Bob Corritore's Taboo Harp Feast

Bob Corritore has a new album of blues harmonica instrumentals, Taboo on Delta Groove. Corritore, a Chicago native who moved to the Phoenix area in the 1980s, has been a significant figure in the blues world as a radio host (his excellent “Those Lowdown Blues” on KJZZ on Sunday evenings), a recording producer, a promoter who created a thriving blues scene in Phoenix and a superb harmonica player.

Corritore has lent his considerable talents to terrific recordings by such folks as Henry Grey, Dave Riley, Louisiana Red, Big Pete Pearson and John Primer. He has had several albums under his own name, but these have often been compilations mostly of his work with a variety of blues performers. Taboo is an album of 12 blues instrumentals that feature Corritore’s swinging and fat toned harp playing backed by a crackerjack combo of guitars Junior Watson, keyboardist Fred Kaplan, bassist Kedar Roy and drummer Richard Innes. Two of the twelve selections have guitarist Jimmy Vaughan and organist Papa John DeFrancesco on which saxophonist Doug James also plays (he plays on one other number.

On the album cover, Charlie Musselwhite observes” Not many people can do an all instrumental harp CD and keep it interesting all the way through.” Having some dream backing musicians certainly helps as does a nice array of grooves and feels. Corritore is a player not simply possessing a big harp tone, but also one who displays a nuanced phrasing and a strong sense of swing that is heard on the somewhat exotic sounding title track as well as the driving Harp Blast, a hot shuffle in the vein of Little Walter, while another harp feature, Ruckus Rhythm evoked the brilliance of the late Jerry McCain’s classic Steady. Fabuloco (For Kid) is a nice salute to Kid Ramos with a Tex-Mex groove.”

Mr. Tate’s Advice is one of the two selections with organist DeFrancesco and Vaughan but Corritore’s unison playing with saxophonist James is also noteworthy on this jazzy performance. His unamplified chromatic playing on Fifth Position Plea contrasts with the fat atmospheric amplified sound on Many a Devil’s Night that would make Little Walker and George ‘Harmonica’ Smith proud. There is more outstanding chromatic on another Little Walter inspired instrumental, Bob’s Late Hours. On all three selections, Watson’s guitar is the perfect foil for the leader.

The terrific rhythm section provides such backing throughout while keeping the groove at a nice, relaxed tempo. Taboo is a marvelously performed, recorded and programmed CD of blues harmonica instrumentals. To paraphrase Charlie Musselwhite, it is a dandy of a CD.

I received my review copy from Delta Groove. Here Bob Corritore is seen with Bob Margolin at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix.

"Papa" John DeFrancesco Is Himself a Big Shot

Fans of organ jazz certain have a delightful new release from "Papa" John DeFrancesco, Big Shot on Savant. Father of Joey DeFrancesco, the renown organist, Papa John himself has been a celebrated organist of the years. Joey is present, playing piano and other keyboards in a supportive role, while another son,John Jr., handles guitar. The rest of the band is comprised by Jerry Weldon’s tenor sax, Mike Boone’s bass and Bryon Landham’s drums.

They deliver a program of blues drenched numbers starting with a walking tempo rendition of Red Top, a classic since Gene Ammons made it his own with slower tempo here making for a relaxed groove as Weldon states the theme followed by John Jr.’s solid single note playing and a tasty solo on the Diversi organ that Papa John plays that captures the sound of the Hammond with perhaps a fuller tone in the foot-pedal bass.

From Gene Ammons to the Doors as Joey’s keyboards sets the dreamy atmosphere for Riders in the Storm, with Papa John taking the first solo after Weldon states the theme and then the saxophonist takes a vigorous solo. Next up is a solid ballad performance, Too Young to Go Steady, with Joey’s piano setting the mood followed by some lovely tenor sax and Papa John’s moody organ offset by Joey’s piano and some nice brush work from Landham.

Nolo, picks up the tempo with his funky groove and John Jr is prominent with some fine playing as Weldon riffs behind him with Papa John suggesting Jimmy Smith’s mojo here. The title track is a solid walking blues, while Maricopa, has a light Latin groove with Weldon, Papa John, John Jr., and Joey all prominent here. Down Home, is a moody late night blues while the disc closes with the funk of What, with Joey coming off like Billy Preston while Weldon shows his funk sax groove while John Jr. is a it more electric in his playing that perhaps come off least interesting track here.

The fact that the music here may not stretch boundaries and makes for comfortable listening should not be viewed as a criticism but the recognition of the strengths of Big Shot which is characteristic of what makes the best organ jazz, soul-blues grooves with tenor sax and other musicians who are fine storytellers. Recommended.

This review originally appeared in the January 2010 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 323). I received my review copy from the publication. Here is "Papa" John performing a Jimmy Smith classic.