#755- > Willie Buck & Bob Corritore - Oh Yeah! (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2025 – VizzTone Label Group
Release Date : June 20, 2025
 
By Phillip Smith; June 21, 2025
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

I would be hard-pressed to name a more definitive series of blues recordings than Bob Corritore’s ‘From the Vaults’ series. I’m always excited when a new one is issued. The most recent in this series is Willie Buck & Bob Corritore’ s Oh Yeah!, and one couldn’t ask for a better current-day representation of classic Chicago Blues. William Crawford aka Willie Buck and Corritore have a history of playing together that goes back over forty-five years, and certainly is heard through their music. The album features Willie Buck on vocals, Bob Corritore on harmonica, Bob Margolin on guitar for six tracks, Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar for nine tracks, Anthony Geraci on piano for three tracks, Ben Levin on piano for six tracks. Bob Stroger appears on bass, and Wes Starr on drums for nine of the tracks. The recording also includes Billy Flynn, Mojo Mark Cihlar, Jon Atkinson,Troy Sandow, and Brian Fahley.  

The title-track “Oh Yeah!” rolls out first. Buck’s whiskey-soaked vocals are splendidly joined with Corritore’s searing harmonica. With both Flynn and Smith on guitar, the song makes for a very strong opener. A cover of Muddy Water’s “She’s Alright” swiftly follows next, fueled with an intoxicating rhythm. The song quickly puts a grin on my face. I love how Buck spins a moment of appreciation and solid act of generosity into song with “Brand New Cell Phone”.  With Atkinson and Mojo Mark on guitars, Sando on bass, and Fahley on drums, Buck and Corritore deliver the wonderful original “Went Home This Morning”. The song, timeless in both theme and performance, is a real treat. I never tire of hearing the blues classic “Baby Please Don’t Go”.  This is such a great song, and these guys play it to a riveting perfection.

I highly recommend Oh Yeah! as well as all previous releases in the ‘From the Vault’ series that Corritore has been curating. The record is ‘grade A’ Chicago Blues in its purest form.  

---

 

For more information about Bob Corritore visit https://bobcorritore.com/

 

To read past PhillyCheeze reviews covering Bob Corritore, follow this link : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=bob+corritore

 

#744 : BratGirlMedia All-Star Showcase and Big Llou's Fun-Raiser : Memphis on Beale St. - May 7, 2025 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

Beale Street

Memphis, Tennessee

May 7, 2025

 

By Phillip Smith; May 12, 2025

 

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

I made it down to Memphis for the Blues Music Awards this year for the third time.  The parties going on at Rum Boogie Café and Alfreds on Beale Street were spectacular.  There was so much fun to be had with the never-ending musical talents of all who performed.

 ---

 

·       All photos by Phillip Smith using iPhone

BratGirlMedia All-Star Showcase @ Rum Boogie Cafe

Gabe Stillman & Tate Berkey

Gabe Stillman

Gabe Stillman, Tate Berkey, Billy Bellino

Gabe Stillman

Billy Bellino

Billy Bellino & Richard Rosenblatt

Long Tall Deb and Colin John

Colin John and Gabe Stillman

Long Tall Deb, Billy Bellino, & Richard Rosenblatt

Long Tall Deb & Richard Rosenblatt

Gabe Stillman & Colin John

Sugaray Rayford

Danny Avila

Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia 

Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia

Albert Castiglia

Bob Stroger, Bob Corritore, & Anthony Geraci

Jimi 'Primetime' Smith, John Primer, Bob Corritore, & Bob Stroger

John Primer, Bob Stroger, Bob Corritore

Bob Stroger, Bob Corritore

Albert Castiglia, John Primer, Bob Stroger, Bob Corritore

John Primer, Albert Castiglia, Bob Stroger, Bob Corritore

Big Llou's Fun-Raiser @ Alfreds

Big Llou with Vince Johnson & the Plantation Allstars

Jeremy Powell

Vince Johnson

Vince Johnson and the Plantation Allstars

Vince Johnson and the Plantation Allstars

Vince Johnson and the Plantation Allstars

Vince Johnson and the Plantation Allstars

Jeremy Powell & Deanna Bogart

Deanna Bogart with Vince Johnson & the Plantation Allstars

Deanna Bogart with Vince Johnson & the Plantation Allstars

Kat Riggins

Kat Riggins

Kat Riggins

Thornetta Davis and Joseph Veloz

Joseph Veloz

Thornetta Davis

Thornetta Davis

Thornetta Davis

Johnny Rawls

Johnny Rawls

Johnny Rawls

#671 : John Primer and Bob Corritore - Crawlin' Kingsnake (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Vizztone Label Group
By Phillip Smith; April 5, 2024

Release Date : .Mar. 29, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

There are not many artists around who instill Chicago blues authenticity into their music as Blues Hall-of-Famer John Primer and Bob Corritore do. Paired together for the fourth time since 2013, this dynamic duo returned to the studios and cut yet another fabulous album. Crawlin’ Kingsnake is the name, and it contains a dozen ripping tracks. With Corritore on harp and Primer on guitar and vocals, they are joined by bassist Bob Stroger, Jimi “Primetime” Smith on second guitar, Anthony Geraci on piano and Wes Starr on drums.

After the smoke clears from the opening James Cotton song “Take a Message”, their title-track cover of John Lee Hooker’s “Crawlin’ Kingsnake” digs its claws in deep. Primer’s experienced vocals and precision guitar are fantastically supported by Geraci and the rhythm section. Then they roll right into Willie Dixon’s “Down in the Bottom” with Corritore keeping the song barreling down the tracks on harp. It sounds fantastic. They bring the fire to “Hiding Place”, a Primer original from his 1991 album Poor Man’s Blues. The song absolutely cooks. When they hit B.B. King’s “Chains and Things”, they play it sweet and slow. This one really brings me into my blues zone. When the big entrance of guitar and keys on Muddy Waters’ “Rosalee Blues” kick in, and I hear Primer start belting out the lyrics, I’m gob smacked for a simmering delightful listen. I absolutely love their performance of Magic Slim’s “Gravel Road”. It’s a signed, sealed, and delivered favorite.

It's hard to beat the lineup of artists on Crawlin’ Kingsnake. This album is about as real-deal blues as an album can get. I highly recommend it,

 ---

For more information about these artists, visit their websites at : https://johnprimerblues.com/ and https://bobcorritore.com/

 

For other PhillyCheeze review regarding John Primer and Bob Corritore, follow these links:

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=John+Primer

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Bob+Corritore