Barrelhouse Chuck Driftin' From Town To Town

Barrelhouse Chuck Goering is one of the most accomplished traditionally oriented blues pianists (and organists), having been mentored by Little Brother Montgomery and Sunnyland Slim, amongst others. Last year I was delighted to discover his 2006 recording with harmonica ace Kim Wilson and others, My Eyes on You (The Sirens). He has been touring with Kim Wilson the past few years and now Barrelhouse Chuck & Kim Wilson's Blues All Stars has a follow-up recording on The Sirens Driftin' From Town To Town.

Chuck and Wilson both handle the vocals and are supported by guitarists Billy Flynn and Jeremy Johnson; bassist Larry 'The Mole" Taylor; drummer Richard Inness; and Sax Gordon on Baritone and tenor saxophones.The band is as solid as the personnel would indicate for a stunning recording of straight-ahead, Chicago blues. Chuck handles most of the vocals on this starting with the title track, a wonderful original by him that showcases his wonderful piano playing and vocals as well as Wilson's harmonica mastery. He also revives a couple of Floyd Jones numbers, including the terrific Stockyard Blues, and a fine cover of Sunnyland Slim's She's Got a Thing Going On. 

Wilson has wonderful vocals on Howlin' Wolf's I'm Leaving, with a terrific guitar solo and Goering pounding the ivories, and Chuck Berry's Thirty Days. Goering channels Johnnie Johnson on this rollicking piece of rock and roll. Billy Flynn does a nice salute to Jody Williams on his rendition of Williams' Lucky Lou, while Johnson takes the first guitar solo on Stockyard Blues, and is featured on the opening instrumental, Cal Green's The Big Push. Wilson evokes Little Walter on a terrific instrumental K&C Boogie, with Chuck's piano helping propel the performance on, while Chuck on organ does a nice take on Booker T & the MGs Time Is Tight.

Throughout, Taylor and Inness provide a firm, supple foundation, whether the performance is an easy rocking shuffle groove or a moody, slow blues, like Floyd Jones You Can't Live Long. In addition to the superb traditionally oriented Chicago blues here, this benefits from the mining of lesser known blues recordings that stand out compared to much of what passes for blues today. Hopefully it will not be another six or so years before Barrelhouse Chuck and Kim Wilson return to the studio.

I purchased this release. Here is Barrelhouse Chuck with Billy Flynn and Catherine Davis.

RJ Mischo Makes It Good

Veteran harmonica player and singer RJ Mischo has a new recording Make It Good on Delta Groove. On this recording he is mainly backed by guitarist Johnny Moeller (recently of Fabulous Thunderbirds fame), guitarist Nick Curran; bassist Ronnie James Weber; keyboardist Nick Connolly and drummer Wes Starr with two tracks having guitarist Jeremy Johnson from the Twin Cities area in Minnesota.

The 13 selections are all Mischo originals and with the exception of the rock and roll of the opening Trouble Belt, are Chicago and Memphis styled blues. While Mischo’s hoarse vocal might be a little over-the-top on Trouble Belt, Connolly conjures up Johnny Johnson while both Curran and Moeller take hot guitar breaks. The Frozen Pickle is a spirited shuffle instrumental that allows Mischo’s to showcase his wet and full harp tone, while Connolly on organ helps lay the foundation before taking a solid solo followed by some choice guitar. The title track with Mischo shouting the vocal has skeletal backing from Johnson’s reverb heavy guitar and Richard Medek’s drums.

Another instrumental, Papa’s S.T. Special has a driving groove and harmonica with some Sonny Terry styled whoops interjected while Mischo channel’s Rice Miller on a lazy shuffle, Minnesota Woman, that the rhythm section nails the groove on. Miller and the King Biscuit Boys are also conjured on the slow blues Not Your Good Man, with Moeller taking a pretty tight solo. The Biscuit Is Back is another song in a similar vein with a lyrical allusion to the King Biscuit Time theme with Moeller evoking Willie Johnson and Joe Willie Wilkins.

The two-part Arumbula is a harp feature with a latin tinge and Connolly also prominent, while another instrumental with Johnson on guitar, Up to The Brim is a lovely instrumental rendition of the late John Brim’s recording, Rattlesnake, with Mischo working in the Little Walter vein while Johnson added the right touch with his guitar and bass drum.

RJ Mischo’s Make It Good is a spirited album of rocking harmonica blues performances. Mischo’s energetic and rousing playing and the strong backing band results in a recording that should appeal to a a wide range of listeners.

Delta Groove provided me the review copy. Here RJ performs Up to The Brim from March 2012.