Barrellhouse Chuck And The All Star Blues Band
The Sirens Records SR-5104
By Jeff Harris (Bad Dog Blues) Sept 2006
Some of the best blues and jazz recordings would never exist if not for some
enthusiast who put their passion for the music ahead of monetary gain,
formed their own small labels and shared that passion with the world. One
such person is Steven Dolins who runs The Sirens label who's mission is to
preserve authentic Chicago blues, boogie woogie, gospel, and jazz piano
music. Since reactivating the label a few years back Dolins has issued a
steady stream of high quality recordings. That track record continues with
fine new records by modern piano master Barrelhouse Chuck who leads an
all-star outfit on "Got My Eyes On You".
Barrelhouse Chuck is a true piano master with a deep sense of tradition and
one of the finest younger generation blues piano players you'll find
anywhere. Chuck honed his craft mentoring under Sunnyland Slim and Little
Brother Montgomery whom he literally lived with during the late 1970's and
1980's. Along the way he's worked with virtually every notable Chicago blues
musician you can think of as well as prolifically issuing his own records,
most recently "Slowdown Sundown" one of 2005's finest blues records. This
time out Chuck leads an all-star blues band which includes ace harp blower
and Fabulous Thunderbird’s member Kim Wilson; long-time Muddy Waters rhythm
section members Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on drums and Calvin "Fuzz" Jones on
bass; and talented guitarists Joel Foy and Eddie Taylor Jr, son of the
legendary Eddie Taylor. The result is an outstanding set of Chicago ensemble
blues as Chuck pays tribute to his idols such as Floyd Jones, Sunnyland
Slim, Little Brother, Memphis Slim, Big Moose Walker and others. You don't
here much about Floyd Jones these days but back in the 40's and 50's he cut
a batch of dark and gloomy classics like "Dark Road" and "Hard Times." Chuck
obviously didn't forget tackling "Floyd's Blues" and "School Days" in
rocking two handed fashion just like Sunnyland did on the originals with Kim
Wilson laying down big toned harp like Snooker Pryor did on those songs and
fittingly it's Eddie Taylor Jr on guitar playing the licks his father did
back when these were first cut in 1953. Chuck's mentors are well served on
the in-the-pocket version of Sunnyland's "It's You Baby" and the lovely
"Mama You Don't Mean Me No Good" with a terrific vocal by Chuck that
uncannily emulates the one of a kind voice of Little Brother and featuring
sensitive piano from Elko-Izumi-Gallwas. Everything clicks here but mention
should also go to a moody, stripped down version of Memphis Slim's
philosophical "Mother Earth" and Chuck laying down some steamy organ on "The
Bright Sounds of Big Moose."
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