New Blues Review 2-18-25
By Jack Roy
Bob Corritore and Friends – Doing The Shout! (Swmaf)
Bio – “Bob Corritore is one of the most active and highly regarded blues harmonica players on the scene today. His style passionately carries forward the old school of playing that Corritore learned as a young man directly from many of original pioneers of Chicago Blues. His sympathetic, yet fiery harmonica playing is featured on over 100 releases to date, on labels such as VizzTone, Delta Groove, Delmark, HighTone, HMG, Blue Witch, Blind Pig, Earwig, Ruf, Putumayo and many others. Many of Bob’s acclaimed releases have been nominated or winners for various Handy, Grammy, Living Blues, Blues Music Awards and Blues Blast Music Awards. Bob is also widely recognized for his many roles in the blues, as band leader, club owner, record producer, radio show host, arts foundation founder, and occasional writer. Born on September 27, 1956 in Chicago, Bob first heard Muddy Waters on the radio at age 12, an event which changed his life forever. Within a year, he was playing harmonica and collecting blues albums. He would see blues shows in his early teens, including attending a Muddy Waters performance at his high school gymnasium. He would cut his teeth sitting in on Maxwell Street with John Henry Davis and others until old enough to attend blues clubs. He hung around great harp players such as Big Walter Horton, Little Mack Simmons, Louis Myers, Junior Wells, Big John Wrencher, and Carey Bell, and received harmonica tips and encouragement from many of them. He would regularly see the Aces, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Billy Boy Arnold, John Brim, Sunnyland Slim, Smokey Smothers, Eddie Taylor, and in many cases became personal friends with these blues veterans. Corritore worked with Tail Dragger, Big Moose Walker, Willie Buck, Louis and Dave Myers, and Eddie Taylor in the late 70s and early 80s. He also produced his first recordings during that time, taking unheralded harmonica greats such as Little Willie Anderson and Big Leon Brooks into the studio to produce their now classic debut albums. In 1981, Bob ventured southwest to live in Phoenix, Arizona. Within months, Bob was joined by Chicagoland friend Louisiana Red and the two played together around Phoenix for about a year until Red relocated to Germany. For the remainder of the 1980s, Bob worked in Phoenix and throughout the Southwest with Big Pete Pearson, Buddy Reed, Tommy Dukes, Chief Schabuttie Gilliame, and an emerging Janiva Magness in one of her earliest bands. In 1984, Bob supplemented his performances with a blues radio show called Those Lowdown Blues on KJZZ, which is still going strong. In 1986, former Howlin’ Wolf drummer Chico Chism moved to Phoenix at Bob’s invitation to start a 20 year partnership that lasted until Chico’s passing in 2007. In 1991, Bob opened the now famous Blues and Roots Concert Club, The Rhythm Room. Having a club created yet another catalyst for Bob’s musical projects. He would often invite great artists to come to Phoenix, and Bob’s band, the Rhythm Room All-Stars would back these visiting artists on shows and in recording sessions. Bob’s archives of these sessions are now famous, and include sessions with Bo Diddley, Little Milton, John Brim, Jimmy Rogers, Henry Gray, Pinetop Perkins, Ike Turner, Jimmie Vaughan, Henry Townsend, Honeyboy Edwards, Big Jack Johnson, Ike Turner, Smokey Wilson. Lil’ Ed, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Nappy Brown, R.L. Burnside, Louisiana Red, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Sam Lay, Barbara Lynn, John Primer, Eddy Clearwater, and numerous others. In 1999, Bob released his first CD as a national recording artist, combining some of the highlights of his vaults. The CD was called All-Star Blues Sessions, and was released on the HighTone record label to great fanfare. This momentum created a long series of CDs on HighTone with Bob in the harmonica player/producer role. Bob started breaking into the national circuit in festival appearances with Henry Gray and Louisiana Red. Bob co-produced harmonica ace Kim Wilson’s 2001 release of Smokin’ Joint which got a Grammy nomination the following year. In 2005, Bob brought the Rhythm Room All-Stars featuring Big Pete Pearson to The Marco Fiume Blues Passions Festival in Italy, which opened a whole new world of European interest in Bob’s harmonica artistry. This led to return visits to Europe for various festivals and performances, as well as an ever-growing world-wide fan base. In 2007, the Mayor of Phoenix officially proclaimed September 29, 2007 to be “Bob Corritore Day” in honor of Bob’s musical contributions to his community. Also that year, Bob received a “Keeping The Blues Alive” award from the Blues Foundation. Bob’s 2007 collaboration with Dave Riley, Travelin’ The Dirt Road, was nominated for a Blues Music Award. Bob also contributed harmonica work on the 2008 Grammy®-nominated CD/DVD by Pinetop Perkins, On The 88s. Bob‘s prolific activity with the Blue Witch record label as label producer/harmonica player garnered him additional notoriety. Bob signed with the great Delta Groove record label for a 2010 release that solidified Bob’s strong standing as a major player in today’s blues world. In 2011 his CD Bob Corritore & Friends / Harmonica Blues won a BMA for Best Historical Blues Release. Also In 2011 the State of Arizona awarded Bob a Certificate Of Recognition for his work in blues music. In 2012 Bob won a Living Blues Award in the Harmonica category and Hohner Harmonicas including Bob’s image in their packaging of the Blues Harp brand. 2013 saw a highly-celebrated collaboration with John Primer which was awarded “Best Blues Album of 2013” by Germany’s Blues News Magazine! In 2014, Corritore was also awarded a Blues411 Jimi Award for Best Harpist. In 2019 Bob Corritore & Friends/Don’t Let The Devil Ride won a Blues Blast Music Award for Traditional Blues Album. Bob remains very active releasing an album each year as well as numerous guest appearances on other’s albums. He performs regularly across the country and around the world with numerous projects including The Bob’s Of The Blues (Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger and Bob Corritore), John Primer, Diunna Greenleaf, Dave Riley, The Andy T Band, Alabama Mike, Jimi “Primetime” Smith, and many others. Bob has also become well known for organizing multi-artist showcase sets and events featuring traditional blues revues. Look for Bob to continue his active work in presenting traditional blues harmonica playing to the world stage.”
Review – I always look forward to any of the albums that Bob Corritore puts out, especially when he brings in a bunch of special artists. The CD starts off with Thornetta Davis singing “Say Baby Say”, love her voice. “Woman Wanted” has a classic feel with Oscar Wilson providing vocals and I swear it is like listening to Muddy Waters! And rightly so as Bob Margolin is playing guitar on this one, So good. All the tunes are gold and the guest musicians are stellar with Bobby Rush, Thornetta Davis, John Primer, Francine Reed, Tia Carroll, Bob Margolin, Duke Robillard, Kid Ramos, Johnny Burgin and Johnny Rapp just to name a few key players. I think my favorite is “Twenty Room House″, with John Primer on Guitar and Vocals but couldn’t find this online either but here is a live video with Oscar Wilson providing Vocals, listen here. I will give this a 10++ on Blues Content and a 10++ on Music Content.
Ian Siegal meets Johnny Mastro – Easy Tiger (Continental Blue Heaven)
Bio – “Siegal born in Portsmouth, England has headlined festivals for the last 20 years throughout the world and accumulated awards and accolades including “Best British Singer”. MOJO magazine called him “one of the most gifted singers and writers in contemporary blues”. His rootsy Americana meets the blues style and collaborations over the years have gained him a repu-tation as a soulful, stylistically flexible artist. A “real” artist with something to say. New Orleans based harmonica man Johnny Mastro was born in Geneva, NY, USA and has led one of toughest bands on the blues scene for 25 years. He has been touring Europe for 20 years and like Siegal’s, his criti-cally acclaimed records hold up to the test of time. A little more rigid in style, Mastro always creates a driv-ing, original, loose and dangerous sound, pushing the music to the brink. Munich Talk said of his last record-ing “it can hardly be more distorted, dirtier or rougher and that’s a good thing”.”
Review – This is a decent Blues Album, kind of a blend of Blues and Early Rock N’ Roll. Ian’s Voice is raspy and great for the Blues but I wasn’t really blown away from the song writing. What really shines is Johnny Mastro’s Harp playing, Wow!! Perfect Tone. Some of my favorites are “Four On The floor”, “No Mercy” and “Who’re In Church”. I think my favorite is “Dog Won’t Hunt″, listen here. I will give this a 9 on Blues Content and a 9 on Music Content.
Jimmy Vivino – Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days (Gulf Coast)
Bio – “Jimmy Vivino (aka Jimmy V) has always considered himself “a blues man with a job”. Although best known for serving 26 years as Conan O’Brien’s musical director, guitarist and bandleader, his experience in the music business predates that by 20 plus years. Jimmy V has produced, lead bands and recorded with a countless number rock and roll and blues artists for five decades including the likes of Hubert Sumlin, Warren Haynes, Bob Weir, Keith Richards, Elvis Costello, Johnnie Johnson, Son Seals, Shemekia Copeland, Levon Helm, Phoebe Snow, Dion, Laura Nyro, Bob Margolin, Lowell Fulson, John Sebastian, Joe Louis Walker and Al Kooper to name a few. When not producing, recording or touring with other artists, Jimmy still tours the country and the world with his own band and is due to release a new blues album later on this year (2022).”
Review – Another Decent album but just seems lacking something, maybe again the song writing. Jimmy singing lead vocals, electric guitar, Hammond B3 with an incredible backing band of Jesse Williams on Bass, Rich Pagano on Drums with guest musicians Joe Bonamassa on guitar, John Sebastian on Harmonica and Guitar, Mark Teixeira on Percussion and Scott Healy on Piano. Some of my favorites are “Ruby Is Back, “Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days”, and “Back Up The Country” (nice acoustic tune with John Sebastian) but I think my favorite is “Fools’ Gold″, a super slow grinding tune, some great lead guitar, listen here. I will give this a 10 on Blues Content and a 9 on Music Content.
Mark Muleman Massey – Been A Long, Long Time (Muletone)
Bio – Hard time leads to hard blues. That’s the story behind Mark “Mule Man” Massey. Growing up in the cradle of the Delta blues, Clarksdale, Mississippi, Mark Massey heard plenty of blues. But it took a stretch in Parchman Prison for Mark to discover the blues’ deeper meaning. It was there he met and befriended David Kimbrough, son of legendary Mississippi blues icon, Junior Kimbrough, who taught him the basics of the blues and got him a spot in the Parchman Prison Band. Upon his release, Mark was determined to turn his negative experience into a positive. In the early 1990s – when he wasn’t busy with farm work (hence the name “Mule Man”) – he began his career as a blues guitarist and singer playing every dive and juke joint he could in northern Mississippi. Eventually he honed his skills well enough to play in the International Blues Competition as well as the better blues clubs like B.B. King’s on Beale Street and Morgan Freeman’s “Ground Zero.” Along the way, he received support and encouragement from many regional musicians including longtime friend of the Center for Southern Folklore and blues harmonica player extraordinaire Blind Mississippi Morris. Morris schooled Mark in the rich legacy of the blues masters who came before him. As Mark puts it, because of Morris, “Today when I play their music, I can really feel those guys. I keep playing because I want to keep their songs alive.””
Review – Alright now, here is a great Blues Album to these ears! Mark has a great R&B Voice and a pretty darn good guitar player. His song writing is what really stood out to me, just listen to the words from “Can’t Tell Me Nothing About The Blues”. A great mixture of straight up Jump Blues, to Love Ballads, his range is incredible. Mark has lots of great musicians on this Album including Clayton Ivey, Jim Whitehead on B3, Billy Lawson, Travis Wammack, Kelvin Holly on Guitar, Bob Weaver on Bass, Roger Starr on Drums, The Webster Street Horns on Horns, Robert Fossen on Harmonica and the Avalon Sisters on Background Vocals. My biggest complaint is that there are maybe too many slow songs, but that is what showcases Mark’s voice. Some of my favorites are “Baby’s Gone”, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing About The Blues”, and “Going Back To Memphis”. I think my favorite is “Been A Long, Long Time″, listen here. I will give this a 10 on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.
Daddy Mack Blues Band – Doctor’s Orders (Inside Sounds)
Bio – “Daddy” Mack Orr’s voice has been compared to the biting vocals of Albert King, and his latest album has climbed the blues charts, but Orr still works a day job to pay the bills. At his shop, Mack’s Auto Repair on Jackson Avenue, muffled Spanish radio competes with the whir or an industrial fan. Orr leans over the hood of a clunky Chevrolet. The car’s guts spill out and reveal a hole where the engine used to sit. “I tell you, figurin’ out what ‘s wrong with ’em cars sure will give you the blues,” Orr says, chuckling. The man in the blue uniform, with hands covered in car oil, is a rising Memphis blues star. The Daddy Mack Blues Band has played in town for more than 15 years–they’ve entertained curious tourists and locals for more than a decade–but lately critics and blues fans have started paying attention. The band’s second album, Slow Ride, featuring Billy Gibson, inched its way up to No. 8 on the Living Blues magazine’s national radio chart. It was also listed as a Top 50 download on iTunes. The band has played London, Paris, Las Vegas and most recently before a crowd of thousands at the 2006 Chicago Blues Festival. On a recent Friday night at the Center for Southern Folklore on South Main, Orr looks up from beneath the brim of a tan fedora and inches closer to the microphone, belting out a melody in a deep, raspy voice. Gibson’s harmonica punctuates the clap of the drums. Orr croons. Knees bounce. The room vibrates. Eyes are fixed on the stage. As he closes in on his final jam, Orr walks into the crowd, close enough for the audience members to see the stain of car oil on his cuticles as his fingers jump around the strings. A smile breaks on his face. The audience erupts in applause. “The blues aren’t dead, they don’t need to be re-created,” Gibson says. “These guys, they are the blues.” ”
Review – What a classic Blues Voice! Daddy Mack has it all, Voice, and his guitar playing is reminiscent of Blues when it first went electric in the late 50’s. A mix of musicians on this one but the core band seems to be Matt Isbell on Rhythm Guitar, Brad Webb on Bass and Andrew McNeil on Drums. First song, “Let Me Pull A Few Strings” has Billy Gibson playing some great crunch overdriven Harp. I think if you could go back in time to the 60’s and go to an old Juke Joint in Mississippi, you would see a band very much like Daddy Mack playing to the crowds. “Love Power”, “Country Boy” and “Boss’s Wife” are some of my favorites but I think my favorite is “Mississippi Woman″, I couldn’t find a version from this album on line but here is a live jam with Billy Gibson on Harp, listen here. I will give this a 10 on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.
