|  By
Cornbread
 Willie
Kent – Comin’ Alive!
{2001 | Blue Chicago}
Kent,
the Chicago blues bassist, was a sideman to
Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Louisiana Red,
Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater, and
Junior Wells, to name a few. Willie is finally
getting the recognition this bass legend deserves;
W.C. Handy Awards: Best Blues Instrumentalist,
Bass 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, 2004, and 2005. Additional awards: Library
of Congress Award for Best Folk/Blues album,
Living Blues Magazine Award for Best Bassist
for seven years and Chicago Music Society Album
of the Year. Wow, that’s a lot of accomplishments
to a well deserving bluesman.
Willie
Kent, vocals and bass; Haguy F. King,
guitar; Jacob Dawson, guitar; Dave
Jefferson, drums; Allen Batts,
piano and organ; Erskine Johnson, piano;
Willie Henderson, Kenny Anderson, Larry
B.J. Weathersby & Bergess Gardner,
horns; and The Gospel Supremez, background
vocals on track 12.
Comin’ Alive takes
listeners down to the Delta to Chicago’s
West Side. There are songs that’ll make
you want to dance and others a bit gospel. All
but songs #1 & 10 are original tunes, written
by Willie.
1.
Lonely Streets – Chicago blues
with soul.
2. Born in the Delta –
“I was born in the Delta, a hundred miles
south of the Tennessee line”. Slow and
rich in mojo.
3. Check It Out – absolutely
fantastic guitar playin’.
4. Look Like It's Gonna Rain –
fast paced bass groove and Albert King like
guitar snippets.
5. Lonesome Whistle Blow –
bluesy shuffle, rich vocals and backing horns.
6. Someone Like You –
just try and not bob your head and/or tap your
feet. Now this is the blues.
7. Sittin' Here Thinkin' –
another masterful song.
8. Bad Luck – (same as
above)
9. Don't Tell Me Your Trouble –
piano blues and electric blues together…
and they lived happily ever after.
10. I Can't Stop Loving You
– slow, far from mellow blues with Willies
vocals exuberating soul.
11. Something New – a
fast tempo’d shuffle.
12. Someone You Should Know
– gospelesque-funk-soul-R&B-blues.
At
the time of writing this review Willie is undergoing
Chemotherapy. As a result he is limited how
much he can play – no play, no pay. Bills
are piling high. To learn more about Willie’s
progress and how you can help, click
here. Willie or thoughts and prayers are
with you. Get better and make lots more music!
At
times Willies vocals reminded me of John Lee
Hooker. This CD is FANTASTIC and has been added
to my favorite list.
Ciao'
for now, peace.
Peter 'Cornbread'
Cohen, CBP
~
Cornbread@STLBlues.net ~
|
