Arthur Williams - Midnight Blue

Arthur Williams, a St. Louis resident today, has roots growing up under Sonny Boy Williamson down south and played with Frank Frost. In fact, Williams was the harmonica player on some of Frost’s recordings that Scotty Moore produced for Jewel in the sixties. On his album, Midnight Blue (Rooster Blues) he is joined by a terrific pianist, Bob Lohr, who also produced the album. Also on the session is bassist Charles “Nephew” Davis, guitarist Jesse Hoggard and the great Willie “Big Eyes” Smith on drums. 

Williams is heard performing some well known blues numbers (some retitled like Clarksdale Train, a retitled rendition of Elmore James’ Sunnyland Train). His energetic, raspy vocals are quite at home on Muddy Waters’ Trouble No More, Jimmy Reed’s Down in Virginia and Sonny Boy Williamson’s Don’t Start Me To Talking. 

The title track is a nice slow instrumental to showcase his direct appealing harp playing which is prominently featured throughout. The band plays a bit raw. If the music lacks subtlety, it makes up for it in spirit. The last number, ‘67 Cadillac is an interesting experiment as producer Lohr has sampled a bit of the late Doc Terry talking, and provided some programmed drums for an interesting experiment which can be skipped since it is the last track. A nicely put together collection of performances that certainly will get any blues party popping.

This review appeared originally in the the November 2001 DC Blues Calendar and the March/April Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 256). I have made minor stylistic changes. I believe I received a review copy from the record label. This may be hard to find but worth the effort.  Here is Arthur Williams and young bluesman, Marquise Knox.

Arthur Williams' Tough Blues Harp

Here is a review from 1999 of a neglected but fine downhome harp blues gentleman which will have additional interest because of Boo Boo Davis' vocals who has become really well known with his Black & Tan releases.

Arthur Williams
Harpin’ On It
Fedora Records

Mississippi-born harmonica ace and blues vocalist Arthur Williams was associated with the late Frank Frost and played on Frost’s recordings for the Jewel label. After relocating in St. Louis in 1972, he became a part of that city’s under-recognized blues scene plying with the likes of Tommy Bankhead and Big Bad Smitty. Fedora has just issued his first album, Harpin on It, which provides some choice performances of what he calls “Mississippi Blues with Chicago Drive.” He is backed here by a small band that includes James ‘Boo Boo’ Davis on drums, pianist Bob Lohr , guitarist Jimmy Lee Kennert and bassist Charles ‘Nephew’ Davis. Williams shares the vocals with drummer “Boo Boo” Davis, with Williams covering Jimmy Reed’s Can’t Stand to See You Go, Mercy Dee Walton’s One Room Country Shack, and J.B. Lenoir’s Mama Talk to Your Daughter, while Davis handled originals like Ain’t Going Back to East St. Louis and Talkin’ Too Much. The title track is a Little Walter flavored instrumental which I believe was originally recorded as a harp duet with Frost for Jewel. While Williams sings quite well, when Davis handles the vocals, the music gets a bit more raucous. One can understand that people were talking about how they turned the tent stage at the recent Poconos Blues Festival into a juke joint. While the album never gets that rowdy, one can get a sense of just how these musicians can get a good time rocking and a rolling. Fans of downhome blues sounds will certainly find much to enjoy here.

Post review note - Arthur Williams has another Fedora release, Ain't Goin' Down and Midnight Blue, which is on Rooster Blues. He is part of the The Jelly Roll All-Stars who have an excellent Severn release, Must Be Jelly.