Barrellhouse Chuck And The All Star Blues Band
The Sirens Records SR-5104
Gvon T, Sing Out, Spring 2007
Pianist and consummate band leader Barrelhouse Chuck keeps Chicago’s South Side blues and boogie traditions alive and well with his latest Sirens project, where he not only pays tribute to some of his Windy City mentors (Sunnyland Slim, Little Brother Montgomery, Memphis Slim, Floyd Jones and the inimitable Detroit Jr.) but also had the good sense to enlist Muddy Waters’ longtime rhythm section members Willie “Big Eyes” Smith on drums and Calvin “Fuzz” Jones on bass along with talented local guitarists Joel Foy and Eddie Taylor, Jr. to join him.
Premier harmonica ace Kim Wilson, of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, also appears on most of the thirteen numbers – especially shining on a pair of atmospheric instrumentals that underline the obvious chemistry between Chuck’s percussive piano and Wilson’s Little Walter-styled, rich-toned harp playing. The first, “Floyd’s Blues,” was composed by one of the idiom’s most accomplished songwriters (a spot-on cover of his lament “School Days” is also here) with the extemporaneous-sounding workout on Foy’s rocking and rolling “Red River Rumba” proving equally resilient.
Other head-turners include an inspired version of Chicago mainstay Johnny “Moose” Walker’s signature “The Bright Sounds of Big Moose,” with Chuck nailing Walker’s big and bluesy, out-front organ delivery; an emphatic cover of Little Brother’s archetypal lament “Mama You Don’t Mean Me No Good” (with Eiko Izumi-Gallwas guesting on honky tonk piano); Wilson’s fluent, infectious interpretation of Junior Walker’s hit “Cleo’s Mood” and a moving take on Eddie Taylor’s early Chicago jukebox smash “Big Town Playboy,” featuring Taylor’s son on guitar and vocal.
Over the last 25 years, Chuck has recorded prolifically for more than sixteen labels but this solo album, fronting a genuine All-Star blues band, ranks among his best efforts to date.
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