Bob Corritore and Friends – Ernestine Blues
16 tracks
Whenever a new Bob Corritore album arrives it’s always a pleasure to get to spin what he offers up. Here we have his latest adventure into Chicago blues with an exceptional cast of musicians recorded from 2023 to 2025.
The front people for the cuts are listed in the review below. Also appearing instrumentally are a host of stars. On guitar you’ll hear Pat Harris, Johnny Rawls, Jimi Primetime Smith, Bob Margolin, Johnny Rapp, Kid Ramos, Johnny Main, Nick Moss, and Billy Flynn. On keys you’ll hear Anthony Geraci, Ben Levin, Ross Harwood, and Terry “TJ” Harris. On bass there are Bob Stroger, Yahni Riley, Mike Torturro, and Rodrigo Mantovani. One the drums Wes Starrm Brian Fahey, and Pierce Downer are banging away. Doug James is on saxophones. Tia Carroll, Teeny Tucker, Eboni McDonald, Diamond Porter, Yolanda Tharrington, and Clarke Rigsby handle backing vocals
“How’s You Learn To Shake It Like That” gets the ball rolling with Tony Coleman on vocals, This cut is a rollicking good time with Coleman’s baritone voice blazing, barrelhouse piano and Bob’s poignant harp. A beautiful start to another great album! Carla Denise is featured on “Tell Me Darling” with more good time piano work and fantastic vocals. The band jumps and jives behind her and Corritore offers his always tasty harp licks to savor.
“Big Fat Mama” features Pat Thomas singing and on acoustic guitar. He sings with vibrato and passion as he switches back and forth into his head voice. He and Corritore give us down home perfection in this cool cut. Slow and greasy blues is then the order of the day as Sugaray Rayford and Corritore offer up some deeply moving stuff. Another excellent performance!
Tia Carroll then delivers “Ernestine” to us, Carroll’s big and beautiful voice grabs the listener and won’t let you go. Slick backing vocals, sax and Bob’s harp help to make this special. Willie Bick offers up ”Trouble No More” and gives it his all. The tempo is hot and the rendition is hard driving.
Johnny Rawls then gives us his soulful take on his own song “I Love The South.” Rawls’ voice is sweeter than the sweet tea he refers to in the song. Pretty stuff and Corritore’s harp makes it even prettier. “Going Fishing” is a Jimmy Reed cut that Jimi Primetime Smith delivers the good one. His vocals and guitar are solid and soulful, as is Bob’s harmonica.
“Troubles On Your Mind” is Carla Denise again. Slow blues with just piano, some harp and her superb voice make for a meaningful and emotive listen. She returns for “Wild As You Can Be” and gives us another fine performance. This one is raucous, jump blues and it is just as the title states: wild as you can be! Corritore adds some harp and the interplay of it then sax makes it even wilder.
“Pretty Girls Everywhere” is the eternally young Bob Stroger giving us a super cut with he and Corritore bouncing, shucking and jiving. There’s some cool guitar and piano here, too. Willie Buck gets another turn and he sings “Standing On The Bank;” its some traditional blues done oh, so right. Old school blues with pretty harp– there’s nothing better.
Charles Wilson gives us “Sorry I Had To Leave You Behind.” Corritore blows to open the cut and then Wilson smoothly flows into the slick groove. It’s another pretty and cool cut with some nice, ringing guitar licks. Oscar Wilson delivers the soulful and emotional Joe Tex cut “She Might Need Me” and it’s really special and quite moving. The organ helps set the mood, Bob blows some great stuff and Oscar just lets it all hang out.
Oscar also gives us the next cut, “Down In Mississippi,” another Jimmy Reed classic. Wilson sings with authority and makes this slow blues all his own. This track is greasy, grimy and sublimely powerful stuff. Teeny Ticker gets to close things out with “Shoes,” a topic that was first discussed by her Dad. Here we have Teeny rejoicing in the plethora of footwear that spans across here abode. Corritore offers some final pretty licks as we enjoy the finale to an exceptional set of tunes.
What is not to like here? There are sixteen superb songs by the best of the blues world. Go get this one now!
