From Mississippi To Chicago (HMG)

  The contents of this compilation are best summed up in the liner notes which describe the music as “down-home, back-porch, good-time, country blues, gospel and boogie that is the bedrock of today’s popular music”. From Mississippi to Chicago is a wonderful portrait of five musicians still keeping the country blues tradition alive and vital even as we approach the dawn of the century.

 The music on this CD is the result of a field trip to Chicago and Mississippi and recorded in informal settings. These types of field recording trips were once fairly common in the 60’s and even 70’s but are a rare event these days. Still in recent years labels like Fat Possum, Fedora and the Music Maker Foundation have offered proof that there are small pockets were the country blues still thrive.

  Of the five artists represented both R.L. Burnside and Pinetop Perkins are the best known and have both recorded extensively. Burnside was first recorded in 1967 by George Mitchell who was making field recordings himself and it’s interesting that Burnside remakes three of those songs. Burnside plays a raw brand of delta blues that has a droning, hypnotic quality best showcased on “Poor Black Mattie’, “Skinny Woman” and “See My Jumper Hangin’ On the Line” three of his most well known tunes.

  Pinetop Perkins first came to prominence in Muddy Water’s band and has been in the studio often ever since. His two tracks come from last years HMG release and find him playing some excellent solo piano on “Everyday I have the Blues” and “Kansas City.” While these are obviously well worn standards Perkins gives them new life.

  Eddie Cusic, who cut his first full-length record for HMG last year, offers his lone track, “Gonna Lose a Good Man”, which is delta blues at it’s best.

  The real treat on this record are two lesser-known artists, Robert Curtis Smith and Boogaloo Ames. Robert Curtis Smith recorded some fine sides in the early 60’s for Prestige and Arhoolie and has not recorded since. He was rediscovered on the South Side of Chicago and his musical ability has remained intact. He still plays beautiful Mississippi style guitar and the only difference is the lyrics which are now solely religious. The highlight of his five cuts is a beautiful, moving reading of “The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow”. Boogaloo Ames has been playing the blues for over sixty years and makes his debut recordings on this CD. His two cuts are tremendous barrelhouse piano blues that sound like they could have been cut in the 20’s or 30’s. Let’s hope someone decides to record more of him especially as the piano blues seems to be something of a dying art.

  From Mississippi to Chicago is an excellent document of a still vital and expressive music. If your tastes run to country blues this is a set you’ll want in your collection.

  (Jeff Harris)