5 comments about Where Have You Been? Live in Montreux 1976-1994.

1. Due to the fact that Chicago blues great, Luther Allison, had to flee Chicago to earn a living playing da blues, (See earlier Shaq Review!) the famed Montreux Jazz festival became his stage. Included on this CD are nothing but "live" performances from this venue covering the years 1976-1994. Every cut is great, so you can't miss with this selection, but let me point out a few extra ordinary highlights! I have heard many performances of "Little Red Rooster", and this performance by Luther is the absolute best. It is 11 minutes and 30 seconds long, and every second, is a gift. No one has ever performed "The Sky Is Crying" live, better than Stevie Ray Vaughn, and in Shaq's opinion, Albert King is second. But, this performance by Luther, highlighted with a slide guitar, is a different approach, and interestingly, enjoyable. And how "bitter sweet", must it have been, for Luther, under self-exile, in Europe, to earn a decent living, singing, "Sweet Home Chicago!" This CD is a must, for any true electric blues enthusiast!



2. Fans of the blues have always been blessed to have the Montreux Jazz Festival since it has produced a huge number of classic performances with just about every great blues artist. When comparing Luther to his fellow Chicago bluesmen, his sound is more similar to Buddy Guy than Muddy Waters due to his raw, energetic, & frenzied guitar solos. Just about everybody has recorded Willie Dixon's 'Gambler's Blues,' but Luther's version recorded at Montreux back in '76 absolutely smokes. His extended version of 'Little Red Rooster' heats things up with the same intensity. 'Bad News is Coming' recorded in '84 & 'Bad Love' recorded in '94 are two other fiery tracks. I also highly recommend Luther's 'Live in Chicago' CD (recorded in '97). Between the two live CD's, they encompass the majority of Luther's best work.



3. Luther Allison was one of those artists that seemed to play better live than in the studio. This CD is compiled with performances over almost 20 years. Even though some of the material is very familiar, Luther has a fresh take on the songs and he delivers all of them with a lot of energy. There's really not a weak cut on the disc and for those of us who never saw Luther in concert, this is a great memento. Many of the cuts feature some fine jams and the disc is a very generous length also.



4. The day I saw Luther Allison play live changed me forever. For months after that I practiced the guitar for hours every day, hoping one day to approach his skill level. This is the kind of performer Luther Allison is. This album comes in a close second to his stunning "Live in Chicago". Fans of blues standards may even prefer this one, because it contains his takes on "Sweet Home Chicago", "Little Red Rooster", and "The Sky is Crying", just to name a few. I'll miss Luther to the day I die. He was one of the greatest bluesmen ever. Check out his son, Bernard Allison. His style is different, more Stevie Ray/Jimi influenced, but every bit as exciting and dynamic as his father's.



5. tome this is the greatest live blues recording the late great luther allison,this cd contains versions of sweet home chicago,same thing,gamblers blues to name a few,luthers guitar playing is at the top of his game,if you love luther this a the live video from paradise is great.

1 comments about Round Two.

1. When Cat Head Presents released Big George Brock's Club Caravan CD last year, it struck with the force of an atom bomb . . . was it really possible that a modern blues recording could sound this real? This gritty? This great? Well, I'm pleased to report that George's follow up, Round 2 is even better. This is the sound of pure blues, unadorned by gimmicks or overly slick production. Just George and a sizzling band (including the incomparable Bill Abel and Lightnin' Malcolm) playing powerful, direct songs that deliver a wallop. The addition of Hubert Sumlin on two tracks only adds to impact. Hubert hasn't sounded this good since his days with Howlin' Wolf. Essential listening.

1 comments about Live at Antone's, Vol. 1.

1. I just returned from a live performance by the "living legend" of Boogie Woogie. Prior to my trip from San Antonio to Antones blues clup in Austin to See Mr Perkins perform, I gave this CD a listen. This recording truly captures the ambiance of the Austin blues club that has been the "Fort Apache" of the blues south of Chicago. Pinetops personable performance on the recording is exactly the way it is if you were standing next to the piano (as I was). "Big fat Mama" tends to stand out as my favorite boogie woogie tunes done by Mr. P, though his others such as "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" with it's halts in the progression by Pinetop instructing "Stop!, dont you turn a page" This performance was recorded when Pinetop was 86 years old. He is 88 now and still rocks those keys as if he were 20. I couldn't help but tell Mr P "Pinetop, you the Best!"

4 comments about Never Get Out of These Blues Alive.

1. I've been a JLH fan ever since my ears were opened in 1971, by a copy of
   "Hooker 'N Heat". Man I have never been far from that crazy JLH beat
   since. The beat of the metal presses of old Detroit, the musio running
   before the storm, the expectation of something bad about to break, all
   handled with an aplomb that would make our saints look radical. This
   disc-"Never get out of these bluses Alive" the title saya it more
   eloquent than it could have been said by anyone else, pure impact, it says
   to me, "yeah things are mighty askew, and we may not be able to do much
   about it, so let's put on "Never get out of these blues alive" and go
   about our daily lives, the old "move along, nothing to see" I write to
   the beat of John Lee Hooker, and as an added bonus feature, the 7th. and
   last cut of the disc has two old Paul Butterfield Blues Band alums
   playing with the Hook, Elvin Bishop, and Mark Nafalin, there is John Kahn
   from Garcia & Saunders roving band of musician's playing base on cut #6.
   But thats what I always loved about JLH, his ability to gather musicians
   around him, and school them that needs it in the ways of them motor city
   blues.



2. This is a great blues album and one of John Lee's better studio albums. Van Man shows on up the title cut, which is great. TB Sheets is one of the saddest songs very recorded. The rest of the album is pretty jumpy boogie style blues. As John Lee says this is a party album...If you can find it, Buy it.



3. Yes! This is a forgotten gem. Very nice stuff indeed. Whoever wrote TB-sheets (Van Morrison I still believe), this is a crying time song, thrilling. Also the duet with Van The Man Morrison is breathtakin'. And what about Charlie Musselwhite, just great. It's an old record, and you can tell, but it sounds like a real classic and as fresh as ever. Get it!



4. This is a very powerful type of blues, with heavy bass lines and of course, John Lee's throaty voice. Very laid back, not so much down in the dumps, but kind of grinning to yourself about your own situation... what I like to call "ballsy blues." Van Morrison and Elvin Bishop both appear on this one- and Mr. Van makes a great duet voice with Mr. Hooker... definitely my personal favorite blues album...

3 comments about Mojo: The Best of Muddy Waters Live!, 1971-1976.

1. It don't matter what's the matter. Just let Muddy Waters take care of it. And he does that on this collection of 'live' tunes with his great backup band. He is truly the Hoochi Coochi Man. You wanna get down, get funky? Get this one.



2. BOUGHT THIS CD BASED ON THE PREVIOUS REVIEW, AND WAS NOT DISAPOINTED. THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING RELEASE, BOTH IN CONTENT AND SOUND QUALITY, AND IS RECOMENDED TO ALL BLUES FANS--LETS HOPE THE UPCOMING CLASSIC CONCERT DVD IS OF SAME STANDARD--MUDDY DESERVES THE BEST.



3. This album is subtitled "The Live Collection", and while that may sound a little ominous, "Mojo" is certainly not a second-rate collection of hap-hazardly chosen live performances. On the contrary, these are some of the very best live recordings of Muddy Waters ever available.
   
   Superbly remastered, "Mojo" features excellent sound, capturing Muddy Waters in Washington and Oregon in 1971, and in Switzerland in 1976, a total of 74 minutes of music.
   The core of the Muddy Waters Band is in place on both the '71 and the '76 recordings, veteran blues drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and pianist Joe "Pinetop" Perkins, and harp duties are more than ably handled by George "Harmonica" Smith and Jerry Portnoy respectively. Muddy himself is in excellent form, and the track list is superb...tough, swinging renditions of Muddy Waters' best-known songs, and numerous lesser-known but equally fabulous ones as well.
   "Mojo" opens with a terrific, muscular rendition of "Rollin' And Tumblin'", after which it goes from highlight to highlight: "Got My Mojo Working", a lean, mean rendition of "Walkin' Blues", a slow, soulful "Howlin' Wolf", and an interesting, minor-note flavoured "Mannish Boy", which owes a lot to the huge pocket of the drummer who makes the five-minute, one-chord song into the powerhouse that it is.
   
   The great Willie "Big Eyes" Smith lays down a deep groove with his energetic, versatile playing, and the interaction between the rhythm section and Pinetop Perkins is worth noticing as well; Perkins contributes mightily to the magnificent swinging feel of songs like "Crawlin' King Snake", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Walkin' Thru The Park", and "Rollin' And Tumblin'", and his solo on "Can't Get No Grindin' (what's the matter with the mill)" completely takes over the track, even though it gets stiff competition from Jerry Portnoy's harp solo and a fiery guitar solo by Bob Margolin.
   And Luther Johnson shines on a rough, tough rendition of "Dust My Broom", doing the lead vocals while Muddy Waters plays the howling slide guitar.
   
   The sound, the material, and the musicianship make this one of the finest live blues albums I have ever heard, and a worthy companion to the classic "Muddy Waters At Newport".
   A must-have!

5 comments about Count Basie at Newport.

1. Brilliant!
   This is swing music at its best, the power and energy of classic Basie band recreated in the age of stereo technology. For, Lester Young (one of two swing-era candidates for the best tenorist ever), Jimmy Rushing (perhaps the best blues singer in jazz) and Jo Jones (probably the best swing-drummer) return to the flock. What a performance - a festival whithin Newport festival!
   
   These veterans give the orchestra (powerful on its own) a new impetus - more than anything else in hard, merciless drive. Solos and obligattos by Young are beautiful, combining brutal blues "primitivism" with proto-modern harmony and tone in Young's inimitable way, Rushing is in his musical prime, while "Papa Jo" does what he does best - Basie's big band remains the most inspiring musical environment for him.
   Naturally, the part of the CD with singer Joe Williams (sans Rushing, Young and Jones) although excellent, is not on the level of the recordings with these older giants, but than again, how could it be? It is a pitty that this sort of reunion was not more common.
   In addition to great colaboration in the first part of the concert, another giant of swing, Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge (bop-buffs know him as the musical daddy of Dizzy Gillespie), climbs to the stage to join Young, Jones and Illinois Jacquet for powerful big-band finale. The piano work of Bill Basie, the arragements and ensemble work are top class throughout, so I'm really wondering why You haven't purchased it yet?
   Some 15 years ago I first heard "Evenin'" (with Rushing's macho but lyrical rendition of the verse) and "Sent for you yesterday" (which rocked my old phonograph) on two Verve compilations and ever sice that moment I was wondering what the entire album sounds like. It turned out to be one of my favorite CDs, and, although I'm not an expert, probably one of the finest moments in the history of swing style. Young passed away not long after this reunion (although he lived long enough to hear the record) and, sadly, no concert like this one will ever take place again.
   
   Lester Young with Oscar Peterson Trio Pres and Teddy First Time: The Count Meets the Duke Kansas City 5The Bosses Brubeck & Rushing Five Feet of Soul Every Day I Have the Blues Goin' to Chicago: The Best of Jimmy Rushing with Count Basie and His Orchestra Roy and Diz Little Jazz: Trumpet Giant Happy Time Loose Walk



2. The Newport festival hosted some fine releases, the standouts included this one, Duke Ellington's 2 seperate outings, Joe Williams, Monk,all captured on wonderfull rereleases. Yet this one comes close if not the best from Basie and his band playing with greatness from their past and then present with such luminaries as Jimmy Rushing,Joe Williams,Lester Young,Roy Eldridge, wonderful remastered sound..total energy lovely packaged..get it and you won't be sorry especially if you are exploring Basie and Jazz for the first time.



3. "One o' Clock" jump is a historical moment, Here you have Count Basie, Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, and Illionois Jaqucet blowing the place up. You can here people cheering them on in the croud and in the band, and you can tell this was a night to remember. For me the real reason to aquire this gem if for the Lester Young. He is incredible on this recording, a masterpiece



4. So, where is the complete version of this concert? In verve's vault, waiting another 5- 10 years, so they can sell it to you again. They missed a big chance od finnaly releasing this historic concert the way it should be, in a 2 cd edition, 24 bit remastered. Check out the Duke ay Newport release and compare it with this. The music itself is 4 stars at least, Lester was not in his prime anymore, and you can hear it, but Joe Williams is just amazing.



5. This is a great wild and swinging performance, both the "reunion" sides and the straight band stuff.

   In the late 1940s and early 1950s Lester Young toured and performed with the Basie New Testament band quite often. In fact, at times he would simply show up for a rehearsal or stage performance unannounced and just blow. Basie always kept the door open for him and his chair in the section was his whenever he showed up whatever other combos Prez had.

   However, even though THE PRESIDENT was in rough shape that weekend (he wasn't dying that happened 3 years later), there are no later day recordings of Prez with the band that capture the swing that the reunion sides do here.

   I think it had to do with having Joe Jones and Mr. Rushing present. A lot of his Basie band mates from the 1930s used to say that the big diffeence in Lester Young's 1950s performances was that he really needed a swing rhythm section, despite the excellence of Roy Haynes and other bop influenced young drummers Prez employed in his own combos. Papa Jo, Jo Jones the great drummer of the Basie band, is reunited with Freddie Green and Count Basie, with only Walter Page the original bassist in the 1930s All American Rhythm section being missing.

   One of the great things here is hearing Jimmie Rushing--who was a bit more of a stranger to Basie in these years than Prez--swinging the band. The New Testament band reacts to his singing by swinging back at him like they would any other master soloist. You can also pick up on some of the other cuts where Jimmie isn't singing, where his hand clapping and shouting is adding to the fury of the bands swing. If you are lucky enough to be familiar with air checks of the 1930s and early 1940s live performances by Basie, you can hear Jimmie doing the same stuff then. By the way, despite his size, Rushing was renowned as a dancer. One imagines that if Jimmy just wiggled his nose to the music it would have swung a whole lot.

   Even if you are so culturally deprived as not to be a Jimmie Rushing fan, you will be after you hear his sides on this CD. Despite a less than adequate microphone or recording level when he sings, you can hear him and the band thundering back and forth with each other swinging.
   
   

   Illinois Jacquet and Roy Eldrige also shine on this record, on the killer rendition of One O'clock Jump. They were both at the height of their powers here and really burnt it up. Both of them are the real stars of the One O'clock Jump.

   Don't forget the Count Basie Orchestra here. I have three other recordings of Bleep Blop Blues (the first with the nonette and two studio recordings). The live jumping version on this CD is the best one I have ever heard. As much as I love the other cuts on the CD, I find myself putting that on repeat and repeat and repeat. Joe Williams does show you why he is the righteous successor to Mr. Rushing, (although Joe Williams always saw himself as more of a disciple of Joe Turner than of Jimmie Rushing). I also love the interaction between the New Testament Band and some of the swing veterans as their riffs rise behind the veterans, especially on One O'clock Jump. Any idea that Basie's new band was not the leading swing organization of its time is quickly dispelled by what the band does here.

   And John Hammond LOL: Oh well, at least his introductions aren't faked like he did on the Vanguard recordings of the Spirituals to Swing concerts. His introduction of the Basie New Testament band is interesting in giving you a picture of how many members of the New Testament band came out of the old swing bands even preswing organizations like Noble Sissle's outfit. His patronizing tone really takes you back to what Jazz musicians and African American artists in general had to put up from supposedly liberal (NAACP board member was Hammond) whites just to perform.

   This is a one in a million special CD. This was the first CD I ever bought. It belongs in every home!

5 comments about Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live.

1. 1979's 'Muddy Waters Live' is a real treat. It features another blues icon, Johnny Winter's backing band, as well as Muddy's raw and unique voice.
   
   While this was released on Columbia, and his best sides were on Chess, which was purchased by MCA (now Geffen), this is still a supreme live set. If you enjoyed 'Live At Newport,' than you will absolutely love 'Muddy Waters Live.' He is considerably older, but older can mean better.
   
   And in this case, it means better. The first song on the record, his hit 'Mannish Boy' is probably better than the studio version; while the final song on this album 'Deep Down In Florida' just brings the whole house down. The guitar licks on that one are superb.
   
   Overall, this is live blues at it's finest. Highly recommended for any blues lover or Muddy Waters lover. You'll be very satisfied with this listen. ENJOY!!!



2. I got this for 9 bucks last year. I can think of things I paid over $100.00 for that are nowhere near as valuable to me as this CD. If it isn't the best 9 bucks I have ever spent, it is tied with something I have forgotten. The greatest thing about this is Muddy playing slide on a number of the songs. I doubt it is Muddy at his best, but gives you an idea of what Muddy at his best was like. While all the releases of Johnny Winter and Muddy Waters touring in the late 1970's are great, this is the best of them. I don't see how any blues lover could spend 9 bucks any better!



3. Muddy Waters - McKinley Morganfield is the source of all of rock and his teachers down in the Mississippi delta; Son House, Walter Johnson, Blind Willie, Rev.Johnson are who created our only original art form Jazz. "Who invented Electrizity...........Muddy Waters."



4. This is one of the best live blues albums ever made and you could make a case for best live blues album period. Johnny Winters did the blues (and America) a great service by bring Muddy out of semi-retrirement to record a series of studio albums on the Blue Sky label. These fantasic albums include 'Hard' Again', 'King Bee' and 'I'm Ready'. After finishing live to tape studio album Johnny took Muddy on the road to record this amazing album. Every song is a treat right from the openning Mannish Boy thru the slow paced Deep Down in Florida to the great 19 years old sung the way only Muddy could od. Muddy plays great slide guitar, the backing band is excellent, and the crowd is electric. What it must have been like to see this show. Only compliant is how short it is. Would highly recommend the extended 2 CD set version that recently came out. What ever fit your budget pick one - this is the BEST of the blues.



5. Muddy's vocals: dead on, excellent as always. The band: great. Sounds like a pretty good blues album huh? Well, it's more than pretty good, it's amazing. On some of his later albums, great as they were, Muddy played less of his trademark slide guitar; well on this recording, it is the slide playing that steals the show. Muddy positively wails, putting most slide players to shame, dropping the jaws of the audience, and turning great recordings into postively essential and timeless ones. I cannot emphasize enough the greatness of the slide playing on this record; Muddy just takes you to another place with his scary slide.

1 comments about Live at Rosa's Blues Lounge.

1. Little Arthur Duncan is old, and still awesome. Some really good tracks. I picked this up after hearing Pretty Thing On My Mind on the radio. Fortunately, the whole disc is great. The guitars are in separate channels, which adds a special effect, especially when listened to with headphones. For a good time, pick up this disc.

1 comments about Energized: Live in Europe.

1. Hard as it is to believe, "Energized" is anything but. I own Higher Power and Storms of Life and recommend both highly. Energized contains stuff from the other two CDs but is vastly inferior. As with a lot of live performances the band members are given a lot of time to solo to the point where the listener who is not there gets bored. Don't buy this one. Buy the other two instead.

1 comments about Live at Sugar Hill 2.

1. This album is the sister disc to the 'Boogie Chillen' cd that features JLH in a blue dress shirt & hat on a grey cover. 'Boogie Chillen's' 1st half is essentially 'Live @ Sugar Hill - Vol. 1'. This album makes up for what definetly seems to be missing from this amazing EARLY 1960's solo electric performance. I give it 4 stars b/c the the Sugar Hill songs on 'Boogie Chillen' are better, but that doesn't mean that this cd isn't worth it's printing. If you like live electric solo JLH, this will not be a miss.