Search - Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim :: Chicago Blues Masters 1

A very interesting collection of songs

Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 03/04/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"About a handful of these seventeen songs were recorded live at Carnegie Hall in April, 1959...the rest are studio tracks of a more dubious origin, probably committed to tape in early 1961.



There are many excellent performances here, though, including Memphis Slim's stately reading of Leroy Carr's "How Long, How Long Blues" (with electric slide guitar by Muddy Waters), and a really great rendition of Muddy's 1954 hit "Hoochie Coochie Man" which features James Cotton on harmonica and superb piano playing by an uncredited pianist who may have been Memphis Slim, but sounds more like Muddy's own piano player, the great Otis Spann.



Other highlights include Muddy Waters' tough, swinging "Blow Wind Blow", Slim's highly personal (and very good) versions of "Stack Alee" and "John Henry", and a strikingly urbane rendition of the country blues classic "Rollin' And Tumblin'".

"How Long" is here in a studio recording as well, played slightly faster than the live version, and Muddy Waters' Carnegie performance of "Walkin' Thru The Park" is probably the best recording of that song I've heard to date. And Memphis Slim shows off his versatility, playing everything from rollicking, up-tempo boggie and R&B ("Love My Baby") to slow, jazzy after-hours blues ("When The Sun Goes Down").



The liner notes are thorough and insightful, and the sound is very good for late-50s live recordings (and early 60s studio waxings as well, for that matter), and this collection brings together a number of rare performances that definitely deserve to be heard."