While the piano still has a place in many blues groups the heyday of the piano virtuoso as leader seems to have past. For fans of piano blues Keep It Rollin' is the perfect antidote collecting seventeen stellar solo piano selections drawn from Rounder's vast catalog.

  While piano players as leaders have been a rare breed of late one pocket that seemed to consistently produce fine pianists was New Orleans. Of the eight pianists represented on this collection six are from New Orleans. One of the most influential and brilliant was the flamboyant James Booker. Booker's tremendous technique is on display on unique covers of "All Around The World", "Hound Dog" and the moving "Amen."

 The other New Orleans pianists including Davell Crawford, Tuts Washington, Willie Tee, Eddie Bo and Art Neville with a rare solo recording. At 25 Davell Crawford is the youngster of the bunch but shows considerable chops on two fine instrumentals. On the other end of the spectrum is Tuts Washington who's lone solo record was cut when he was 76. His "Arkansas Blues" and "Yancey Special" are excellent throwbacks to the classic era of barrelhouse piano. Willie Tee has backed and produced numerous New Orleans legends and we're treated to two fine instrumentals by him. Eddie Bo is another one who's been around for a long time and puts across soulful versions of "Hard Times" and the R&B tinged "I'm Through Dealing."

  The remaining two artists, Booker T. Laury and Charles Brown, represent two very different styles. Booker T. Laury made his debut on Rounder when he was 80 years old. Laury's two numbers are raw and boisterous as he rocks the house on "Booker's Boogie" and the equally tough "Early In The Morning." Charles Brown was of the same generation as Laury but certainly couldn't be farther apart musically. Brown was the epitome of sophisticated urban blues and is heard in typically fine form on the amusing "Give Me A Woman" and moving readings of "Black Night" and "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen."

 Fans of piano blues can do know wrong this wonderful collection of piano blues. If you enjoy the individual tracks on this collection you may want to pick up some of the full length records these tracks were drawn from.

(Jeff Harris)

Lucky Peterson: Double Dealin (Blue Thumb)

 Multitalented Lucky Peterson is one of the most versatile bluesman on the scene today. Peterson has put out some great records in the past but Double Dealin, his debut for the Blue Thumb label, simply blew me away and may be his best yet.

 Peterson was steeped in the blues right from the beginning. His father James Peterson is a fine bluesman in his own right and owned a blues club where his son rubbed elbows with the top names in blues. By the time Peterson was six he scored a national R&B hit with the Willie Dixon-produced "1-2-3-4." Later he paid his dues playing with Little Milton and Bobby Bland. He came to national attention with the excellent Lucky Strikes for Alligator in 1989 and the equally good Triple Play the following year. Since then Peterson has cut solid records for Verve and Polygram but none that pack the punch of this new record.

 This is a tough, uncompromising set of blues fully displaying Peterson's searing guitar work, Hammond B-3 prowess and gut wrenching soulful singing. In addition to those talents he displays a knack for writing some first rate blues songs. Backing Peterson is a great band featuring Reggie McBride on bass and exceptional keyboard work form Jon Clearly who really adds something special. An added punch to the mix is the Texacali Horns who inject some very tasty playing whenever they appear. Peterson succeeds in delivering a a tough electric blues record laced with an emotional approach that really brings these songs home. There's not a bum track among the 12 cuts but highlights go to the searing opener "Double Dealing", the seriously low-down "When My Blood Runs Cold", the funky off kilter feel of the Jon Cleary penned "Mercenary Baby", a killer updating of Bobby Bland's "Ain't Doing Too Bad" and the fiery "3 Handed Woman" (right handed, left handed and underhanded!).

 Double Dealin puts Lucky Peterson as the top of the heap as far as contemporary bluesman go and is also sure be at the top of the pile when the year's best records are discussed.

(Jeff Harris)

Mitch Woods: Jump For Joy! (Blind Pig)

 It's been a number of years since we heard from jumping piano pounder Mitch Woods. Woods dubbed his music "rock-a-boogie" which consisted of a rousing blend of jump blues and swing. On Jump For Joy! Woods and his Rocket 88's deliver a joyous blast of swing music sure to get your toes tapping.

 Woods has been leading the Bay-area based Rocket 88's for almost three decades. He came to national attention in the 80's with a pair of fine records and delivered two more good ones in the 90's all for the Blind Pig label. Jump For Joy! is Woods first new record since 1993. This absence from the recording studio is surprising since it left Woods without a record during the height of the swing fad which would have surely been to his benefit. The good news is that Woods and his Rocket 88's are still swinging hard after all these years pulling it off better than just about anybody.

  Jump For Joy!, more than his previous records, finds Woods paying glorious tribute to the classic swing sound of the 40's. The main influences are drawn from the joyous swing of Cab Calloway and the humorous jive style of Louis Jordan. To recreate that classic sound Woods has augmented his band with a phenomenal horn section plus classy guitarist Danny Caron who graced many fine Charles Brown records. The sound is spot on, swinging and jiving from start to finish. The only downside is that Woods great piano playing falls mostly in the background. Regardless this is fun set with numerous highlights including "Jump In The Groove And Go" and "Swingin' At The Savoy" which sound just like the titles indicate plus "Jive, Mr. Boogie" with a spotlight on Woods piano abilities, "Broke" a humorous number which sounds right out of the Louie Jordan songbook and "Golden Gate Jump" evoking the great sound of Cab Calloway.

 Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88's deliver the goods on all counts with a jumping good time party record plus serious musical chops which combine to make Jump For Joy! a sure fire winner.

(Jeff Harris)

Various Artists: The Ebb Records Story Vol. 1 & 2 (Specialty)

 Fantasy Records has been doing an excellent job delving deep into their archives to rescue forgotten musical gems. The Ebb Records Story is an incredible two volume collection spotlighting the small Los Angeles based Ebb label. Despite a very short existence the label released a motherlode of great doo-wop, group harmony, blues, R&B and even some rockabilly all showcased on these two immaculately produced volumes.

 Ebb Records existed for a mere three years (1957-1959) but really had it's pulse on the L.A. music scene. The label was owned and operated by Lee Rupe the ex-wife of Specialty Records owner Art Rupe. Despite only one genuine hit record there are some terrific sides on these collections including a number of previously unreleased tracks.

 Volume 1 is appropriately subtitled The Group Era focusing mainly on group harmony and doo-wop. Clocking in at nearly seventy minutes and thirty tracks the music is uniformly excellent. Most of the names are unfamiliar to me but the disc kicks off with most famous song recorded at Ebb- The Hollywood Flames infectious "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" a genuine hit and featuring vocals from Bobby Day who later hit big with his classic "Rockin' Robin." Among my favorites include The Souvenirs who offer up the rousing R&B of "Voo-Doo Love" and the catchy "Bump-De-Bump", The Twilighters marvelous Elvis inspired "Live Like A King", 5 Orleans with a great ballad in "Heavenly Escort" and the jumping "All Aboard" and Tony Allen on the tough, bluesy ballad "It Hurts To Be Hurt." Volume 1 wraps up with a pair of great gospel numbers by the Zion Travelers.

 Volume 2 is subtitled Blues 'N' Rhythm & Rock 'N' Roll which pretty much sums up what you'll find on the twenty nine tracks on this companion volume. For blues collectors this volume features a number of familiar names including Professor Longhair, Floyd Dixon Smokey Hogg and Ray Agee among others. The four Professor Longhair are particularly good featuring his distinctive New Orleans sound and featuring such legendary sideman as sax players Red Tyler and Lee Allen and Charles Williams on drums. Ted Taylor is also represented by four tracks and his magnificent soaring, gospel influenced singing is heard to great effect on "Keep Walking On" and blusier numbers like "Day Are Dark" and "If I Don't See You Again." Other favorites include Tony Harris' Little Richard inspired rocker "Chicken, Baby, Chicken", Floyd Dixon's low-down "Life Without A Home", Ray Agee's wonderful singing on the straight blues of "When The Deal Goes Down", Tony Allen on the rocking "Don't You Know" plus a pair of wild rockabilly rave ups with Jerry Hawkins' (brother of Dale Hawkins) "Cha Cha Chu" and Eddie Daniels on "I Wanna Know."

 Despite such a short lived existence The Ebb label recorded some remarkable music and really drive home how important these small labels were in documenting music that otherwise would have never been heard. The Ebb Records Story Vol. 1 & 2 will stand as a marvelous document to this pioneering little label.

(Jeff Harris)

Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson: Talkin' About Soul
(Telarc)

 Luther "Guitar" Johnson's name may get a nod of recognition from blues fans but in general he seems to have slipped under of the radar of the larger public. This is a shame since he's been laying down excellent Chicago blues records throughout the 90's for Bullseye and has continued the winning formula with Telarc. Talkin' 'Bout Soul is a typically solid release this time adding a good dose of soul to the mix.

 Johnson's probably best known for his stint with Muddy Waters which lasted most of the 70's. While he cut some records as a leader in the 70's and 80's it's his association with Bullseye Records in 1990 that saw him really hit his stride. He cut three stellar records for the label before jumping to Telarc. Talkin' 'Bout Soul is a fine follow up to 1996's excellent Slammin' On The West Side and can only enhance his reputation as one of the finest contemporay purveyors of Chicago blues.

 Talkin' 'Bout Soul is an appropriate title and finds Johnson lacing his Chicago blues style with a healthy dose of classic soul. The band is more than up to the task featuring a feisty horn section plus such luminaries as Jerry Portnoy on harmonica, Dave Maxwell on piano and Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith on drums (son of ex-Muddy drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith- that eye thing must run in the family!). In general the soul thing works fine particularly on the swinging horn driven "Talkin' 'Bout Soul" which opens things up but less successful on covers of "I've Got A Woman" and "Somebody Have Mercy" where Johnson adds little to these classics. Still there's some exceptional blues to found on tracks like a fine cover of Freddie King's "Lonesome Whistle Blues", a killer medley on "You've Got Bad Intentions/Crying Won't Help You" featuring some great fret work, the smoldering slow burner "Suffer So Hard With The Blues" and the bouncy "I'm Gone" with expert piano work from Dave Maxwell.

 By my count Talkin' 'Bout Soul makes five excellent records in a row for Johnson which is mighty impressive in my book. Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson certainly belongs on the short list for great contemporary Chicago blues slingers.

(Jeff Harris)