Search - Elvin Bishop, Smokey Smothers :: That's My Partner

Partners Blasts

Karl MacOmber | Tucson, Arizona United States | 08/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It seems that when some musicians get together, they both sound better than either sounds alone. The first track shows both guitarists in full flower. The sound on this live CD is the best. There is not quite as much banter as you might expect from Elvin, but as always the lyrics are a riot. And listening to Smokey, you can hear where Elvin got some of his best licks."

It's nice to know that there is still somebody out there pla

Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 07/04/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Born in California in 1942, Elvin Bishop played co-lead guitar opposite Michael Bloomfield in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band back in the mid-60s, drawing a blueprint for all other twin lead guitar combos that followed them. And he hasn't lost any of his chops, as is evident on this warm and enjoyable live album.



Howlin' Wolf's guitarist in the late 50s, Albert "Little Smokey" Smothers (b. 1939), befriended the young Bishop when he arrived in Chicago in the early 60s..."you were square as a pool table and twice as green", Smothers says on the rollicking opener "That's My Partner". And here they are together, recorded live in January, 2000 at "Biscuits & Blues" on Mason Street in San Francisco, front and center on a 12-song set of originals and a few hand-picked covers.



Bishop and Smothers are backed not by a slick funk-band but by a real, low-down blues combo. Pianist and occational organ player S.E. Willis is top-notch, contributing mightly to the deep, swinging groove on songs like "Hello, Baby" and "Roll Your Moneymaker", and Terry Hanck plays tenor sax like each and every song was written specifically with just those saxophone parts in mind.

There is nothing fancy here, just 55 minutes of Chicago blues highlighted by the originals "That's My Partner", "Travelin' Shoes" and "Middle Aged Man", and a fine, gritty rendition of Howlin' Wolf's "Little Red Rooster". Drummer Bobby Cochran gets a thumping Bo Diddley-beat going on the swaggering instrumental "Stomp", and the slow blues "Annie Mae" features some smouldering lead guitar playing and another grade A-performance by the band.



It gets a tad predictable at times, perhaps, but everything is delivered with power and conviction, and the much-more-than-capable band helps raise even lesser songs above mediocrity. Elvin Bishop and Smokey Smothers plays off each other, banters a little, and seem to be having a great time. And any semi-serious blues fan should be able to find some to groove on here as well. 3 1/2 stars."

Non stop good time blues

Howard Teitel | nyc | 11/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"recorded live in sf in january of this year elvin & little smokey combine to recorded a great live set of tunes covering both of the artists career except for a cover of "little red rooster". every song is high energy of great blues guitar with great horns fillimng in."