Search - Roosevelt Sykes :: Feel Like Blowing My Horn

Different Shades Of Blue

swampshaka | New Orleans, Louisiana | 01/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't think that Roosevelt Sykes ever made a bad record Throughout the course of his long and distinguished career. On "Feel Like Blowing My Horn" Mr. Sykes proves par for the course. This 1970 session under the supervision of Delmark Records producer Bob Koester finds "The Honeydripper" in top form, his good natured and witty blue compositions shout out in barrelhouse tounges from an era sadly long gone. Yes, Roosevelt Sykes certainly was from a different place and time in American culture and this is what shines through so brilliantly in these recordings. Lyrically Sykes is a master craftsman able to evoke provocative imagaes in a simple but effective manner, whether it's "call it tootsie-wootsie, my little apple pie" or "girl you got a fine body but you a gold digger from your heart", Sykes never seems to be at a loss for words and words of wisdom are what Sykes delivers here in multitudes. This session has a relaxed and spontanious feel and only with veterans such as Robert Lockwood{guitar}, Freddie Below{drums}, and Dave Myers{bass} along with King Kolax{trumpet} and Sax Mallard{tenor} could this session gel so naturally. Number after number Sykes leave's us relishing in his world of barrelhouse, swing, and jazz tinged r&b, but his commentary in "Blues Will Prank With Your Soul" pretty much sums up where Roosevelt Sykes feel's most at home, "you can sing waltzes or jazz or anything you choose, but you'll never get away from singin the blues", Roosevelt Sykes did just that and did it as convincingly as anybody in the buisness ever has!"