Dave Specter Knows The Blues From the Inside

Dave Specter
Blues From the Inside
Delmark Records

This latest recording by the veteran Chicago blues artist Dave Specter is the first to sport his vocals, in addition to his ingenious, twisty guitar and songwriting. He has a number of musicians supporting him, including Brother John Kattke on keyboards and vocals, Harlan Terson on bass, Marty Binder on drums, and the Liquid Soul Horns on three selections. Also, Jorma Kaukonen guests on guitar for two tracks.

Specter wrote 11 of the 12 songs (some with Bill Britcha) opening with the title track with its more memorable lyrics about various hardships and paying the dues and playing the blues. It is one of three selections on which he sings, and if not a great singer, he sings quite credibly. His guitar playing is terrific as his band gets a nicely paced shuffle groove together. Specter and Britcha also wrote the lively "Ponchatoula Way," with its Crescent City groove that Kattke takes the soulful vocal on. There are some tempo shifts. Still, it is fascinating listening to Specter builds his solos as the horns riff. Kattke, on piano, also solos here. Kattke also takes a soulful vocal on "March Through the Darkness," a number with a Muscle Shoals feel, with Tad Robinson and Devin Thompson providing the vocal backing. Of course, Specter dazzles again on guitar with his taste and solo construction with Kattke soloing on the organ.

"Sanctifunkious" is a funky instrumental in the manner of a classic Meters recordings. Another instrumental is the Latin-flavored "Minor Shout," that sounds inspired by Santana. Like his playing throughout this recording, Specter's playing is sterling, full of unexpected, imaginative twists with his thoughtful, uncluttered attack. Jorma Kaukonen adds guitar to "How Low Can One Man Go?" with Specter delivering a convincing partially talking vocal with the two trading guitar lines. He also wrote the lyrics to "The Blues Ain't Nothing," a gem of an uptown blues with another first-rate vocal from Kattke and superlative guitar from Specter and then Kaukonen. Sarah Marie Young sings the gospel-blues ballad from Bill Britcha, "Wave's Gonna Come." Britcha plays acoustic guitar on this song while Specter's fretwork accents her superb, gospel-rooted vocal.

An atmospheric instrumental "String Chillin'" closes another recording from Specter that is wonderfully recorded and has excellent material, some first-rate singing, and outstanding playing. It is another notable addition to Specter's body of recordings.

I received my review copy from Delmark Records. This review appeared in the January-February 2020 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 388). Here is a video of "How Low Can One Man Go?"

Jimmy Johnson Every Day Of Your Life

Jimmy Johnson
Every Day Of Your Life
Delmark Records

Going to the 2019 Chicago Blues Festival, one of the acts I was most anxious to see was Jimmy Johnson, who was celebrating his 90th birthday. I had not seen him since he played the Pocono Blues Festival in 2007, and his performance that night did not disappoint. Johnson's new CD does not disappoint, and it is striking how strong his vocals are as well as his guitar playing.

On this recording of five originals and four interpretations, Johnson is supported by two different groups. Those playing behind him include guitarist Rico McFarland on guitar, Roosevelt Purify or Brother John Kattke on keyboards, J.R. Fuller or Curt Bley on bass, and Pooky Styx or Ernie Adams on drums. On one selection, Johnson accompanies himself on piano.

There is an appealing mix of material opening with the title song that Johnson wrote about living one's life as if it is one's last. A marvelously paced performance, his soulful tenor is complemented by a thoughtful, well-constructed guitar solo demonstrating his lean tone and twisting rapier-like playing. Purifoy also songs strongly here.  A  relaxed, first-rate cover of "I Need Your Love So Bad," is followed by "My Ring." Set against a reggae groove, it has poignant lyrics as he remembers getting married, and that was the last time he saw his woman smiled. Among the other auditory delights here is a marvelous rendition of Fenton Robinson's "Somebody Loan Me a Dime," and Percy Mayfield's "Strange Things Happening." Then there are fascinating, well-crafted originals like "Rattlesnake" and "Down in the Valley."

Accompanied solely by his piano, Johnson caps off this recording with a moving, thoughtful rendition of a Bobby Bland classic "Lead Me On." Johnson still performs at a high level and is provided with excellent support here. Add in the terrific originals and covers, and the result is one of the best new blues albums of 2019.

I received my review copy from Delmark Records. Here he is seen performing a Curtis Mayfield number at the 2019 Chicago Blues Festival.

Toronzo Cannon - The Chicago Way

After his two superior albums on Delmark, many were pleased to learn about Alligator Records signing Toronzo Cannon and now we have his label debut "The Chicago Way." Those who enjoyed his prior releases will not be disappointed with this and it is likely to raise his profile, not simply in the blues world. Cannon wrote all eleven songs on "The Chicago Way" and is backed by his band The Cannonball Express. The band consists of Brother John Kattke, Hammond B-3 Organ, Piano, Keyboards; Pete Galanis, Electric and Acoustic Rhythm Guitar, Larry Williams, Bass and Melvin "Pookie Stix" Carlisle, Drums. Kattke also arranged the three piece horn section on a few selections.

This is hard-hitting music that might superficially be compared to Son Seals. Certainly Cannon's searing buzz-kill guitar bears a similar intensity to what the late Seals brought to his music. And like Seals, Cannon is all business. His music though is a bit more urban and soul-rooted than Son. Like Son Seals' music, Cannon's music reflects his own life and experiences from growing up in the shadows of the Chicago projects, to working as a bus driver and listening and observing the city life around him.

The tightly performed and hard-hitting playing on "The Chicago Way" provides a frame for his telling social commentary like the opening "The Pain Around Me." Starting off in a funky manner, it has a lyric about six kids on the corner, six broken homes, and Toronzo not wanting his kids to go outside because of the thugs hanging around. Furthermore, he doesn't want to sing this but this is what he, in fact, sees. There is plenty of fire in his playing and vocal with his band tightly backing him.

In contrast to the serious  opening track, one hears plenty of humor in his lyric about a marriage gone bad on a funky shuffle "Bad Contract." This bad contract is the one where you sign on the line and only gets half back when its over. The driving shuffle "Fine Seasoned Women," has Toronzo fending off a flirting lady who is trying so hard to catch his eye. Cannon, however,  prefers a lady with a touch of gray or wrinkles, who wants a man, not a fool. There is nice use of horns on this along along with his crisply played guitar. The humorous "Midlife Crisis" is another number that speaks to those of us who have put more than a few years (and it has a great line about hair on the chest turning grey). Perhaps this writer's favorite track is a wonderful slow blues, "When Will You Tell Him About Me?," with Toronzo complaining  about being tired of the secrecy with which he and his woman must keep their affair.

As a songwriter, as well as a singer-guitarist, Toronzo Cannon brings grit and passion. His playing is varied ranging from blues-rock to jazzy flavored while his singing is robust resulting in the mostly compelling performances here. "The Chicago Way" is one of most striking recent new blues releases.

I received my review copy from Alligator. To give you a sample, here is a recent performance by Toronzo of "The Pain Around Me."