2. member-reviews
  3. 987049262

Terry Evans and the Blues

Category: Music

Blues, fron high NRG Chicago to deep Delta is one of my favorite categories of music. I don't usually pay much attention to music reviews as I've been burned too many times in the past. But several years ago, Stereophile recommended Terry Evan's "Blues For Thought", and I agreed that it was great both sonically and musically.

He had excellent follow-ups with "Puttin' It Down", and "Come to the River"-- both on the Audioquest label. In 2000 he released two CDs, "Walk Tht Walk" on Telarc-- and not that good IMO, but his other "Mississippi Magic", again on Audioquest is excellent, and T. Evans is back to top form. I can really recommend his recordings to all music lovers, and I think some may be available on vinyl too-- BTW, Ry Cooder plays slide guitar on some of Evan's recordings.

Blues artists such as T. Evans and Keb Mo' are artistically at their peaks, IMO. Are there others out there that are in the same league, (or maybe emerging) as these two that blues fans can recommend? Thanks. Craig.
garfish
15 responses Add your response
garfish OP
1,840 posts
 
Issabre, Winoguy, Gregm; Thanks for the recommendations and for keeping this thread alive. Winoguy, I have "Shake Hands with Shorty" and agree it's great. Cheers. Craig
gregm
3,405 posts
 
Koko Taylor, "Jump for Joy", Katie Webster, "Two Fisted Mama" (both Alligator), BIG MAMA Thornton, "Jail" (Vanguard). C'mon guys, just three of the must haves.
winoguy17
1,119 posts
 
Check out the North Mississippi All Stars " Shake Hands With Shorty"
issabre
120 posts
 
Sorry that Putumayo label.
issabre
120 posts
 
Hi Craig,
There are a couple of very interesting cd's that combine the music of West Africa and American Blues. Of course the roots of the blues are in West AFrica. A good sampler album is Mali to Memphis on the Putumayo album. A simply fantastic album is Kulanjan with Taj Mahal and Toumani Diabite. Also, the two famous albums by Ali Farka Toure, Talking Timbuktu (with Ry Cooder) and Niafunke (Grammy nominated). This makes for a truly facinating study. Of course, Muddy Waters is where it's all at too. Todd
gotog
131 posts
 
A classic that I never get tired of is Junior Wells "Hoodoo Man Blues" (Delmark)... this performance was probably the first LP by a Chicago blues band. The performance is damn good, probably the best in my collection...Junior is on and he has Buddy Guy with him on guitar... recording on CD is good considering that it was originally released in 1965.. don't expect audiophile quality... you can pick it up cheap.. I find myself playing this cd more than all of those that I have by Terry Evans and Might Sam, which are also very good

For good performance/ excellent recording try Drink Small "Electric Blues Doctor Live" (Mapleshade..try their website) and Roy Gaines "I got the T-Bone Walker Blues" (Groovenote)....
gordy
1 posts
 
You should also check out Jonny Lang. Young, but very talented.
frap
213 posts
 
Hello Craig: If you like Keb Mo's style, (I do), then you really should run out and aquire GUY DAVIS'; BUTT NAKED FREE
CD. This is acoustic guitar blues, by whats looking to be a major talent to me. The recording is SOTA quality to boot. This is real Missisipi Delta blues. No psuedo wannabe here! The opening track is worth the price of admission alone. This is a not to be missed CD. Thanks for listening........Frank
lwin's avatar
lwin
570 posts
 
I didn't mention Doug Macleod because you are probably on to him but his latest on Audioquest "Whose Truth Whose Lies? is absolutely fabulous if you have a player get the SACD version.Try Olu Daras, In The World first & if you like that get the newest which is all over the musical map. Olu plays guitar but he also plays the cornet. To hear a blues tune where the lead instrument isn't a guitar or harmonica but a horn is fascinating because he makes it sound so natural. HE's no slouch on lead guitar either. Larry W.
garfish OP
1,840 posts
 
Thanks for the responses. Lwin, I'll look for Olu Dara-- never heard of him(?). Lorenzo, Luke and the Locomotives is one of the best blues CDs I've ever heard; have Lloyd Jones too; I like some of Rory Block's music, and I'll have to look up early Lucinda Williams-- I really like "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road". Finfinder; I do have a couple of Mighty Sam McLain's CDs.

Undertaker4; while I recognize Robert Cray's talent, he seems a little to Jazzy, or maybe Soul for me, and I think I have just one of his CDs. Lphunter, I do have the two Terry Evans/Bobby King CDs-- they're great together, and they do a version of "Dark End of the Street" that is the best I've ever heard-- and I've got this song by four different artists. I should have mentioned these guys in my thread. Thanks and Cheers. Craig
lphunter2
15 posts
 
Look for Bobby King And Terry Evans On Rounder Records. I believe the two recordings they did are Out Of Print, but well worth the hunt.
undertaker4
39 posts
 
How about Robert Cray? His latest was quite enjoyable (particularly for Memphis soul fans), and his live shows never disappoint. Little more soul and less blues than some prefer on a lot of albums I guess. He's one of my all time favorites.
finfinder
73 posts
 
Mighty Sam Mclain is another one you should check out. His first three albums are really good.
lorenzo
12 posts
 
robert lucas (luke and the locomotives, completely blue)
and lloyd jones (trouble monkey, love gotcha' [terry evans contributes background vocals on a couple tracks]) are also
audioquest blues stalwarts.
contemporary women blues singers: rory block (gone woman blues; rounder record label), early lucinda williams ('88, '89; kotch record label), incomparable etta james (chess, verve).
lwin's avatar
lwin
570 posts
 
Try Olu Dara on Atlatic records. "In the wold" is his best & "Neighborhoods" his newest both are HDCD.
Log in to respond
More to discover