CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday Vol. 21

CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday Vol. 21

           

Pour ce 21ème volume de notre série Chicago/ The Blues Yesterday, explorons encore la grande diversité des blues de Chicago des années 1940-60 entre jazz/R&B, country blues venu du Sud et Soul blues.

            La chanteuse et pianiste Lil Palmore, accompagnée de Willie Dixon et d'un guitariste qui est probablement Leonard Caston était une figure favorite des clubs chics des bords du Lac Michigan (Garrick Stage Bar, Hurricane, Ritz Lounge, Pitts Pub) et, outre ce single pour Ebony, elle a enregistré avec Brother John Sellers, Little Brother Montgomery et Jimmy "Boo Boo" Blazer.

            Le saxophoniste-tenor Claude Mc Lin (1925-95), natif de Chicago, a étudié la musique à la célèbre Du Sable High School et a commencé sa carrière de musicien professionnel en 1946 auprès de grands noms du jazz comme Lester Young ou Gene Ammons, jouant aussi quasiment tous les jours dans les clubs de Chicago. Dirigeant son propre orchestre, il enregistre à partir de 1950 à Chicago puis Hollywood où il s'était installé au milieu des années 50, participant alors à d'innombrables séances d'enregistrement derrière Amos Milburn, Red Callender etc...

            Little Son Joe (Ernest Lawlars) (1900-1961) est surtout bien connu en tant que mari et accompagnateur guitariste de Memphis Minnie à partir de 1939. Né à Hughes (Arkansas), il a accompagné Robert Wilkins à Memphis avant de rencontrer Minnie. Joe a aussi enregistré dix superbes titres de sa composition - dont le classique Black rat swing - sous son nom entre 1939 et 1953.

            Enfin, la chanteuse Mitty Collier (née en 1941 à Birmingham, Al) a représenté la Soul naissante à Chicago durant les années 60. Venue du Gospel, Mitty a enregistré pour Chess une quinzaine de 45t produits par Ralph Bass, entourée des habituels musiciens des studios Chess comme Cash Mc Call. Nous présentons ici certains des morceaux les plus bluesy de cette période. A la fin des années 1960, Mitty a quitté Chess et Chicago pour continuer une carrière à Birmingham, de plus en plus tournée vers le Gospel. Elle est devenue pasteur de son église en 1989.

                                                           Gérard HERZHAFT

            For this 21st volume of our Chicago/ The Blues Yesterday series, let's delve again into the great diversity of the many blues played in Chicago during the 1940's-60's: jazzy blues, R&B, Country blues coming from the Deep South and Soul blues...

            Singer and piano player Lil Palmore was a favorite in the uptown Chicago clubs during the late 1940's: Garrick Stage Bar, Hurricane, Ritz Lounge, Pitts Pub... Outside this Ebony single featured here in which she is backed by Willie Dixon and probably guitarist Leonard Caston, Lil has also recorded with Brother John Sellers, Little Brother Montgomery and Jimmy "Boo Boo" Blazer.

            Saxophonist Claude Mc Lin (1925-95) was born in Chicago and studied music at the famous Du Sable High School. He started a musical career in 1946, playing also in the best jazz and R&B Chicago clubs with Lester Young, Gene Ammons or as the leader of his own band. He recorded under his own name from 1950 in Chicago and then Hollywood where he settled down during the mid-50's, being on numerous sessions backing artists like Amos Milburn or Red Callendar.

            Little Son Joe (Ernest Lawlars) (1900-61) is of course mostly known as the guitarist husband of the great Memphis Minnie, recording constantly with her from 1939. Before that, Joe (born in Hughes, Arkansas) teamed with Robert Wilkins. Joe also recorded 10 tracks under his own name, mostly his own striking compositions (like the all time classic Black rat swing) between 1939 and 1953.

            At last, Mitty Collier (born in Birmingham, Al, 1941), starting to sing Gospel at an early age, shows the beginning of the Chicago Soul blues. She recorded for Ralph Bass more than a dozen singles between 1961 and 1967, backed by the usual Chess session musicians like guitarist Cash McCall. During the late 1960's, Mitty left Chicago, pursuing a career more and more in a Gospel vein. We have selected some of her bluesiest tracks.

                                                                       Gerard HERZHAFT

CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday Vol. 21

LIL PALMORE, vcl/pno; prob. Leonard Caston, g; Willie Dixon, bs. Chicago, Ill. 1948

01. I believe I'll go back home

02. Lil's Caldonia boogie

CLAUDE MC LIN, t-sax; t-sax; Rudy Mason, g; Eddie Baker, pno; Walter Sprately, bs; James King, dms. Chicago, Ill. 21 juillet 1950

03. Benny's bounce

Mona Lisa

Claude Mc Lin, t-sax; Norman Simmons, pno; band. Chicago, Ill. novembre 1950

04. Tennessee waltz

05. Pop goes the Weasel

Claude Mc Lin, t-sax; Norman Simmons, pno; Rudy Mason, g; Wlater Spratley, bs; James King, dms. Chicago, Ill. 7 août 1951

Sweet hips

Never mind

Claude Mc Lin, t-sax; L.C. Cohen, vcl; Berkeley Kendrix, pno/og; Oscar Lee Bradley, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. février 1958

06. That's cool man

07. Slow drag

Claude Mc Lin, t-sax; Berkeley Kendrix, og; g; Oscar Lee Bradley, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. Avril 1958

08. So fine

09. You're looking good

Claude Mc Lin, t-sax; Daniel Horton, og; Oliver Berry, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 1964

10. Jambo I & II

LITTLE SON JOE (Ernest Lawlars), vcl/g; Memphis Minnie, g; Fred Williams, dms. Chicago, Ill. 3 février 1939

11. Diggin' my potatoes

12. A.B.C. blues

13. Bone yard blues

14. My black buffalo

15. Tuff luck blues

16. Key to the world

Little Son Joe, vcl/g; Memphis Minnie, g; Alfred Elkins, bs. Chicago, Ill. 12 décembre 1941

17. Black rat swing

18. Just to had to holler

Little Son Joe, vcl/g; Memphis Minnie, g; Little Brother Montgomery, pno; dms. Chicago, Ill. 5 octobre 1953

19. Ethel Bea

20. A little too late

MITTY COLLIER, vcl; Cash Mc Call, g; band. Chicago, Ill. 1963-67

21. Free girl

22. Pain

23. My babe

24. I'm your part time love

25. Come back baby

26. Git out