Bob Stroger: In The House Live At Lucerne Vol. 1 (Crosscut)
Little Al Thomas: In The House Live At Lucerne Vol. 3 (Crosscut)
Roy Gaines: In The House Live At Lucerne Vol. 4 (Crosscut)

 The Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland is one of Europe's top annual blues events and for all those who couldn't make the party Crosscut Records has given us a taste of what we've missed on these three live recordings. Bob Stroger, Little Al Thomas and Roy Gaines are all top notch blues veterans and really give the audience their money's worth on these excellent live recordings.

 Bassist Bob Stroger has been a staple on the Chicago scene since the 60's playing with a who's who of Chicago elite including Otis Rush, Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Rogers, Eddie Taylor and many others. This time out Stroger steps out front for his first recording under his own name backed by Chicago veterans like James Wheeler, Billy Flynn and Ken Saydak (all who take vocal turns). The results are a rock solid set of classic Chicago blues featuring great ensemble playing but with everyone getting a chance to strut their stuff. There's not a weak track in the bunch but favorites include the chugging "Talk To Me Mama", the low-down "Stranded In St. Louis", the driving "Thinking And Drinking" with Saydak taking the vocals and playing some rollicking piano while James Wheeler lays down some wicked guitar and a fine take on Jimmy Rushing's classic "Going To Chicago."

 Little Al Thomas is another veteran of the Chicago clubs despite recording only one record prior to this- the excellent "South Side Story" from 1999 on the now defunct Cannonball label. Thomas is a great soulful blues singer and has a tight band in the Crazy House Band featuring a pair of fine horn players and stellar guitar work from John Elderman. Thomas sings with authority on this set running through a number of songs that appear on his studio record including the shuffling "Somebody Change the Lock on My Door", rockers like "I Feel So Good" (with a sly reference to Viagra), "Bad Luck Baby" and "Just Like A Fish." Other highlights include an impassioned nearly ten minute version of "Sweet Sixteen" and the storming closer "I Gotta find My Baby."

 Roy Gaines may be the best known of all these artists with a recording career stretching back to the 50's and a one time protégé of the great T-Bone Walker. For years Gaines recorded infrequently as a headliner until recommitting himself to the blues in the 90's with a series of excellent records and ripping it up at blues festivals across the country. Now nearing 70 Gaines still plays and sings like a man possessed putting down some sizzling guitar work on a varied set of mostly newer material. Backing Gaines is a rocking band with special mention going to B-3/Piano man Neil Wauchope and wailing tenor man Johnny Viau. Highlights include the blistering "Wolfman", "I Got My Thang On You", the simmering "Lucille Works For Me", the jazzy, retro feel of "Rag Blues" and "W.C. Handy Sang The Blues" one of his best latter day tunes.

 All three of these records come recommended featuring first rate performances by three top blues veterans all in pristine sound. Obviously we'd all rather be right up front at Lucerne but this is the next best thing.

(Jeff Harris)

 Son House's role in the development of the Delta Blues, and in the overall history of blues, is of mythic proportions. In proportion to his importance his recorded legacy is rather slim. "Revisited" is a valuable document collecting two 1965 concerts on this double CD and while this material has been previously available it's nice to have it all in one place.

 Son House was the prime inspiration behind Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters as well as running with the legendary Charlie Patton. It was Patton who took House up to Grafton, Wisconsin in 1930 for one of the most legendary recording sessions in blues history. The recordings house laid down are as intense as any ever recorded but he wouldn't record again for nearly a decade until Alan Lomax captured him for the Library of Congress in 1941-42. House promptly disappeared resurfacing in Rochester, NY working for the New York Central Railroad. He was rediscovered in 1964 and was soon hitting colleges, coffeehouses and recorded a record for Columbia in 1965. While the concerts on "Revisited" lack the overpowering quality of his early recordings House is in very good form and we're lucky to have them.

 Both of these recordings stem from early 1965 with Disc 1 cut at Oberlin College, Ohio and Disc 2 captures a show at the Gaslight Cafe in New York City. Despite his soft spoken monologues House's singing and ringing National steel playing are almost frighteningly intense as though he's summoning up some hidden power from deep below. On each concert House seems to get stronger as he steams along and both performances are riveting. Both shows feature a few overlapping songs such as "Preachin' The Blues", "Levee Camp Moan", "Son's Blues" and "Empire Express" one of best latter day songs. House was always torn between the church and the devil's music (he was once a Baptist preacher) and this is reflected in a number of equally intense spirituals like "John The Revelator", "Motherless Children" "This Little Light Of Mine" and "I Shall Not Be Moved." Overall House appears a bit stronger on the NYC date but the Oberlin show benefits from some extended monologues as he relates life stories and background on his songs. The entire Gaslight show was issued on CD in 2000 on Document and the Oberlin show has also been issued on CD but without the monologues and with three less songs.

 Those new to Son House should start with his 1930 recordings (be warned about the sound) proceed to his Library of Congress sides and pick up his 1965 Columbia album. "Revisited" makes an excellent addendum to those recordings and comes highly recommended. This set is rounded out with fine notes by Bill Dahl and it should be noted that unlike prior versions of these concerts this Fuel 2000 release was issued with the blessing of those who administer the Son House estate.

(Jeff Harris)