JOHN PRIMER AND BOB CORRITORE
KNOCKIN AROUND THESE BLUES
DELTA GROOVE MUSIC DGPCD 159
THE CLOCK–BLUE AND LONESOME–WHEN I GET LONELY–CAIRO BLUES–LEANIN’ TREE–HARMONICA JOYRIDE–LITTLE BOY BLUE–JUST LIKE I TREAT YOU–MAN OR MOUSE–GOING BACK HOME
The good folks at Delta Groove have been on quite a roll of late. They have released excellent, successful collaborations from Nashville’s own Andy Talamantez/Nick Nixon Band, and have paired harmonica ace Bob Corritore with Tail Dragger and Mud Morganfield. Bob’s on tap again, this time teamed with long-time Muddy sideman and South Side legend John Primer for “Knockin’ Around These Blues,” ten tracks that show two veterans of the contemporary blues scene at their finest.
This is some classic Chicago blues. Primer, whom we feel has been vastly under-recorded in his career, spent time with Junior Wells, Magic Slim, and James Cotton before leading his own band. A young Bob Corritore, growing up in Chicago, was absorbing all the blues he could in local clubs, and has parlayed that into two Harp Player of the Year Blues Awards.
The set leads off with the loping stride of Jimmy Reed’s “The Clock,” and features Chris James and Patrick Rynn on guitar and bass, respectively. Bob can play a country blues with the best of ’em, (as evidenced by his fine work with Dave Riley) and he and John give the acoustic Primer original, “When I Get Lonely,” an authentic, early-Sun Records feel. Bob lets his harp take the lead on the swingin’ instrumental, “Harmonica Joyride,” and the set closes with John’s plaintive vocal over the slow-burning groove of “Going Back Home.”
We had two favorites, too. John turns in another spectacular vocal on “Leanin’ Tree,” and bemoans the fact that he and his “cold, chilly woman fight every night” in the humorous shuffle, “Man Or Mouse.”
This album could have easily been waxed way back in the day at the Chess Studios, but contemporary blues fans are fortunate to still have these two powerhouse bluesmen “Knockin’ Around These Blues” in 2013! Kudos to Delta Groove for bringing together John Primer and Bob Corritore for this classic recording. Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.
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