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35th Anniversary Jam The James Cotton Blues Band Telarc, 2002
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Reviewed by Pamela L. Dow
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Almost every artist will, at some point, release an album of popular tunes from previously recorded material, often even throwing in a newly penned track or two. The usual marketing claims the album to be a collection of the artist's finest work. Quite often, they simply toss together songs that survived well on the charts and have defined the artist's career. The focus seems centered around the songs instead of the album as a whole. Every so often, however, there comes a greatest hits album that totally breaks away from the norm, rather than the dreck that hung around, it represents the cream that's risen to the top over the distance of a full career. One such recording is the latest release by the master of blues harp, James Cotton. The album, 35th Anniversary Jam of The James Cotton Blues Band, is so much more than a greatest hits release. It's a 12-track tribute to the world's greatest blues harmonica player of all-time, saluting both the man, his band and the legacy of his lifetime's work. The 35th Anniversary Jam is a musical summary of James Cotton's material. Most of all, this album is a gigantic celebration, highlighting almost five decades worth of classic blues contributions. Make no mistake, this is a party album that's loaded with some smokin' blues jam tracks. Bringing together the blues of both past and present, Cotton easily ties together the rich history of his musical journey. Each of the artists who contributed to the album can be heard giving an energetic and enthusiastic performance. Kudos go to producer Randy Labbe for bringing out the very best from Cotton's band and the dozen blues superstars who participated. Albums with a multitude of artists have a tendency to fall flat, often only one or two tracks are worth mentioning. The 35th Anniversary Jam isn't one of those albums; each track has an individual flavor that blends perfectly with the rest, showcasing the very real talent of Cotton and his band. Cotton gave the blues genre a lifetime's worth of creativity that, unfortunately, has negatively affected his vocal efforts. Despite this, the artists who made vocal contributions didn't steer the spotlight away from the star being celebrated. The 35th Anniversary Jam is loaded with hard drivin', high voltage blues. It blasts off right from the opening track, "Don't Start Me Talking," a rockin' tribute to the Sonny Boy Williamson's blues classic as Cotton shines with his fiery harp work along side Kenny Neals gravelly vocals. Next is "The Creeper," a fast-paced instrumental that pretty much invites you to dance. There's some great work on the ivories by David Maxwell while Cotton really smokes on the harp. Listen for his train engine effect, with a touch of "Jingle Bells" thrown in. Koko Taylor really gets Cotton fired up on her sassy performance of "I've Got A Feeling." One of my favorites is "Cotton Crop Blues" where Lucky Peterson delivers some gutsy vocals inspiring Cotton's harp performance to an even higher level. Shemekia Copeland delivers one powerful performance on, "How Long Can A Fool Go Wrong?" and Cotton pulls out all the stops on this one. You can envision these two performing on stage together like they've been at this for years. "Rocket 88" is a great foot-stomping number, Sly Johnson really takes charge on vocals. One of the best tracks on the album is "Blues In My Sleep," Cotton absolutely pours it on here. G.E. Smith is certainly one of the greatest blues guitarists around, and definitely one of the most overlooked, and as talented as they come. Maxwell also shines here on keyboard. The final track, "Blues For The Hook," is an awesome number dedicated to the late, great John Lee Hooker. Both Cotton and Vaughan delivered an unforgettable performance. Maria Muldaur, Tab Benoit, Ronnie Hawkins and Kim Wilson also add greatly to the album with some memorable performances. After giving the 35th Anniversary Jam a listen,
it's obvious that James Cotton has no intention of slowing
down. This master harpist has the energy of a man half his
age and the talents that go far beyond his years. As a young
boy, Cotton studied his craft with Sonny Boy Williamson. In
1954 Cotton got the nod and played harp for Muddy Waters, a
gig that lasted 12 years. Finally in 1966, Cotton decided to
strike out on his own and formed The James Cotton Blues
Band. After numerous recordings, concert, festivals, and a
Grammy Award, Cotton has earned his legendary status as a
giant of the blues. Recording some of the best blues
classics, Cotton continues to perform the music he loves,
actively keeping it alive for generations to come. This
latest album is a lively celebration of Cotton's lifetime
achievements and dedication to his craft. | August
2002 |
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