson, and known for his version of “Key to the Highway”, along with his King Biscuit radio appearances.

  Plays Robert and Robert (Evidence) 1982 solo performance of Robert Johnson songs

    and originals, using his 12 string.

Honeyboy Edwards (b. 1915 in Shaw, MS) rec. 1942

With Sonny Boy & Robert the night Johnson “was likely poisoned with moth balls in his drink”.  Left home with Big Joe Williams around 1932 after seeing Tommy Johnson play, and just in time to get stranded by the 1932 flood (which Hooker sings so eloquently of).  Played with or observed most of the main delta players, and likely the most traveled- still touring the world today at 94.    

  Mississippi Delta Bluesman (2001) Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

  The World Don’t Owe Me Nothing (Earwig) Last of the Leland Hotel (Aurora)

    Recordings, made in 1996/1997, with Carey Bell & Rick Sherry

  Delta Bluesman (Earwig) Predominantly 1942 (Lomax) & 1991 recordings  

  White Windows (Evidence) 1988 recording among his best

Johnny Shines (b. 1915 in Frayser, TN) rec. 1946

Traveling partner of Robert Johnson.

  Johnny Shines and Robert Lockwood (Paula Records) Half the tracks are Shines in top

    form in the early 50’s

  Standing at the Crossroads (Testament – 1970)

  Johnny Shines with Big Walter Horton (Testament) One of the best Chicago Blues

    albums, recorded in late 60’s

John Lee Hooker (b. 1917 in Clarksdale, MS) rec. 1948

Brought the Delta to Detroit with his unique stuttering style.

  John Lee Hooker Plays and Sings the Blues (1961-MCA/Chess)

  John Lee Hooker at Newport- Live (1964-Vee-Jay)

  The Real Folk Blues (1966-MCA/Chess)

  The Folk Lore of John Lee Hooker (1961-Various labels)

  The Ultimate Collection, 1948-1990 (Rhino)

  The Very Best of John Lee Hooker (Rhino)

Sonny Boy Williamson II (“Rice” Miller) - (c. 1908, Tallahatchie Cty., MS) rec. 1951

Harp player who appeared regularly on King Biscuit Hour in 1941 with Lockwood.  Not to be confused with the other Sonny Boy, John Lee Williamson.  

  His Best (MCA/Chess) Recorded 1955-1964.  Hard to argue with this one.

  King Biscuit Time (Arhoolie) 1951 to mid-60’s among his best

Selected Compilations (not all artists are considered Delta):

Rough Guide to Delta Blues (World Music Network)  Great variety with some Hill Country Blues mixed in, including: R. Johnson, Waters, Broonzy, B. White, S. James, McDowell, Petway, Willie Brown, Hurt, Son House, Wilkins, Patton, Burnside, Belfour

Deep River of Song: Mississippi - The Blues Lineage (Rounder) Alan Lomax’s discovery of giants McKinley Morganfield (aka Muddy Waters) and Son House, who both turn in stunning performances. There’s also David “Honeyboy” Edwards, who has outlived them all, with an eerie and powerful “Wind Howlin’ Blues.” Lomax also found William Brown (different than Willie) and recorded him twice before Brown vanished into obscurity.

Newport Folk Festival: Best of the Blues 1959-1968 (Wel) Great live revival set

Legends of Country Blues [Original recording remastered] (JSP) 102 tracks of these five: Bukka, House, Bracey, S. James, T. Johnson

Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen - Live in Dallas (Blue Shoe Project- 2007)  Henry Townsend, Robert Lockwood Jr., Pinetop Perkins, David Honeyboy Edwards

Blues Masters, Vol. 8: Mississippi Delta Blues (Rhino) Willie Brown, House, Patton, T. Johnson, Elmore James, etc.

Mississippi Blues: Rare Cuts 1926-1941 [Original recording remastered] (JSP) 100  songs, with many obscure early important recordings

Lonesome Road Blues: 15 Years in the Mississippi Delta, 1926-1941 (Yazoo) Some obscure but important delta artists, including Papa Freddie Spruell (first Delta Blues recording “Milk Cow Blues” in 1926).

The Essential Recording of Mississippi Delta Blues: Dust My Broom (Indigo)  Nice grouping of artists, including Patton, T. Johnson, House, Bukka, Big Joe Williams, McClennan, Petway.

Memphis Masters: Early American Blues Classics 1927-1934 (Yazoo) Including: Memphis Minnie, Cannon, Stokes, etc.

Mississippi Masters: Early American Blues Classics 1927-1935 (Yazoo) Including: Akers, Wiley, etc.

Legendary Sessions Delta Style (Autogram) Willie Brown, Son House and Louise Johnson.

Mississippi Delta Blues, Vol. 1 & 2: Blow My Blues Away (Arhoolie) Includes Calicott, Burnside, Stackhouse, etc.

Various Artists - Son House & The Great Delta Blues Singers (Document) House, Willie Brown, Kid Bailey, Calicott, Blind Willie Reynolds, Akers.

Paramount Piano Blues, Vols. 1 & 2 (Black Swan Records of 1927 to 1932)

Blues Masters, Vol. 11: Classic Blues Women (Rhino) Traces the female blues tradition,  including Mamie Smith’s groundbreaking “Crazy Blues” from 1926.

Added (not necessarily all delta)…

Mississippi Moaners: 1927-1942 (Yazoo) Includes “Ham Hound Crave” by Ruben Lacey (By his mentor George Hendrix) and songs by House, Calicott, Reynolds, Patton, James

A Richer Tradition - Country Blues & String Band Music 1923 – 1942 (JSP CD 7798- 4 disks) Many of the old and lesser known musicians, including Newburn, Lottie Kimbrough, papa Charlie Jackson, Lonnie Carter & many, many others.

Blues 1920-40 (RCA Victor RA-9051/3 (Jp 1975)) Many of the greats, if even available on CD, including: Wheatstraw, Jazz Gillum, and others

Harmonicas Unlimited Volumes 1 & 2, 1924-1949 (Document DLP 503/504) Daddy Stovepipe, Eddie Mapp, William McCoy, etc.

William Harris Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order 1927 – 1929 (Document)

Web Sources: AMG (All Music Guide), Wikipedia, Blues for Peace

Tom & Dave Old Age Celebration

Old Age Celebration!

WHEN: SAT JAN 8, 2011 WHERE: Independence Tap 3932 W. Irving Park Rd (between Harding Ave & Pulaski Rd) Chicago, IL 60618 Neighborhood: Irving Park (773) 588-2385