Carey Bell's Blues Harp Band • Goin' On Main Street

 

 

 

VA • Crucial Acoustic Blues

VA • A History Of Blues Harmonica - 1926-2002

Memphis Minnie, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sonny Terry, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Little Walter, Junior Wells, Snooky Pryor, Charlie Musselwhite, Carey Bell ...

Memphis Slim ‎• Born With The Blues

Review by Nathan Bush

By the time this album was issued on the Paula/Flyright imprint, pianist Memphis Slim had been residing in Paris for nearly a decade, having left the U.S. in the early '60s. From his new home base, Slim continued to record and tour, releasing a number of studio and live sets. On Born With the Blues, the pianist is joined by a pair of musical legends: multi-instrumentalist Carey Bell (lending bass and harp to the date) and guitarist Lowell Fulson. Completing the lineup is drummer S.P. Leary, whose resumé includes sessions with Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker. Small combo engagements like this one seem perfectly suited to Slim's many skills. He's particularly dazzling in the upper regions of his instrument, stating his case with driving, staccato chords and effortless, lyrical flourishes. Fulson proves a particularly appropriate choice for the role of Slim's primary musical sparring partner, being equally engaging in both rhythm and lead roles. Unfortunately, Bell's harp is given little airing (a sweltering solo on the instrumental "Get Ready" being a notable exception). The veteran bluesman is reduced to the bass role, in which he sketches the musical framework with his crisp lines. While the group never digs too deeply into the date's collection of relaxed, strolling blues and mid-tempo 12-bar workouts, the soloists remain engaged throughout, making this an enjoyable early-'70s set.

https://www.allmusic.com/album/born-with-the-blues-mw0000091499

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Reseña por Nathan Bush

Para cuando este álbum fue publicado en la imprenta de Paula / Flyright, el pianista Memphis Slim había estado residiendo en París por casi una década, después de haber salido de los Estados Unidos a principios de los '60. Desde su nuevo hogar, Slim continuó grabando y girando, lanzando varios sets de estudio y en vivo. En Born With the Blues, el pianista se une a un par de leyendas musicales: el multiinstrumentista Carey Bell (que presta el bajo y el arpa a la fecha) y el guitarrista Lowell Fulson. Completando la alineación está el baterista S.P. Leary, cuyo currículum incluye sesiones con Howlin 'Wolf, Muddy Waters y John Lee Hooker. Los combates pequeños como este parecen perfectamente adecuados para las muchas habilidades de Slim. Es particularmente deslumbrante en las regiones superiores de su instrumento, indicando su caso con conducción, acordes staccato y floreos líricos sin esfuerzo. Fulson demuestra ser una elección particularmente apropiada para el papel del compañero de entrenamiento musical principal de Slim, siendo igualmente participativo tanto en el ritmo como en los papeles principales. Desafortunadamente, el arpa de Bell tiene poco aire (un sofocante solo en el instrumental "Get Ready" es una notable excepción). El veterano bluesman se reduce al papel de bajo, en el que dibuja el marco musical con sus líneas nítidas. Mientras que el grupo nunca profundiza demasiado en la colección de relajantes blues, blues y mid-tempo de 12 bandas, los solistas siguen participando, haciendo de este un divertido set de principios de los '70.

https://www.allmusic.com/album/born-with-the-blues-mw0000091499

Carey Bell • Harpslinger

Biography by Bill Dahl
His place on the honor roll of Chicago blues harpists long ago assured, Carey Bell truly came into his own in the '90s as a bandleader with terrific discs for Alligator and Blind Pig. He learned his distinctive harmonica riffs from the Windy City's very best (both Walters -- Little and Big -- as well as Sonny Boy Williamson II), adding his own signature effects for good measure (an otherworldly moan immediately identifies many of his more memorable harp rides).

Born Carey Bell Harrington in the blues-fertile state of Mississippi, he was already playing the harp when he was eight and working professionally with his godfather, pianist Lovie Lee, at 13. The older and more experienced Lee brought Carey with him to Chicago in search of steady musical opportunities in 1956. Gigs frequently proved scarce, and Carey eventually took up electric bass, playing behind Robert Nighthawk, Johnny Young, and his mentor Big Walter Horton. Finally, in 1969, Bell made his debut album (on harp) for Delmark, and he was on his way.

Bell served invaluable early-'70s stints in the bands of Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon, touring extensively and recording with both legends. Alligator Records has been responsible for much of Bell's best recorded work as a leader, beginning with a joint venture with Horton back in 1972. Four cuts by Bell on the first batch of Alligator's Living Chicago Blues anthologies in 1978 preceded his participation in the 1990 harmonica summit meeting Harp Attack!, which brought him into the studio with fellow greats James Cotton, Junior Wells, and Billy Branch. His solo set for Alligator, Deep Down, rates as his finest album. Bell has sired a passel of blues-playing progeny; best-known of the brood is mercurial guitarist Lurrie Bell. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/carey-bell-mn0000171957#biography

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Biografía de Bill Dahl
Carey Bell, que ya hace tiempo que figura en el cuadro de honor de los arpistas de blues de Chicago, se consagró en los años 90 como director de orquesta con discos magníficos para Alligator y Blind Pig. Aprendió sus característicos riffs de armónica de los mejores de la Ciudad de los Vientos (ambos Walters, Little y Big, así como Sonny Boy Williamson II), añadiendo sus propios efectos característicos (un gemido de otro mundo identifica inmediatamente muchos de sus más memorables paseos con el arpa).

Nacido como Carey Bell Harrington en el estado de Mississippi, fértil para el blues, ya tocaba el arpa a los ocho años y trabajaba profesionalmente con su padrino, el pianista Lovie Lee, a los trece. En 1956, Lee, mayor y más experimentado, se llevó a Carey a Chicago en busca de oportunidades musicales estables. Carey acabó dedicándose al bajo eléctrico y tocó con Robert Nighthawk, Johnny Young y su mentor Big Walter Horton. Finalmente, en 1969, Bell grabó su álbum de debut (con arpa) para Delmark, y estaba en camino.

A principios de los 70, Bell formó parte de los grupos de Muddy Waters y Willie Dixon, con los que realizó numerosas giras y grabaciones. Alligator Records ha sido responsable de gran parte de los mejores trabajos grabados de Bell como líder, comenzando con una empresa conjunta con Horton en 1972. Cuatro cortes de Bell en la primera tanda de antologías Living Chicago Blues de Alligator en 1978 precedieron a su participación en la cumbre de armónica de 1990 Harp Attack!, que le llevó al estudio con otros grandes como James Cotton, Junior Wells y Billy Branch. Su disco en solitario para Alligator, Deep Down, está considerado como su mejor álbum. Bell ha engendrado una prole de músicos de blues; el más conocido es el voluble guitarrista Lurrie Bell. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/carey-bell-mn0000171957#biography