PhillyCheeze's Rock & Blues Reviews: John Primer

Showing posts with label John Primer. Show all posts

Saturday, February 8, 2025

#729 > Bob Corritore & Friends - Doin' the Shout! (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

2025 – Vizztone Records

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 8, 2025

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

When I see the iconic artwork of Vince Ray gracing the cover of a new album, I get excited because there’s a great chance it means brand-new material from Bob Corritore. Ray’s stunning covers construct a visual connection to a time period in which the greatest blues music was being recorded. Bob Corritore and Friends then masterfully transport the listener back in time to that classic era of blues. Doin’ the Shout commemorates Corritore’s thirtieth album release and features a dozen timeless songs with the harmonica legend along with a downright amazing guestlist which includes Bobby Rush, Thornetta Davis, Bob Stroger, Nora Jean, John Primer, Francine Reed, Oscar Wilson, Tia Carroll, Jimi Primetime Smith, Carla Denise, Bob Margolin, Duke Robillard, Kid Ramos, Johnny Burgin, Johnny Rapp, Anthony Geraci, Ben Levin, Dave Keyes, and Mark Earley.

Energy abundantly flows on title-track “Doin’ the Shout”. With Corritore ripping it up on harp and the fabulous Nora Jean giving a fearless performance on vocals, this one really gets me moving. The way Oscar Wilson lends his smooth-as-silk voice to B.B. King’s “Just a Dream” is exquisite. With Bob Margolin on guitar and Anthony Geraci on piano, this song is a blues-lover’s treat. I love the soul-drenched Bobby Rush track “I’ve Got Three Problems”. Dexter Allen keeps it fun and funky on guitar. It’s great to hear Thornetta Davis belt out her song “That Don’t Appease Me”. Corritore heats this one up on harp with guitarist Johnny Burgin and pianist Dave Keyes on board. This one is definitely a cookin’ track. “Same Old Thing” brings Jimi ‘Primetime’ Smith and Carla Denise together for a gem of a duet made to be heard from the dancefloor. It’s a dazzling performance through and through. The record comes to a close with Bob Stroger singing “My First Love”. The smoldering sounds of slow-cooked blues from Corritore (harp), Smith (guitar), Margolin (bass), Geraci (piano) and Wes Starr (drums) are served with perfection.

Bob Corritore and Friends deliver nothing but one-hundred percent authentic blues with Doin’ the Shout! It doesn’t get much better than this.

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For other PhillyCheeze reviews featuring Bob Corritore, follow this link: https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Bob+Corritore

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

For more information about Vince Ray, visit his website https://vinceray.com/

Friday, April 5, 2024

#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,

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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

Monday, May 29, 2023

#616 : Blues Music Awards Showcase - May 10, 2023 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

Blues Music Awards Showcase

Presented by BratGirlmedia

Rum Boogie Cafe

Memphis, Tennessee

May 10, 2023

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

For many years, I've been wanting to visit Memphis for the Blues Music Awards. I finally made it down for that this year on May 11. It was an amazing experience.

On May 10th, the evening before the BMA's, I attended a music showcase presented by BratgirlMedia at Rum Boogie Cafe on Beale Street. The event featured a prestigious lineup of blues musicians. It served as a fund-raiser to benefit John Nemeth who underwent surgery last year to have a tumor removed from his lower jaw. It was an extraordinary event to say the least. If heaven has a juke-joint, I imagine it would be a lot like this.

Without camera in tow, I still captured a few photos of this fabulous event on my iPhone.

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* all photos by Phillip Smith