SAM CARR’S DELTA JUKES Let The Good Times Roll

SAM CARR’S DELTA JUKES 
Let The Good Times Roll
SPV BLUE

Son of the legendary Robert Nighthawk, Sam Carr is in his seventh decade as a musician. Drummer for the Jelly Roll Kings, Sam Carr’s Delta Jukes is a continuation of the delta juke sound that he has always played. Fred James has just put together this disc comprised of outtakes from two prior albums and tracks from a sound check at the Lucerne Blues Festival.

Carr is joined here by James, Dave Riley (guitar and vocals), John Weston (harmonica and vocals) and Andrew ‘Shine’ Turner on some enjoyable performances. Riley (who has an excellent album with Bob Corritore) sounds fine with originals, a nice Jimmy Reed medley and an energetic take of Little Red Rooster. Weston sings and plays strongly on two originals and Turner gives a fresh take on Crawling King Snake. The weakest tracks are Carr’s two vocals with Big Boss Man being quite forgettable. Not a bad disc overall although the sound could have been be a bit brighter. 

This review appeared in the June 2008 issue of Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 305) and I believe I received my review copy from that publication. Here is Dave Riley and Sam Carr in performance.

 

Take a Sentimental Journey With Fats Domino

The following is taken from the April 2007 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 292) when I did a lengthy review of a number of releases on The German Blue Label (a subsidiary of SPV Gmbh). This is the first of a number of posts from that composite review. My review copies were supplied by the publication. This is still in print.

Of interest will be a double disc by the legendary Fats Domino titled Sentimental Journey. Recorded in 1987, Fats was accompanied by his working band for what is a solid live recording at the University of New Orleans as he revisits so many classics including I’m Gonna be a Big Wheel Someday, I’m Walking, Ain’t It a Shame, The Fat Man, Walking to New Orleans, Blueberry Hill, My Girl Josephine, Let the Four Winds Blow, I’m in Love Again and Professor Longhair’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans. 

 The band is in solid form and the Fat Man rocks and one gets to hear plenty of his piano in addition to his warm, ingratiating vocals. Unfortunately no band personnel are listed though there is plenty of fine sax, muted trumpet and guitar (featured with Fats on the closing instrumental rendition of Sentimental Journey). This is an enjoyable performance, although there is much live Domino available including a hot European concert with trumpeter Dave Bartholomew present and his Austin City Limits TV show (also available on DVD). 

Here is some Fats live.

An Engaging Evening With Paul Jones and Dave Kelly

Members of the British group, The Blues Band, guitarist Dave Kelly and harmonica player Paul Jones, go unplugged for a live performance captured on a new DVD, An Evening With Paul Jones and Dave Kelly (SPV Blue). Jones, who was one-time member of the British group, Manfred Mann may be best known, but Kelly, brother of the great Jo-Ann Kelly had pretty strong credentials in playing blues. Given over four and a half decades experience by both, one isn’t surprised by how engaging they are not simply in their musical performances but their banter to the audience.

Songs range from adaptations of classic country blues like Charlie Patton’s Moon Going Down, to originals like Without You, which Paul Jones notes had an unusual musical structure but more importantly was a B side of a Manfred Mann single. Not all the performances are in a strict blues song form such as Velocity and Love, a spirited performance, but Kelly’s Mr. Estes Said is a strong original blues that incorporates some classic lines in this moving tribute to the late blues poet. Paul Jones does a moving interpretation of Blind Willie Johnson’s Nobody’s Fault But Mine, with his harp prominent and Kelly adding some spare guitar. There is nice use of split screen on this. A washboard player backs Kelly on a driving interpretation of Mississippi Fred McDowell’s Few Short Lines.

Paul Jones’ contributes his moving tribute to Sonny Boy Williamson, that was composed after Williamson’s passing. It segues into a lively Dust My Blues, modeled after one of Elmore James’ recordings. You’re Wrong, was a recent composition of Jones performed solo. It is followed by Kelly nicely handling Robert Johnson’s When You Got a Good Friend. Erskine Hawkins’ swing classic Tuxedo Junction, serves as a showcase for Jones’ skilled harmonica playing and exhibits the influence of Sonny Boy Williamson on his approach.

The two trade verses on a powerful rendition of Muddy Waters’ I Can’t Be Satisfied, and then this DVD closes with a relaxed pace with Kelly taking the lead vocal on Jimmy Reed’s Baby What You Want Me To Do. It is an amiable close to a very enjoyable concert DVD. This was recorded in 2004 and there is a second volume available, which on the basis of watching and listening to this, is worth checking out as well.

I was provided a review copy by a publicist. To whet your appetite, here are the two in recent performance.