John Primer & Bob Corritore – Crawlin’ Kingsnake
Vizztone Records – 2024
12 tracks; 52 minutes
This is the fourth time since 2013 that John Primer and Bob Corritore have combined to record an album and it’s everything that fans of classic Chicago blues could want. The pair pay tribute to mentors like Muddy Waters and Magic Slim (Primer played with both for years), as well as giants of the blues like Howling Wolf, John Lee Hooker and BB King. Recorded over four sessions between 2021 and 2023, the album benefits from a stellar band of seasoned veterans, all steeped in the Chicago tradition: John Primer is on guitar and vocals, Bob Corritore on harp, Anthony Geraci on piano, Jimi ‘Primetime’ Smith on rhythm guitar and occasional backing vocals, Bob Stroger on bass and Wes Starr on drums. Needless to say, the playing throughout is exemplary.
The album opens with ‘Take A Message, written by Dave Steen (a frequent collaborator on Coco Montoya albums). John’s vocals and solo are excellent while Bob channels James Cotton who recorded the tune on his 1994 album Living The Blues. The title track is, of course, a JLH tune, superbly covered here, check out Anthony whose playing is the epitome of what blues piano should sound like. Next up it’s the Wolf with Willie Dixon’s ‘Down In The Bottom’, a song often covered, but rarely better than here, the familiar “pull and push” rhythm present and correct. John offers just one original in the set and it fits like a glove with the covers as he invites his girl to join him in his ‘Hiding Place’, accompanied by plenty of strong harp, pounding piano and searing guitar.
The middle portion of the album contains a run of four tunes from the greats of the blues: BB King’s ‘Chains And Things’ comes from Indianola Mississippi Seeds and is a classic slow blues; the band sets a furious pace on Muddy’s ‘Stuff You Gotta Watch’, then covers a second, less familiar Muddy tune, the slow grinder ‘Rosalie Blues’; Jimmy Rogers’ ‘You’re The One’ rattles along with jagged guitar and another strong vocal from John.
‘Bow Down On Your Knees’ is a traditional gospel tune, performed here by just John and Bob while A.C. Reed is the source for ‘This Little Voice’ which rolls along brilliantly, one of the best cuts on the album. John pays tribute to Magic Slim with ‘Gravel Road’ before the band returns for a third time to the Muddy Waters catalogue for an extended take on ‘Feel Like Going Home’ that gives space for all the front line players to shine, John leading on some cutting slide, Bob and Anthony demonstrating just why they are such in-demand players.
Fans of Chicago blues played in the traditional way should buy this album without hesitation – highly recommended!
