LivinBlues- CD reviews - Jay McShann n' Sister Rosetta Tribute

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LivinBlues CD Reviews by Gary Tate - Jay McShann n' Shout Sister - back

JAY MCSHANN: GOIN' TO KANSAS CITY (STONY PLAIN)
Any Jay McShann release is cause for celebration, and a natural addition for any serious Blues, Jazz, or Roots music enthusiast. It's hard to believe, but 60 years ago the Jay McShann Orchestra was attracting such young turks as Charlie Parker to the KC scene--blending Blues, Jazz and Swing idioms--and setting the table for the coming Bebop revolution. 'GTKC' was recorded in the hometown of this 89-year old piano great--his first KC recording since the 50's--and Jay gets re-united with Tommy Ruskin (bass) and Milt Able (drums).

These sessions are a joy to behold, and, as Jay McShann nears his 10th decade, he's never sounded as vital, energetic, and interesting. Maria Muldaur joins Jay on a playful duet of his ground-breaking classic, 'Confessin' the Blues'. For added listening pleasure, Duke Robillard--an avid McShann devotee--provides ultra-tasty fills in the Charlie Christian mode.There's 14 other tracks, so we the listeners are the beneficiaries. 'When I Grow too Old To Dream' puts some lowdown swing into a sophisticated standard. And there's plenty of traditional Boogie n' Woogie too; plus well-known Blues standards like 'Trouble In Mind' and 'Ain't Nobody's Business', all of showcase McShann's total command of deep down Blues. The combination of tradition and modernity has never blended so well as with Jay McShann. Goin' to Kansas City is a place where everyone should be heading to. MP3- HANDS OFF | surf to www.jaymcshann.com

SHOUT SISTER SHOUT! TRIBUTE TO SISTER ROSETTA THARPE (STONYPLAIN) - The late Sister Rosetta Tharpe is an abiding inspiration to three generation of artists. A swath of female Blues, Folk, and Soul artists gather to testify and shout and sing in honor of the memory of Sister Rosetta. Her strength was a highly developed rhythmic sense, sophisticated vocals, first-rate song writing proficiency (9 of these 18 tracks), and a highly distinctive (and influential) Country Blues guitar-picking technique. Four numbers feature the sturdy backup of the Holmes Brothers, including Joan Osborne on 'Nobody’s Fault But Mine'.

They back Victoria Williams on 'My Lord and I' and Phoebe Snow on 'Beams Of Heaven'. Yet the moment of utmost intensity belongs to the legendary Odetta as she raises sacred sand on 'Two Little Fishes and Five Loaves of Bread'. Tharpe’s seamless blending of Gospel, Blues, and Swing would presage the Rhythm n’ Blues and Soul eras. She even did some swinging secular numbers in the forties, such as the raunchy 'I Want A Tall Skinny Papa', and the boastful title track. Marcia Ball handles the former like she’s been singing it forever. An extra-special treat is the inclusion of Marie Knight (who formed a duo with Tharpe in 1948) on a powerful version of the testifying 'Didn’t It Rain', which also features some stellar piano from Floyd Waites. Maria Muldaur and Tracy Nelson perform the Tharpe/Knight breakout record 'Up Above My Head' with zest and flair. Like a beacon of truth, 'Shout, Sister, Shout!' points us toward the rich legacy left us by Sister Rosetta Tharpe. MP3- Nobody’s Fault | Didn't it Rain |