2023 – Nola Blue Records
By Phillip Smith; May 20, 2023
Release Date : May 19, 2023
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
At
eighty-five years old, Leon Atkins aka Lil’ Jimmy Reed has released
a new album with twenty-three-year-old blues pianist extraordinaire Ben Levin,
and it is fantastic. The record is
called Back to Baton Rouge and was recorded with guitarist Aron Levin
(father of Ben Levin), bassist Walter Cash Jr., and drummers Ricky
Nye and Miss Shorty Starr. Atkins,
who cut his teeth in the music world while playing the Chitlin Circuit during
the Fifties, keeps the blues-torch burning from that era as he injects that essence
into his writing and performances. It
was during that time, Atkins was asked to fill in for Jimmy Reed
and play with Reed’s band on a show in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Reed had reportedly drunk a bit too
much and was unable to perform. Atkins
covered for Reed, and the show went very well. Soon after Atkins became known as Lil’
Jimmy Reed.
The album starts off with an attention-grabbing cover of Jimmy Reed’s “Down in Virginia”. Akins’ smokey vocals sound great as he plays this one bright and clean. Levin’s piano accompaniment is a delight too. This is one of my favorite cuts on this record. Two other Jimmy Reed gems are covered back-to back: “I’m the Man Down There” and “A String to Your Heart”. They surely make an honorable tribute to the blues-great.
“Wish
You Wouldn’t”, is a terrific piano-centric blues original written by Ben
and Aron Levin. The guitar licks Lil’
Jimmy perfectly injects into the song sound great as he sings about his lady
drinking too much, chewing tobacco, and fighting. A strong Howlin’ Wolf vibe woos me
over with the steady-rolling original “Engine Light”. The ominous feeling Atkins projects on
this tale of a possible breakdown digs in deep to the bone. A luscious cover of Slim Harpo’s “Mailbox
Blues” brings the album to a close.
Back to Baton Rouge packs ten outstanding traditional blues tracks into one fabulous album. I hope to hear more collaborations between Lil’ Jimmy Reed and Ben Levin in the future.
I had a special opportunity last
week to see Lil’ Jimmy Reed and Ben Levin perform together in Memphis
as part of the BratGirlmedia Blues Music Awards Showcase at the Rum
Boogie Café. It was a glorious night
for music. Below are a couple of photos I captured of Lil’ Jimmy and Ben
that evening.
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| Lil' Jimmy Reed , Ben Levin |
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| Rodd Bland, Jon Hay, Lil' Jimmy Reed |
This album available on Bandcamp
