When you talk about contemporary soul singers doing their own brand of blues and soul-packed R & B, Artie 'Bluesboy' White has got to be in that conversation. The man, who filled the big shoes of Johnnie Taylor at the 1999 Chicago Blues festival days after his death, was former gospel singer Artie White. The crowd received him with astounding love and respect. The Malaco/Waldoxy recording artist is on his own with this Achilltown release. The effort has been arranged and produced by White also.

 Artie sounds super on this collection of tunes; banking on sweet funky Ronnie Hicks & The Machine Company Band, which as well features a full horn section and an indeterminable drive. Ronnie Hicks leads the band from the keyboards, Greg All is on the lead and rhythm guitar, and the foundation is laid down by drummer Lester Holmes and bassman Kenny Hampton. On the horns are: horn arranger Willie Henderson on the baritone saxophone; Sonny Seals on the alto and tenor saxes; Hank Ford also on tenor sax; Billy McFarland on the trombone; and trumpeters Ken Anderson, Steave Hawkins, Burgess Garder, and Paul Howard. And if you're wondering, who's the cutter on "My Best Friend" and "I've Been Down So Long", then look no farther than Windy City guitarist Chico Banks.

 Artie easily shows his stuff with varied dips into his bag of tricks. Take the flippant "Monkey Dog 2000" credited to O.V. Wright which is stepping high, just before falling into the tenderness and all-filling organ sound of "Trap". The title tune, "Not The Same Person", and "Love You Don't Know About" all come across with beautiful vocal phrasings by Artie and tight horn arrangements. Henderson's big baritone honks with resounding effect as the other horns and Hicks lean into some sweet harmonies. The Mississippi-born White, who has as waxed for the Ronn/Jewel/ Paul bunch as well as Ichiban, has got one hot biscuit that's drippin with hot and soulful creativity. Give it up for the Bluesboy!

(Mark A. Cole)

Texas Johnny Brown: Blues Defender
(Choctaw Creek)

 Texas Johnny Brown garnered plenty of accolades with 1998's Nothin' But The Truth, a record that won him a W.C. Handy nomination for Comeback album of the year and a legion of new fans. Blues Defender is a worthy follow up putting Brown in the upper ranks of contemporary bluesman.

 Brown has been steeped in the blues for over half a decade. In the mid-40's he joined Amos Milburn's band and his guitar can be heard gracing many of Milburn's Aladdin recordings. It was with some of the members of Milburn's band who backed Brown on his 1949 debut for Atlantic Records. Brown continued to be a gun for hire for many years working with Ruth Brown, touring with Bobby "Blue" Bland ( penning the blues classic "Two Steps From The Blues for Bland) and Junior Parker in the 1950s and 1960s as guitarist and band leader, acting as studio musician for Houston's Duke/Peacock Records and working with some of the label' stop artists. It took Brown a long time for his skills to see the spotlight but the wait was worth it and it's all on display on this sizzling sophmore release.

 Brown is a gifted musician laying down some supple, stinging guitar playing, soulful, powerful singing and a knack for writing some first class original blues. Brown also produced the record and arranged the inventive horn charts that add so much to these songs. Brown wrote ten of the eleven cuts proving himself an exceptional songwriter on cuts like the blasting, horn propelled "Handy Man" where he tells us just how he takes care of all the ladies in the neighborhood, the big band blues of "Bad Hair Day", the shuffling, witty blues anthem "Blues Defender" and the funky, soulful "Love So Strong." Lil Green's "In The Dark" is the lone cover with Brown transforming it into a throbbing, funky workout that sounds totally fresh. Brown's band is top notch featuring a knockout horn section plus fine piano and B-3 work from William Hollis. This is a classy production all the way.

 It may be early in the year but Blues Defender will undoubtedly be on the short list for top records of the year. Texas Johnny Brown is at the top of his craft and this release should help spread the news.

-Check out this related link:
Texas Johnny Brown Website

(Jeff Harris)

Various Artists: The Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers (Blue Suit)

 Cities like Chicago and Memphis seem to hog all the attention when it comes to talking about great blues towns but a good case could also be made for Detroit. In addition to a great blues legacy the Motor City has been undergoing a full blown blues revival in recent years. A prime example is The Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers a disc featuring three Detroit veterans in the midst of a glorious comeback.

 The Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers features the vocal talents of Joe Weaver, Stanley Mitchell and Kenny Martin. All three singers launched their careers in the Motor City back in the 50's and all three flirted with some degree of fame before drifting out of music. Joe Weaver launched the first salvo in his comeback in 2000 with the release of Baby I Love You So, one of the year's best records. In the 50's Weaver issued fine sides for Detroit labels like Fortune and Deluxe before family responsibilities caught up with him. Stanley Mitchell spent time backing Billy Ward & The Dominoes and Lionel Hampton before going on to cut side for Chess (scoring a top ten R&B hit with "Four O'clock In The Morning"), Gone and Dynamo. Kenny Martin had chart hits in the 50's for Federal, cut sides for Big Town and toured with Sam Cooke. All three old friends are in stellar voice as they delve into a set of vintage R&B mixing in some old tunes, covers and new material.

 All three men get the opportunity to step out on their own and then join together on two cuts. Backing is provided by a sympathetic band who lay down a classic R&B groove. Special mention should go to the ubiquitous RJ Spangler on drums who not only had the idea for this project but is also a major force in the resurgence of the Detroit blues scene. Joe Weaver wraps his soulful, gritty pipes around three songs including the bouncy "Soft Pillow" and the beautiful, moving "I'll Be A Man For You." Stanley Mitchell has a soulful, silky smooth voice heard to good effect on the shuffling "Making Up For Lost Time" and the bluesy "Reconsider Baby." Kenny Martin's expressive vocals are highlighted on the cool "Blackjack Baby" and the rollicking "Sweeter Than Honey" featuring muscular sax from Keith Kaminiski. When all three men get together they create real magic as on the classic "I Found A Love", a slow burner with a strong gospel feel and the rocking "Motor City Man."

 The Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers is far from a nostalgia act and all three men sing magnificently underscoring the point that Detroit blues is still alive and very well indeed. For more background on these artists track down a copy of the November/December 2001 issue of Living Blues which is devoted to Detroit Blues.

-Check out this related review:
Joe Weaver: Baby I Love You So

(Jeff Harris)

Son Seals: Deluxe Edition (Alligator)
Koko Taylor: Deluxe Edition (Alligator)

 Alligator Records hit an important milestone with the celebration their 30th anniversary this year. Not only has Alligator become the world's best known blues label they've also built up a catalog that's remained consistently strong with a stable of artists that's hard to beat. The Deluxe Editions of Son Seals and Koko Taylor pay classy tribute to two artists who did much to enhance Alligator's reputation and who spent a good part of their careers with the label.

 There's few contemporary Chicago bluesman who can match Son Seals for raw passion and grit. Seals was literally raised on the blues hearing legends like Robert Nighthawk, Albert King and Sonny Boy Williamson at his dad's juke joint, the Dipsy Doodle Club in Osceola, Arkansas. In the early 70's he headed to the windy city holding court at joints like the Expressway Lounge and the Flamingo Club. It wasn't long before he came to the attention of the fledgling Alligator label who immediately inked a deal with him. The Son Seals Blues Band was released in 1973 (the label's third release) and is represented on this collection by the raw and uncompromising "Your Love Is Like A Cancer." Seals never lost his grit and passion but he quickly matured into the upper ranks of bluesdom with 1976's Midnight Son, easily one of the finest blues records of the 70's. This was a more polished affair aided by a swinging horn section and represented here with the surging "Believe To My Soul" and the blistering minor key "Telephone Angel." Seals stuck with the label until the late 90's delivering consistently explosive performances including a number of live tracks like the vicious "I Can't Hold Out" and "Hot Sauce" from 1978's Live And Burning cut at Chicago's Wise Fool's Pub and studio tracks like the swaggering "Going Home (Where Women Got Meat On Their Bones)" from 1984's Bad Axe.

 Koko Taylor's career goes even further back than Son's. She was discovered in the Chicago clubs by Willie Dixon who took her under his wing and issued her first 45's for the small USA label before getting her signed to Chess. By the start of the 70's Chess had been sold and Koko was without a recording contract. After floundering for a few years she signed with Alligator in 1975 and after eight records, one Grammy Award and 21 Handy Awards she remains with the label to this day. Taylor's powerhouse, earthshaking vocals are hard for anyone to match and she remains the undisputed Queen of Chicago blues. She's been well served on Alligator teaming up over the years with some of Chicago's top players like Pinetop Perkins, Buddy Guy, Mighty Joe Young, Carey Bell and many others. This 15 track retrospective is studded with gems like "Voodoo Woman" from her Alligator debut I Got What It Takes, the bouncy "Hey Bartender" with sparkling piano from Pinetop Perkins, a sizzling duet with Buddy Guy on "Born Under A Bad Sign" both from 1978's The Earthshaker, the tough as nails "Mother Nature" and wrapping up with "Blues Hotel" a marvelous duet with B.B. King from 1999's Royal Blue.

 Both of these Deluxe Editions are first class packages with remastered sound, liner notes by Alligator president Bruce Iglauer and fold out inserts with vintage photos. The music of Son seals and Koko Taylor belong in every blues collection and these two sets provide the perfect introduction to these classic artists.

(Jeff Harris)