Search - Tony O. Blues Band :: Top of the Blues

One of my favorites, great musicianship

Barb | 05/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is in frequent rotation in my extensive blues collection; one of my favorite CDs. Formerly with Little Mike and the Tornadoes (who worked with Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Rogers, Snooky Pryor, and Big Daddy Kinsey), Tony O is masterful, smooth, and soulful on guitar and vocals.



Between the demise of Little Mike and the Tornadoes and the formation of this band, Tony was a member of Willie Smith's Legendary Blues Band.



In this band, he is joined by former Tornadoes Brad Vickers on bass and Nick Luis on rhythm guitar. Rob Piazza plays drums on four tracks; the remainder of the tracks feature Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on drums (as well as some vocals). We have Pinetop Perkins here on piano, with Little Mike also contributing piano on one track, and Stan Bronstein on saxophone.



Seems nobody I know has ever heard of this guy. Given his stellar resume and associates, reputation on the Chicago blues scene, and the talent and spirit inherent in his performances, it's one of life's great mysteries."