Chicago Blues Lifters – Blues Scouts
Big Eye Records
12 tracks/42 minutes
I got wind of this album and then got a review copy in the mail. I was curious as to what this was going to be like. A cadre of some of Chicago’s finest blues men and women assembled to produce an album for us. I hoped it would live up to what it purported to be, and it did.
The album features a painting of a young boy with a big hat on his head and a huge tie draped around his neck. In his shirt pocket is a shiny harp, but the standout in the painting are two big, old drumsticks he holds up for us to see. One of the sticks has a surreal set of six metal guitar tuning pegs on it, an interesting twist. Entitled “The Blues Scout of America,” painter Dujaun Austin Sr. gives us an equally intriguing cover for a dozen new intriguing Chicago blues tunes. Produced by Kenny Smith and Michael Freeman, this album assembles a fine cast of other musicians who deliver the goods.
On the album are Smith on drums, three guitarists with a ton of talents, two pure singers, two bass players and a drummer. Billy Flynn, Ari Seder and Joey J. Saye. Flynn is a long standing guitar God. Seder many know for hos great bass work, but here he aptly handles the six stringed axe with ease. And Saye is a young and up and coming talent who is going to be enjoyed for many decades hence. Elder statesman Bob Stroeger sings and plays bass. Also sharing bass duties is Brian Burke. Willie Oshawny “Piano Willie” is on the 88 keys and sings for us, too. Michael Avery, the fantastic West Side vocalist, and Kimberly “Hot Sauce” Johnson, an Illinoisan who ventured out for music education and the theater before coming to Chicago to explore her roots in Gospel. blues and soul here, are the two vocalists who share their great voices with us.
Michael Avery fronts the band well for the lead cut that he penned, “I Just Want To Love You.” Nice guitar work and a little sweet harp make for a great kickoff. Billy blows harp, Ari and Joey are on guitar here with Brian on bass and Kenny on drums here and for all tracks. “Stick A fork In It” follows, an Ms. Johnson fronts the band on a track she wrote. Same players minus Flynn on this one. Another fine vocal performance and some stinging guitar also grabs the listener.
“You Hurt Me Baby” is Flynn’s song and he sings lead here. He and Ari play guitar and Stroeger is on bass. The guitar flows smoothly as Billy sings with feeling. Saye wrote and sings “That’s My Name,” a song that swings well. He is joined on guitar by Billy. Piano Willie tinkles the ivories, and Bob is again on bass. We get a cool guitar and then piano solo to enjoy here, a fun cut overall.
Avery and Seder co-wrote “Gone With Bad Self.” Avery lays out a funky performance vocally and the guitar licks add to that ambiance. Flynn and Burke are also on this track, a cool song with a nice groove. Avery also supplies backing vocals and does an outstanding job. Flynn’s “Chicago Shuffle” is next. Stroeger plays bass and fronts the band and Johnson backs him up vocally. All but Ari and Brian appear here. Nice piano solo and overall work, some solid guitar, and a little violin by Matthew Stedman flesh this out fully.
“Get On The Lift” was written by Kenny’s wife. It features all three guitarists, Avery and Johnson on vocals and Stroger in a speaking part. It’s funky, it’s cool and it makes you want to dance. Soulful and cool, this one’s really a lot of fun and will lift you up! Saye goes solo on his cut “Window Pane.” It’s just him on guitar an vocals as he takes us on a slick, downhome ride through this song.
“Ari’s Riff” follows, a fine instrumental with he, Billy, Bob and Piano Willie laying out a great groove together. It’ll make your head bob and foot tap in time to the jiving music. Great guitar and piano to savor on this number. Johnson returns with her “Too Much Too Little,” along with Ari, Billy, Joey and Brian. She sings with an attitude that grabs at you. Slide and cool effects on guitar help to sell this one.
Stroeger’s “World’s In A Tangle” has him lead the band and play bass. The guitar trio back him and the violin returns to good effect. We also get another harp solo and more from Flynn. Nicely done! Piano Willie gets the finale with Fire Fire Fire: as he sings and plays for us. Ari and Billy handle guitar, and Stroeger is on bass. Oshanwy plays some slick stuff on the keys and sings a pretty and slow blues. Well done and great conclusion to this fine album.
I am always cautious when an all-star cast comes together for an album. Will it live up to the talents they all possess? In this case, I most certainly can say yes. The folks assembled here working together on this endeavor are a unit. They work as a musical team to deliver a dozen super performances. There is no one-upmanship There is no “look at me” here. We have eight great artists who really love the blues and work to give us some outstanding new tunes to enjoy. This one is a winner- go grab a copy now!
