100 Years of Robert Johnson
Ryko/Big
Big Head Blues Club is an incarnation of Colorado rock group Big Head Todd and the Monsters, augmented by Cedric Burnside and/or Lightnin’ Malcolm on five tracks, plus special guests Charlie Musselwhite, Hubert Sumlin, Ruthie Foster, B.B. King and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. The album was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis and produced by Chris Goldsmith.
It’s an offshoot of the Blues at the Crossroads tour featuring Todd Park Mohr and Co. plus Edwards, Sumlin, Burnside and Malcolm — a traveling commemoration to bluesman Johnson, who would have been 100 years old today.
Critics may label the effort as lightweight, arguing that the music needs to be performed more reverently. But they miss the point: This is blues in a new direction, or, more accurately, blues-rock taken to new heights.
The original attitude of Johnson’s songs is preserved, but the presentation is modern, making full use of Mohr’s “Howlin’ Wolf with a stuffy nose” delivery as well as some of the finest audio engineering afforded to blues guitar.
“Cross Road Blues” (aka “Crossroads”) features B.B. King trading verses with Mohr and guesting on guitar. Subdued organ and contrapuntal percussion combine with a slowed-down tempo for a “Thrill Is Gone” feel.
“Preachin’ Blues” has that hyperkinetic speed-slide thing that worked so well for Captain Beefheart, and easily is imagined as one of his lost tracks if Mohr’s voice were deeper and more gruff.
The beauty of “Kind Hearted Woman’s” accompaniment is in its simplicity: acoustic guitar by Malcolm and piano by Monsters keyboardist Jeremy Lawton. Mohr leads off with a verse, Foster follows with lyrics adjusted to a woman’s point of view, and what was a soliloquy becomes a conversation.
“I I Had Possession Over Judgement Day” begins with a low vocal growl by Mohr before shifting into high, fueled by Malcolm’s wicked electric slide pouncing all over Burnside’s rollicking drums.
“Last Fair Deal Gone Done” is a spotlight for wah-wah guitar and electric piano, with Musselwhite laying his harp work like well-placed shots of tabasco on breaded catfish. About two-thirds in, the tempo kicks up four notches and wah-wah suddenly is subbed out for slippery slidework.
Top-notch playing, high-caliber guests and unique arrangements — one couldn’t ask for more in a centennial celebration of an early blues legend.
Tracks
1. Come On In My Kitchen (w/ Charlie Musselwhite)
2. Ramblin’ On My Mind
3. When You Got A Good Friend (w/ Hubert Sumlin on guitar and Ruthie Foster)
4. Cross Road Blues (w/ B.B. King)
5. Preachin’ Blues
6. Kind Hearted Woman (w/ Ruthie Foster)
7. If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day
8. Last Fair Deal Gone Done (w/ Charlie Musselwhite)
9. All My Love Is Love In Vain (Todd solo vocal and acoustic guitar)
10. Sweet Home Chicago (just David “Honeyboy” Edwards and Charlie Musselwhite)
Total time: 43:40
External links
artist’s website
amazon.com
iTunes Store
