Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers, featuring Hubert Sumlin & Chris Wilson – Live at Bluesfest 2004
Blue Empress Records
10 tracks
Recently discovered, this recording from the Byron Bay Blues Festival in Australia features Boyd the year after she won the International Blues Challenge. She was working on a US tour with Bob Margolin but he was unavailable. Hubert Sumlin was suggested to be featured and the rest is history. Hubert accompanied her at this event and they frequently played together afterwards, too. The liner note on the record regale in the stories of Boyd and her being mentored by Sumlin. I shall not repeat them (buy the damned record!) but they and the music contained on the album are well worth the investment!
Appearing on the album are Fiona Boyes (guitar/vocals), Hubert Sumlin (guitar/vocals), Chris Wilson (harmonica/vocals), Dean Addison (double bass), and Mark Grunden (drums). These guys are outstanding.
“Card Sharp“ opens the album. It’s a mid-tempo frolic with great harp, guitar and Boyes singing with gusto. Then it’s “Mailbox Blues” which is another fun and swinging cut with more gritty vocals and a great groove. “Spoonful” with Chris Wilson on vocals and harp follows, and he does a standup job. He emotes blues with every breath (both in and out). The guitar is restrained and sublime but oh-so fine.
“Sitting on Top of the World “ is an acoustic trio and Fiona nails it. It’s a pretty song with one of the blues world’s oldest songs. Its well done. Then we get to hear “Hubert’s introduction,” spoken word with he and Fiona; their respect was mutual. They continue with “Run Here,” another acoustic trio cut. Boyes sultry vocals, the greasy harp and finessed guitar work make it memorable.
Then another classic from Magic Sam is next, “Easy Baby.” The guitar is understated yet exceptional and Boyes once again nails the vocals. This is blues done right. More cool harp punctuates the cut well. “Hubert speaks” again before “Feed Me.” This is another acoustic trio with Hubert fronting the band. He grunts and growls, just having fun and the band appreciates him. Wilsom again does some special harp licks and the guitar work show the listener that shredding is not necessary to impress. Laid back, cool and just another winner. They conclude with Wilson leading “Who’s Been Talking” and he grease up his harp nicely for this one before giving us another deep, down and dirty blues song to savor. They get a bit of a rhumba going and it’s really well done.
This album features blues players who deliver fine performances without overdoing it. One appreciates that music does not have to be over the top to be special. Each cut shows players who know their craft, deliver the goods, and just make for some outstanding music. The quality of the recording is good, too. The only downside is that it was lost for over two decades, but we are lucky to be able to hear it now. I highly recommend this one!
