Bob Corritore & Friends – Down Home Blues Revue Reviews

Reviews from these publications are listed below in chronological order. Scroll to see all reviews.

ABS Magazine (France)
Blues 21
Blues Blast Magazine
Blues Bytes
Blues Roadhouse
Bluestown Music (Netherlands)
Bman’s Blues Report
Chicago Blues Guide
Concert Monkey (Belgium)
Keys And Chords (Netherlands)
La Hora del Blues (Spain)
Making A Scene
Midwest Record
Paris Move (France)
PhillyCheeze’s Rock & Blues Reviews
Rock Doctor
Sound Guardian (Hungary)

Midwest Record (February 2, 2022)

When you run an out of the way club that anyone whose anyone has to pass through and you leave the mic running for 20 years, some amazing things are going to be captured going through the ether. Down home stuff from the cats that would give the Chess brothers the fuel to run a blues revolution, they don’t drop a jive lick in the bunch. It doesn’t play like a historical document and it really fills that classic blues sweet tooth looking to chow down. Hot.

PhillyCheeze’s Rock & Blues Reviews (February 5, 2022)

I’ve really been enjoying the ‘From the Vaults’ albums spearheaded by blues harmonica marvel Bob Corritore. The latest in the series, Down Home Blues Revue, features thirteen tracks of real-deal blues recorded between 1995 and 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The amazing roster of southern blues artists on this album had all played Corritore’s blues club The Rhythm Room, and recorded tracks with him while in town. The artists featured on this wonderful album are Robert ‘Bilbo’ Walker, Tomcat Courtney, T-Model Ford, Henry Townsend, Smokey Wilson, Honeyboy Edwards, Pecan Porter, Al Garrett, Dave Riley, and Big Jack Johnson.

I was so happy to see Robert ‘Bilbo’ Walker’s name on the credits. It was through Jeff Konkel and Roger Stolle’s docu-series MoonShine & Mojo Hands, and their film M for Mississippi where I first heard Walker, and quickly became a fan. Walker appears three times on this album with songs “Rooster Blues”, “Still a Fool”, and “Baby Baby Baby”. Another name that brought a big smile to my face was Fat Possum recording artist T-Model Ford. His renditions of Arthur Crudup’s “Mean Old Frisco and Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Asked For Water” are captivating.

Tomcat Courtney, who sadly passed away just a year ago at the age of 91, gives an extraordinary performance with “Clara Mae” a hard-edged, straight-up blues song on the evils of crystal meth. Honeyboy Edwards performs Robert Lockwood’s “Take a Little Walk With Me”, with Willie “Big Eyes” Smith on drums, and I soak every bit of it up. Corritore rips it up on harmonica as Pecan Porter takes on Canned Heat’s “Lets Work Together”. The groove on Dave Riley’s “Home in Chicago” runs deep, and sounds great. With a swaggering approach, Big Jack Johnson electrifies “Bluebird Blues” originally by Sonny Boy Williamson I. He and Corritore sound terrific together.

Fans of Mississippi delta blues will definitely want to pick up this album. It’s an absolute gem.

Paris Move (France) (February 6, 2022)

Avec un CV long comme son bras gauche et un carnet d’adresses plus épais encore que le bottin mondain, Bob Corritore n’a pas fini d’écluser ses archives personnelles, qu’il distille au compte-gouttes avec la régularité d’un percolateur. Plutôt que d’épater la galerie avec l’un de ces blues-summits dont on nous rebât les oreilles depuis que les managements de stars vieillissantes (BB King, Jimmy Rogers, Buddy Guy…) se sont résolus à capitaliser sur leurs statuts de légendes sur le déclin, ce bon Bob a entrepris de rendre hommage à maints vétérans plus ou moins demeurés dans l’ombre (et ce, bien à tort). Il nous régale de sessions réparties entre 1995 et 2012 dans les studios Tempest de Grand Prairie où il dispose de son rond de serviette, avec quelques fantassins méritants, hélas pour la plupart aujourd’hui disparus. Ainsi de Smokey Wilson (1933-2015), Henry Townsend (1909-2006), David “Honeyboy” Edwards (1915-2011), T-Model Ford (1923-2013), Big Jack Johnson (1940-2011), Chico Chism (1927–2007), Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (1936-2011), Dave Riley (1949) ou Al Garrett (1934), tous captés à la sauvette juste avant (ou après) leur passage dans son propre club, le Rhythm Room à Phoenix. Si vous aviez encore besoin d’être affranchi sur la notion de Downhome Blues, il suffit d’énoncer que les férus du swamp blues de Lightning Slim et Slim Harpo trouveront ici amplement leur compte au fil de reprises bien troussées (telle celle du “Rooster Blues” du premier par Robert “Bilbo” Walker, 1937-2017), et que ceux du Mississippi Delta circa Chicago ne seront pas en reste non plus (terrassante version du “Still A Fool” de Muddy Waters, par le même). T-Model Ford s’illustre sur des covers pour le moins personnalisées du “Mean Old Frisco d’Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup et du “I Asked For Water” de Howlin’ Wolf, tandis que le parrain de ces sessions s’époumone dans les registres respectifs de Lazy Lester, Big Walter Horton et Sonny Boy Williamson. Seule exception à ce dogme (quoique), le “Nothing But The Blues” du pianiste Henry Townsend en résume à lui seul la démarche: si vous préférez votre blues bien enraciné, non frelaté et long en bouche, voici une dégustation qui vous fera de l’usage.

– Patrick Dallongeville

Making A Scene (February 11, 2022)

Fans of Mississippi delta blues will definitely want to pick up this album. It’s an absolute gem.

– Phillip Smith

Blues 21 (February 17, 2022)

One more from the vaults!

I have no doubt of Bob Corritore as the most restless blues artist in the recent history of the genre, the best contemporary harmonica player and, with “From The Vaults” series produced by Vizztone Label, a musician with a background as substantial as it’s inalienable for the knowledge and diffusion for the new generations of fans of a good handful of old bluesmen who are not among those chosen for glory. Honeyboy Edwards was an essential bluesman, T-Model Ford began recording at the age of 70, but Big Jack Johnson, Bilbo Walker, Tomcat Courtney and Al Garret were among those bluesmen whose indisputable art did not have the projection that they should have enjoyed. Bob Corritore recorded with all of them and a selection of those sessions can be found in this fifth volume of his archives. It’s an invaluable concession to all blues fans around the world that little could we imagine existed, and the team formed by Bob and Vizztone should have the success and recognition that they undoubtedly deserve.

– Carles Gatell

Bluestown Music (Netherlands) (March 3, 2022)

Release nummer twee uit de ‘From The Vault Series’ voor 2022 alweer. Soms kun je je beter niet afvragen waar je het aan te danken hebt maar gewoon heel, heel dankbaar zijn en vooral genieten.

Genieten met hoofdletters wel te verstaan want ook op ‘Down Home Blues Revue’ trakteert Bob Corritore ons op een ware schat aan pareltjes uit zijn kluis, maar liefst twaalf van de dertien gepresenteerde nummers waren tot aan deze uitgave nog niet eerder verschenen.

De opnames dateren uit de periode 1995 tot en met 2012, ze vonden plaats wanneer bevriende bluesmannen voor een optreden in Bob‘s Rhythm Room waren. Een verzoek om gelijk samen een sessie vast te leggen kwam standaard bij de booking binnen, de vaste begeleidingsband in de Rhythm Room kwam dan ook goed van pas.

Op deze verzameling van ouderwetse Southern Blues horen we een keurkorps aan namen voorbij komen, Honeyboy Edwards, T-Model Ford, Henry Townsend, Big Jack Johnson, Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Smokey Wilson, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, Pecan Porter, & Al Garrett.

Van al deze artiesten is alleen Dave Riley nog onder ons en die kennen we onder andere natuurlijk van zijn eerdere samenwerkingen met Bob….4 albums welgeteld waaronder het ‘Travelin‘ The Dirt Road’ uit 2008 dat een nominatie in de wacht sleepte voor een Blues Award.

Mochten er awards te verdienen zijn voor dit soort compilaties dan komt de ‘Down Home Blues Revue’ absoluut in aanmerking. Vanaf openingsnummer Rooster Blues tot aan afsluiter Blue Bird Blues staat er geen zwakke broeder op deze plaat, er is voldoende afwisseling tussen de wat meer slow blues nummers en wat meer swingende juke joint.

Hoogtepunten er uit lichten zou zonder meer betekenen dat er andere nummers tekort gedaan worden en in de praktijk blijft dit album waarschijnlijk toch van begin tot eind beluisterd worden.

– Jan Wolf

Concert Monkey (Belgium) (March 4, 2022)

Bob Corritore is een Amerikaans mondharmonicaspeler, die op 27 september 1956 in Chicago werd geboren. Zijn leven veranderde voorgoed wanneer hij op twaalfjarige leeftijd voor het eerst Muddy Waters hoorde op de radio. In minder dan één jaar leerde hij mondharmonica spelen. Bob zocht contact met de grote harpspelers, zoals Big Walter Horton, Little Mack Simmons, Louis Myers, Junior Wells, Big John Wrencher en Carey Bell. Van hen kreeg hij veel mondharmonica tips en aanmoedigingen. In 1981 verhuisde Bob naar Phoenix, Arizona, waar hij in 1986 begon samen te werken met voormalig Howlin’ Wolf drummer Chico Chism. Die samenwerking duurde twintig jaar, tot Chico in 2007 overleed. In 1991 opende Bob de inmiddels beroemde blues & roots club, The Rhythm Room en in 1999 bracht hij zijn debuutalbum ‘All-Star Blues Sessions’ uit. In 2005 bracht Bob de Rhythm Room All-Stars, met Big Pete Pearson, naar het Marco Fiume Blues Passions Festival in Italië. Hierdoor kwam er heel wat Europese interesse voor het vurig mondharmonica spel van Bob Corritore. In 2007 ontving Bob een Keeping The Blues Alive Award van de Blues Foundation. In datzelfde jaar werd ‘Travelin’ The Dirt Road’, een samenwerking met Dave Riley, genomineerd voor een Blues Music Award. In 2011 won het album ‘Harmonica Blues’ van Bob Corritore & Friends een Blues Music Award voor Best Historical Blues Release. In 2013 werd ‘Ain’t Nothing You Can Do’, de schitterende samenwerking met John Primer, gekozen tot Best Blues Album Of 2013 door het Duitse Blues News Magazine. Een jaar later kreeg Corritore ook een Blues 411 Jimi Award als Beste Mondharmonicaspeler. In mei 2020 verscheen ‘The Gypsy Woman Told Me’, de derde samenwerking tussen Bob Corritore en John Primer. In het najaar van 2020 verschenen nog drie albums van Bob Corritore in de reeks ‘From The Vault Series’. Ook op zijn album ‘Spider In My Stew’ uit 2021 nodigde Bob Corritore weer een hele reeks gasten uit. Sugaray Rayford, Lurrie Bell, John Primer, Alabama Mike, Diunna Greenleaf, Francine Reed, Johnny Rawls, Oscar Wilson, Willie Buch, Bill & Shy Perry, Bob Stroger, Bob Margolin, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Main, Jimi Smith en Adrianna Marie zijn er een paar van. In de reeks Bob Corritore’s ‘From The Vaults’ verscheen op 18 februari 2022 ‘Tell Me ‘Bout It’ van Louisiana Red en Bob Corritore en nu ligt ‘Down Home Blues Revue’ van Bob Corritore & Friends hier voor me om te bespreken.

De opnames voor de release ‘Down Home Blues Revue’ werden geregistreerd in Phoenix, Arizona tussen 1995 en 2012. In die periode slaagde Bob Corritore er weer in om een tiental blueslegendes bij hem in de studio te krijgen. Honeyboy Edwards, T-Model Ford, Big Jack Johnson, Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Smokey Wilson, Henry Townsend, Dave Riley, Tomcat Courtney, All Garrett en Pecan Porter zijn de genodigden. De meesten doen één nummer, al zijn er twee uitzonderingen. Robert Walker krijgt drie nummers en T-Model Ford twee nummers. Het album opent met het lekker swingende ‘Rooster Blues’ met Robert ‘Bilbo’ Walker op zang en gitaar. Hij zingt over de dieren die hem helpen rocken. Corritore is heel het nummer uitstekend en uitdrukkelijk aanwezig en met een knappe solo zet hij zijn mooie instrumentale prestatie nog meer in de kijker. Tomcat Courtney, die in januari 2021 op eenennegentigjarige leeftijd overleed, levert hier nog een prima prestatie met ‘Clara Mae’, een nummer over het kwaad dat de drug crystal meth aanricht. Samen met Bob Corritore op mondharmonica en Chris James op gitaar geeft zanger/gitarist Tomcat Courtney ‘Clara May’ de goede raad om met dat vergif te stoppen. Met ‘Mean Old Frisco’ met T- Model Ford op zang en gitaar krijgen we deep and down home blues.

De in 1909 geboren Henry Townsend begeleidt zichzelf tijdens ‘Nothing But The Blues’ op de piano. De piano en de mondharmonica van Bob Corritore zijn trouwens de enige instrumenten die de stem van deze kranige bluesman begeleiden. We krijgen Mississippi blues met ‘Didn’t Know What I’m Gonna Do’, dat met veel pit gezongen word door Smokey Wilson, die ook de gitaar voor zijn rekening neemt. De ritmesectie met Chico Chisms op drums en Paul Thomas op bas zorgen voor een heerlijke groove en Smokey Wilson op gitaar en Bob Corritore op mondharmonica zorgen voor het knap solowerk. De Muddy Waters cover ‘Still A Fool’ wordt gezongen door Robert ‘Bilbo’ Walker. Het nummer heeft een mooie footstomping groove en Corritore schittert weer op de mondharmonica en Walker laat horen dat hij nog steeds over een krachtige en goede stem beschikt. Walker zingt ook de zoete en aantrekkelijke Sam Cooke cover ‘Baby, Baby, Baby’. In de Robert Lockwood cover ‘Take A Little Walk With Me’ horen we Honeyboy Edwards op zang en gitaar. Misschien nog vermelden dat het slagwerk van drummer Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith komt. Het meest bekende nummer op dit album is ongetwijfeld de Wilbert Harrison klassieker ‘Let’s Work Together’. Canned Heat scoorde er in 1969 een wereldhit mee. Pecan Porter maakt er een heel aangename versie van.

‘My Money Done Run Out’ is een uitstekende slowblues van Al Garett, waarin Bob Corritore nogmaals bewijst dat hij een begenadigd mondharmonicaspeler is. Ook Johnny Rapp laat zich positief opmerken met heel fijn gitaarwerk. Een andere parel op dit album is zeker en vast ‘Home In Chicago’ van Dave Riley. De ritmesectie, met drummer Brian Fahey en bassist Yahni Riley, zorgen voor de prachtig stuwende groove. Gitarist Dave Riley en mondharmonicaspeler Bob Corritore zorgen voor het knappe solowerk. De Chester Burnett, beter bekend als Howlin’ Wolf, cover ‘I Asked For Water’ wordt hier gezongen door T-Model Ford. Het album wordt afgesloten met de slowblues ‘Bluebird Blues’. Deze Sonny Boy Williamson cover wordt gebracht door Big Jack johnson. Buiten het schitterend blaas en zuigwerk van Bob Corritore op de mondharmonica kunnen we hier ook nog genieten van intens en gevoelvol snarenwerk op de gitaar van Big Jack johnson en Johnny Rapp. De liefhebbers van de oude blues en mondharmonicawerk kan ik ‘Down Home Blues Revue’ van Bob Corritore & Friends van harte aanbevelen, want zij gaan zeker in hun nopjes zijn met dit nieuwe album van Bob Corritore. Ook voor de andere bluesliefhebbers blijft dit een heel aantrekkelijk album. (7,5/10)

– Walter Vanheuckelom

Chicago Blues Guide Review #1 (March 4, 2022)

Like a modern-day Alan Lomax, harmonica player/producer, Bob Corritore manages to capture preeminent blues artists at the peak of their playing perfection. Corritore’s new release, Down Home Blues Revue, is no exception. Here, Corritore jams with a variety of legendary musicians in a CD that’s steeped in old-school blues with a juke joint vibe. It ultimately gives listeners a deep and delicious dive into the roots of the genre.

The cover art for Down Home Blues Revue paints a picture of the musical masterpiece that’s in store for listeners as it shows imagery from Clarksdale’s “Shack Up Inn” that’s just minutes from the famed crossroads of Highway 61 and 49. While Corritore was raised in Chicago and relocated to Arizona in the early eighties, he shows a deep reverence for the old masters who paved the way for today’s modern sounds.

As the longtime owner of the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Corritore has booked the best blues acts west of the Mississippi River. But Corritore isn’t content to just let the artists play for the crowds and send them packing. He set up recording sessions with many of his special Rhythm Room guests, resulting in this CD that’s part of his “From the Vaults” series. The songs on this album were recorded between 1995 and 2012.

The guest roster on Down Home Blues Revue certainly reads like a “who’s who” of the genre’s founding fathers. There’s Honeyboy Edwards, T-Model Ford, Henry Townsend, Big Jack Johnson, Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Smokey Wilson, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, David “Pecan” Porter and Al Garrett.

In addition to these headliners, Down Home Blues Revue also features a stellar cast of rotating musicians that includes Johnny Rapp and Chris James on guitar, bassists Paul Thomas, Patrick Rynn, and Yahni Riley as well as Chico Chism, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Mart Reinsel and Brian Fahey on drums.

Robert “Bilbo” Walker kicks off the Down Home Blues Revue with his rendition of “Rooster Blues.” Walker hailed from the Clarksdale area and became interested in music through fellow local, Ike Turner. Like so many from Mississippi, Walker lived in Chicago where he hung out with the likes of Muddy Waters and Magic Sam.

Walker was also heavily influenced by Chuck Berry and was still duck-walking for appreciative audiences at the age of 80. On “Rooster Blues,” Walker lets his guitar and vocals do the strutting with Corritore providing the perfect jaunty harmonica. Bilbo Walker is also featured on two other outstanding tracks– “Still a Fool” and “Baby, Baby, Baby.”

Texas-born bluesman Tomcat Courtney pops up on the next track as “Clara Mae” showcases his guitar and vocal skills that gained him legions of fans in his adopted hometown of San Diego. “Clara Mae” is followed by “Mean Old Frisco,” which features T-Model Ford going full throttle on guitar and vocals. Ford also turns in a riveting performance with his outstanding version of Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Asked for Water.”

Born in 1909 and one of the few artists who recorded for nine consecutive decades, bluesman Henry Townsend released his first record in 1929 and was still in peak form when he recorded “Nothing but the Blues” with Corritore. Townsend was a popular fixture on the St. Louis blues scene before working in Europe where he plied his trade for large and appreciative audiences.

Smokey Wilson is another featured artist who was rooted in the Mississippi blues tradition. “Don’t Know What I’m Gonna Do” demonstrates the musical dexterity of the artist who once said, “I bring the cotton fields with me.” Corritore’s harp work is right in sync with the guitarist who “got the juke joint inside of me.”

As a close confidante of the late Robert Johnson, David “Honeyboy” Edwards witnessed his share of juke joint jams and key musical moments. So, he walked the talk and his version of “Take a Little Walk with Me” is another stellar performance straight from the vaults of musical history.

The vault continues to run over on the next track as Pecan Porter punches in with a fine version of Wilbert Harrison’s “Let’s Work Together.” This tune was a huge hit for Canned Heat back in 1969 but Porter puts his own indelible stamp on this rendition of this blues classic.

Greenbacks, or lack thereof, it always a classic blues theme and on “My Money Done Run Out” Al Garrett and Corritore are right on the money with this collaboration that focuses on Garrett’s slow-groove guitar and honey-smooth vocal delivery.

“Home in Chicago,” features Corritore’s long-time collaborator Dave Riley. This tune was also written by Riley and it’s rife with references to Chicago including “stepping off the train on Michigan Avenue” while taking in all the tall buildings.

Down Home Blues Revue concludes with Big Jack Johnson’s slow jam on “Bluebird Blues.” Before his passing in 2011, Johnson was a popular performer on both the worldwide stage and at Red’s Juke Joint in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

While many ponder the direction that the blues is taking in 2022, it would behoove everyone to put Down Home Blues Revue on repeat to study the musical stylings of these rough-edged predecessors to modern Chicago blues. Kudos to Bob Corritore for his yeoman efforts to keep the genre alive and for assembling such an incredible cast of artists and session musicians so today’s listeners can get a taste of the roots that have helped bear such beautiful blues fruits.

– Robin Zimmerman

Sound Guardian (Hungary) (March 4, 2022)

I evo opet ekskluzivne promocije albuma koji upravo danas, 4. ožujka ima svoj “street date”. Album se zove Bob Corritore & Friends: Down Home Blues Revue 2 i nastavak je sjajne serije “From The Vaults”, koju zdušno podržavaju izdavačka kuća VizzTone Label Group i promotivna kuća BratGirlmedia. No sve to ne bi imalo pravog odjeka da i u tu priču nije uključen istinski “harp wiz” izvrsni Bob Corritore.

Pred nama je ponovo 52 ‘ istinskog tradicionalnog bluesa u njegovoj nevjerojatnoj ljepoti i stvarnosti njegove iskonske jednostavnosti. Mislim da je to ključna činjenica u cijeloj ovoj priči sačuvati od zaborava istinske legende bluesa i pjesme koje oni izvode.

Ma, naravno to nije album za svakoga, osobito za one, koji tek kreću jer bi vrlo lako mogli odustati i zato neka još malo pričekaju. Moraju jednostavno prikupiti dovoljno informacija, moraju odslušati određenu satnicu i dati sebi priliku da u njima sazrije ona iskonska potreba za ovom vrstom glazbe.

Teško je od ovih 13 skladbi izdvojiti neku jer su sve već same po sebi posebne i to ne po svojoj izvedbi već po logičnom nastanku, vremenu i tko je što potpisao a tko na kraju sve izvodi. Bob oduvijek inzistira na što tradicionalnijoj izvedbi i podrijetlu materijala.

Bob Corritore kao glazbeni i producent s doista velikom pozornošću i ljubavi kompilirao je ovu kolekciju pjesama južnjačkog bluesa i juke bluesa iz tzv. “old school bluesa”. Na kraju sve to zapravo su neistesani predlošci modernog čikaškog bluesa i svi su snimljeni u Phoenixu, između 1995. i 2012.godine,a izvučeni su iz Bobovog ogromnog trezora tonskih zapisa.

Ovaj puta Bob nam nudi istinske legende, poput: Honeyboya Edwardsa, T-Model Forda, Henryja Townsenda,Big Jacka Johnsona, Roberta “Bilba” Walkera, Smokeyja Wilsona, Tomcata Courtneya, Davea Rileyja, Pecan Portera i Al Garretta.

Pred nama je album od kojeg će nam krv brže kolati, od kojeg će nam nutrinu bića grijati neka posebna toplina a kostima strujiti će ona poznata hladnoća, koja zapravo izaziva sveopću ugodu. Blues znalci jako dobro znaju o čemu pišem jer to nam se često događa. Ovakve reakcije ne može izazvati nešto što nije dobro, što nema “ono nešto”. Duboko u sebi nosim te neke znakovite vibracije, osjećaj da bi tako trebao zvučati pravi blues album i da je upravo takav album pred nama.

Bob Corritore je glazbenik, harpista, koji je najprije samo slušao, a onda je krenuo u taj beskrajni plavičasti svijet u kojem danas, ima itekako značajnu ulogu. Bob nije samo svirač usnjaka, Bob ima svoj klub, on je radio DJ i glazbeni producent. No, ako sve stavimo na stranu, ostaje njegova svirka usnjaka. Taj njegov prezentacijski stil u sebi snažno objedinjuje jedinstvene glazbene bravure: Little Waltera, Junior Wellsa i James Cottona. Naravno, velika stvar samog Boba je upravo taj njegov, vlastiti i originalni stil sviranja usnjaka. Svakako da je baš time Bob Corritore stekao globanu afirmaciju. To je doista veliki uspjeh, kojeg se jednostavno mora respektirati i odati mu veliko priznanje.

S druge pak strane ovakav sudar ili sraz generacija nevjerojatno oslikava svu veličinu, snagu i raskoš prezentacijske forme Boba i samih gostujućih glazbenika. Rezultat je pred vama jedinstveni i izvrsni album. Budite sigurni da nitko od ovih glazbenika ne bi svirao s Bobom da on, uistinu nije “harp wiz”.

PREPORUKA

I zato dragi moji, pred svima nama je apsolutno “tvrdi” i nadasve briljantni album tradicionalnog bluesa “Bob Corritore & Friends: Down Home Blues Revue 2”, kojeg bez imalo ustezanja potpisuje sam Bob Corritore i naravno, njegovi prijatelji.

Ovaj album svojim sadržajem donosi nam istinski tsunami tradicionalnog bluesa, koji najprije samo nadire i to čini polako i postepeno a onda, kada postane ogroman, samo vas poklopi i priča je završena!

Ovih 13 pjesama doslovno će vas pomesti svojom ekspresijom i da… sada i ovdje trebao bih istaknuti neke …ma, nema šanse! Album se sluša u cijeosti i tih 52′ proći će ko’ tren i što sad. Ništa…”repeat’’ krećemo od početka i tako, krug se stalno otvara i zatvara.
Želim biti dio tog kruga. Želim da me “poklopi” taj veliki plavičasti val…koji će me zauvijek odvesti u tu “blue land” iz koje se jednostavno ne želim vratiti. To je to!

To je moj svijet!

Mladen Loncar – Mike

Blues Blast Magazine (March 5, 2022)

Bob Corritore reaches back into his treasure trove of music and pulls From the Vault two albums being released simultaneously. This release features Corritore joined by ten blues legends. Honeyboy Edwards, T-Model Ford, Big Jack Johnson, Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Smokey Wilson, Henry Townsend, Dave Riley, Tomcat Courtney, All Garrett and Pecan Porter are featured here, each appearing a track. Walker gets to appear on three tracks and Ford appears on a pair of songs.

“Bilbo” Walker’s tracks are “Rooster Blues,” “Still A Fool” and “Baby Baby Baby.” He plays and sings and some guitar is added by Johnny Rapp on all three tracks. The first track bounces and swings as Walker sings of the animals who help him rock out. Corritore solos sweetly and Rapp gives us a sweet groove. The second tracks from Muddy Waters is some delicious, slow blues, served up hot and greasy. Guitar and harp give us some licks to enjoy together on this one. Sam Cooke’s track gets a nice groove going as Walker sings passion as the song moves along smartly.

“Mean Old Frisco” (Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup) and “I Asked For Water’ (Howling Wolf) are the two T-Model Ford cuts offered up. Chris James is on guitar in support as is his partner Patrick Rynn who handles the bass; Martin Reinsel is on drums. The former cut is a deep and down home blues while the latter is obviously more in the vein of Chicago blues. Both are cool and well done. Ford howls for us on the second track in Wolf’s style.

The single cuts begin with Tomcat Courtney; he does his song “Clara May,” with Corritore. James also adds some guitar. The three of them deliver a fine performance. Henry Townsend does his song “Nothing But Blues” where it’s just he and Bob. Townsend sings and tinkles the keys on the piano as only he can as Corritore fills in on harp. Smokey Wilson does his original entitled “Don’t Know What I’m Gonna Do.” He sings with the grit and emotion that is his style. He handles the guitar and Bob blows some cool harp here. Bass and drums lay down a nice groove to play behind. Honeyboy does a Robert Lockwood song, “Take A Little Walk With Me.” Willie “Big Eyes” Smith on drums rounds out the trio here in this fine rendition of a blues classic.

Pecan Porter adds “Let’s Work Together,” the song made famous by Canned Heat. He sings in similar style as Johnny Rapps adds his guitar to the mix; it’s a lot of fun! Porter is no slouch himself on the guitar as he does the second solo. Al Garrett does his song “My Money Done Run Out,” a slow and excellent blues. Rapp is also featured here and the bass and drum support are well done. Dave Riley and Bob are great friends and we get to hear them together on “Home In Chicago;” he handles all the guitar as Yahni Riley plays bass and Brian Fahey handles the drums. Corritore plays some nice fills and solos and Riley picks out a good solo, too. Dave and Bob do a nice instrumental section together, too. The final cut is Big Jack Johnson on “Bluebird Blues,” a Sonny Boy Williamson tune. Johnson sings and does an amazing job. He and Rapp handle the guitars and Corritore does some pretty harp. The bass and drums are also well done.

The yet uncredited bass and drums from the above cuts were handled by Paul Thomas and Chico Chism. They each appear on seven tracks and do a super job. Bob brings us ten legends to appreciate here– it’s a great sampler of work he’s done with some amazing talent from the blues world. If you need an intro to these artists, here’s a great way to learn a little about them. Long time blues fans will enjoy hearing this stuff that Corritore has brought out of his vault for us to enjoy. Thanks to him and also to Vizztone for supporting Bob and releasing this outstanding new album!

– Steve Jones

Bman’s Blues Report (March 11, 2022)

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Down Home Blues Review, from Bob Corritore & Friends and it’s a heaping load of Chicago blues. Opening with Rooster Blues, Robert “Bilbo” Walker is upfront on lead vocal and guitar with Bob Corritore on harmonica and really has the place jumping. Joined by Johnny Rapp on guitar, Paul Thomas on bass Chico Chism on drums this is an excellent opener. Tomcat Courtney has center stage to himself on Clara Mae. With an electrifying voice and great guitar backing and solid backing by Corritore and Chris James, this is another favorite. Henry Townsend has the spotlight on piano and lead vocal on Nothing But Blues, backed by Rapp and Corritore. Nicely balanced, this is a great piano track showcasing Townsend. One of my favorite old school blues men is Dave Honeyboy Edwards and it’s a pleasure to hear Take A Little Walk With Me featuring Honeyboy on vocal and guitar, backed by Corritore and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. Strong. Slower blues, My Money Run Out, is super with great vocals by Al Garrett who also plays guitar, backed by Rapp, Thomas, Chism and of course nice harmonica by Corritore. Dave Riley has the mic on Home In Chicago with strong vocal lead and fluid runs, complimented nicely by Corritore on harmonica, backed by Yahni Riley on bass and Brian Fahey on drums. Wrapping the release is J.L. Williamson track, Bluebird Blues featuring Big Jack Johnson on lead vocal and guitar. This track is really a great closer with Johnson showing his guitar chops, Corritore getting a nice chance to stretch and with Rapp, Thomas and Chism rounding out the band. This most recent release from Corritore’s archives may be my favorite with some really electrifying jams.

Rock Doctor (March 14, 2022)

(Four Stars)

Here is the latest release from harmonica master Bob Corritore’s impressive archives. Down Home Blues Review includes exuberant performances by Honeyboy Edwards, T-Model Ford, Henry Townsend, Big Jack Johnson, Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Smokey Wilson, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, Pecan Porter and Al Garrett. If you love old timey blues, this is one disc you don’t want to miss.

Corritore continues to impress with regular releases from his vast archives. This collection of old school down home southern blues and juke joint dance numbers (predecessors to modern Chicago blues) was recorded in Phoenix between 1995 and 2012, and Bob had the smarts to hang onto the tapes, knowing that there was magic buried there that the public would want- even need- to hear.

Down Home Blues Review plays like a time travel trip to the early 60’s, when the public at large was finally beginning to get hip to what the blues men (and women) were throwing down. The overall sound is basic, almost primitive, but not barbaric; these are good quality recordings, not just somebody’s portable cassette deck plopped on the coffee table in the living room. Far from the sterile efficiency of more modern recordings, these songs have a rusty patina that works in their favor. You’ll recognize classic numbers like Mean Old Frisco and I Asked For Water, but most of the songs I’m not immediately familiar with and that’s good- it’s kind of exciting, actually.

Most of Bob Corritore’s “From The Vault” releases I’ve heard to date have involved single artists, but Down Home Blues Review involves several artists on one album, giving it a wider breadth of expression. There are many musicians involved over these sessions, but Corritore’s harp can be heard on every track. When Bob moved from Chicago to Phoenix in 1981 he never expected to create a southwestern Mecca for the blues, it just sort of happened. He was joined by friends like Louisiana Red, started doing a weekly blues radio show, and in 1991 he opened the now legendary Rhythm Room blues club. Corritore would book his favorite blues artists there and arrange recording sessions too, resulting in his From The Vaults series.

Down Home Blues Review will certainly capture the imagination of any blues fan and, as was the case upon hearing previous discs in this series, I can’t wait to hear what’s next.

– John Kerreiff

Blues Roadhouse (March 18, 2022)

Here’s a fine album of tracks recorded by Bob Corritore between 1995 and 2012 in Phoenix, Ariz., at Corritore’s club, the Rhythm Room.

This is another one of the excellent classic blues recordings in Corritore’s “From the Vault” series, recorded as performers passed through his club.

This 13-track album includes some great blues by Honeyboy Edwards, T-Model Ford, Henry Townsend, Big Jack Johnson, Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Smokey Wilson, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, Pecan Porter, and Al Garrett.

If classic blues is your thing, give these albums a listen.

– Jim White

Keys And Chords (Netherlands) (March 21, 2022)

FIVE STARS

Bob Corritore wordt tegenwoordig beschouwd als een van de beste traditionele bluesharmonicaspelers op het toneel. Daarnaast is hij de eigenaar van The Rhythm Room, is radiopresentator van “Those Lowdown Blues” op KJZZ, oprichter van de Southwest Musical Arts Foundation, redacteur en hoofdschrijver van de Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter, officiële mediateur van Hohner harmonica’s, winnaar van de Keeping The Blues Alive Award en grammy genomineerde mondharmonica speler/producer, is erelid van Collectif Des Radios Blues en een actief participant voor de bluesmuziek. Zijn album ‘Bob Corritore & Friends’ won een Harmonica Blues Award in 2011 én een Blues Music Award. In 2012 ontving Bob een Living Blues Award in hun Harmonica-categorie en in 2019 won hij een Blues Blast Music Award voor Best Traditional Blues Album voor zijn release ‘Don’t Let The Devil Ride’. Nu graaft hij nog eens diep in zijn schatkamer. Met twee ‘From The Vaults’ sessie blijft hij ons verbazen en verbijsteren. Dit is een historische opnamesessie uit zijn muzikaal archief. Op onze site vinden jullie alvast de review van het al even schitterende project ‘Tell Ma ‘About It’, een opnamesessie met Louisiana Red. De opnamen voor de release ‘Down Home Blues Revue’ werden geregistreerd in Phoenix, Arizona tussen 1995 en 2012. De geweldige selectie van zuidelijke bluesartiesten op dit album had allemaal in Corritore’s bluesclub The Rhythm Room gespeeld en nummers met hem opgenomen terwijl hij in de stad was. De artiesten op dit prachtige album zijn Honeyboy Edwards, T-Model Ford, Henry Townsend, Big Jack Johnson, Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Smokey Wilson, Tomcat Courtney, Pecan Porter en Al Garrett waren er vast stamgasten. Net zoals Dave Riley, de enige die nog niet in het hiernamaals aan een jamsessie deelneemt. Zijn groove op ‘Home In Chicago’ zit diep en klinkt geweldig.Net zoals Corritore’s verscheurende mondharmonica in Pecan Porter versie van Canned Heat’s ‘Lets Work Together’. De plaat varieert, modificeert en fluctueert tussen ‘Rooster Blues’, met Robert ‘Bilbo’ Walker en het afsluitende ‘Bluebird Blues’ feat. Big Jack Johnson. We gaan van de verstedelijkte sound van Chicago naar de diepe Delta monding en terug. En dit dertien onvervalste bluestracks. Mondharmonicavirtuoos/producer Bob Corritore verzamelde liefdevol deze collectie ‘old school down home Southern blues’ en ‘juke joint dance’ songs. Dit album is een absoluut hoogtepunt.

– Philip Verhaege

ABS Magazine (France) (March 2022)

Notre ami Bob Corritore possède un fonds d’archives impressionnant et a une fois de plus le plaisir de nous en faire profiter. Ses multiples casquettes de musicien (harmoniciste de talent), compilateur, patron de club, animateur radio et producteur ne sont que le reflet d’une passion pour le blues qui vient de loin et qui perdure aujourd’hui. Dans cet opus de la collection “From The Vaults ” Series, il propose un ensemble de 13 faces – allant du down home Southern blues au Chicago blues moderne – enregistrées à Phoenix, entre 1995 et 2012. Installé depuis 1981 en Arizona, Bob a accueilli de nombreux grands noms du blues avec lesquels il a joué et enregistré. C’est ainsi qu’on retrouve ici Honeyboy Edwards, T-Model Ford, Henry Townsend, Big Jack Johnson, Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Smokey Wilson, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, Pecan Porter ou encore Al Garrett. Difficile de dégager une face plus qu’une autre tellement ce disque de blues transpire d’authenticité et de feeling. Le genre d’album/document qu’on réécoute inlassablement en y découvrant à chaque fois quelque chose de nouveau.

– Marcel Bénédit

Blues Bytes (March/April 2022)

Another fine set from Bob Corritore’s “From The Vaults” series collects 13 traditional blues tracks the harp master recorded during eight sessions in Phoenix between 1995 and 2012 with a host of blues legends. Bob Corritore & Friends’ Down Home Blues Revue(VizzTone/SWMAF) teams Corritore with veterans Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Tomcat Courtney, T-Model Ford, Henry Townsend, Smokey Wilson, Honeyboy Edwards, David “Pecan” Porter, Al Garrett, Dave Riley, and Big Jack Johnson. Lending support to these tunes are guitarists Johnny Rapp and Chris James, bassists Paul Thomas, Patrick Rynn, and Yahni Riley, and drummers Chico Chism, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Mart Reinsel, and Brian Fahey.

Robert “Bilbo” Walker rips through a trio of songs, backed by Corritore and guitarist Rapp. His riproaring version of Lightnin’ Slim’s classic “Rooster Blues” leads off the disc, and he also dazzles on Muddy Waters’ slow blues “Still A Fool,” and Sam Cooke’s “Baby, Baby, Baby.” Tomcat Courtney teams with Corritore and guitarist James for his own “Clara Mae,” a modern countrified blues on the perils of drug use. Next up is T-Model Ford, who turns in a gritty version of Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup’s “Mean Old Frisco,” and later covers Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Asked For Water,” even throwing in his version of the Wolf’s growl.

The legendary St. Louis piano man Henry Townsend appears on his own haunting “Nothing But Blues,” sounding as potent as he did when he first recorded in the late ’20s. Smokey Wilson does a fine job on the laid back (well, as laid back as Smokey Wilson ever got) “Don’t Know What I’m Gonna Do,” and Corritore really tears it up on harp. Honeyboy Edwards rambles through Robert Lockwood’s “Take A Little Walk With Me,” as only he can, joined on this vintage blues by Corritore and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. David “Pecan” Porter, who lived in the Clarksdale cabin Muddy Waters once occupied, covers “Let’s Work Together,” made popular by Canned Heat in the ’60s.

The underrated Al Garrett offers up a splendid slow blues original, “My Money Done Run Out,” and Corritore teams with longtime musical partner Dave Riley on the marvelous “Home In Chicago,” with their musical chemistry sparkling. Big Jack Johnson wraps up the collection with Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Bluebird Blues,” an eight-minute take that truthfully could have gone for at least eight minutes more.

Sadly, all of these featured artists, except Riley, have passed on over the years, but thankfully Bob Corritore was able to capture them all in performance so that their music endures long after their departure. The harp master always gives his musical partners ample space to shine, and this album is no exception. Down Home Blues Revue is another welcome addition to his “From The Vaults” series that will satisfy fans of classic blues.

– Graham Clarke

Chicago Blues Guide Review #2 (April 8, 2022)

Arizona-based harp player/record producer Bob Corritore usually mixes solo releases with anthologies of traditional Chicago blues; he delivers something different on this one, his second 2022 release from his vast archives. It’s a collection that primarily features historic artists based on the West Coast and in the Deep South.

Recorded between 1995 and 2012, either in the studio or at The Rhythm Room, Corritore’s club in Phoenix, it features Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Tomcat Courtney, T-Model Ford, Henry Townsend, Smokey Wilson, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Big Jack Johnson and others on lead, and the music they produce delivers a living-room feel.

It’s hard to pick out the best tracks here, but be sure to give a listen to “Rooster Blues,” “Clara May,” “Nothing But the Blues,” “Take a Little Walk with Me,” “My Money Done Run Out,” “Home in Chicago” and “Bluebird Blues.”

– Marty Gunther

La Hora del Blues (Spain) (April 2022)

Robert Joseph Corritore, musically known as Bob Corritore, discovered blues in his hometown Chicago. Aged twenty-five he settled in Phoenix, Arizona where he has done countless blues-related activities, as well as putting Phoenix in the blues map. Besides an excellent harmonica player and producer, Bob also runs his blues club, The Rhythm Room, and hosts his own radio show.

During his early years in Phoenix, Bob regularly played with Louisiana Red and drummer Chico Chism. Then he started his radio show and, in 1991, he opened his blues club. All the great names of actual electric blues have been there, musicians who have also recorded in countless sessions arranged by Bob, known as “From The Vaults”.

This album is a superb example of these sessions where, together with Corritore on harmonica, you will find well known respected musicians like Honeyboy Edwards, T-Model Ford, Henry Townsend, Big Jack Johnson, Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Patrick Rynn, Chris James, Johnny Rapp, Smokey Wilson, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, Pecan Porter or Al Garrett among others.

Thirteen deluxe songs where the most real down-home blues sounds are displayed on a magnificent, genuine and totally passionate way. From the first album notes you will taste and breathe the whole spirit of a music that, despite time goes by will never die.

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