THE REV SHAWN AMOS
KITCHEN TABLE BLUES, VOLUME 2
PUT TOGETHER MUSIC
SWEET HOME CHICAGO–LI’L LIZA JANE–BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY–WHATCHA GONNA DO–MAMA HE TREATS YOUR DAUGHTER MEAN
The Rev. Shawn Amos is back to grace us with another five selections culled from the 90 Sundays he spent on YouTube, cooking in his kitchen and inviting a smorgasbord of contemporary players who cooked up a batch of blues along with their bounteous repasts! The Rev. calls this series of music “joyful blues,” and features some of his favorite songs with some fine backing players.
Leading off, the Rev. brings us “Sweet Home Chicago” done up the way Robert Johnson laid it down, with help from Sister Jean McClain. Danged if we don’t have Mardi Gras in the Rev’s kitchen, as the Mudbug Brass Band serves as the backing musicians for the second-line romp of “Li’l Liza Jane,” setting the record for number of musicians in his kitchen at one sitting! Our favorite “sax machine,” Mindi Abair, gets lowdown with the Rev. on “Bright Lights, Big City,” and features a cool sax and harp “duel” between the musicians! Lester Lands adds some smooth vocals on the Pablo Cruise chestnut, a doo-wop style read of “Whatcha Gonna Do!” The set closes with our favorite, as Shawn’s eldest daughter, Piper Amos, dons her Ruth Brown kitten-heels and positively nails a high-spirited take on “Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean,” as proud papa blows the harp in accompaniment.
The five cuts of “Kitchen Table Blues, Volume 2,” further showcases the Rev. Shawn Amos’ love for all kinds of music and all musicians. He has a ton of fun on this set, so let’s pass around the Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies as we anxiously await Volume 3! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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