By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
SUMMERTIME BLUES
B
Blues is great during any season but
the summer heat supplies the perfect backdrop for the freewheeling
emotional release that the music is famous
for. Check out these recent offerings to top
off your summer easy living experience:
For Pops (A Tribute To Muddy
Waters) Mud Morganfield & Kim
Wilson (Severn) The blend of Mud
Morganfield's throwback baritone and
Kim Wilson's jaunty harp seems like an
essential pairing but it only happened
Kim Wilson and Mud Morganfield
after insistent fan requests and the
approach of the 100th anniversary of
Muddy Waters birth. There's nothing new
or revolutionary about a Muddy Waters
tribute album, dozens are released every
year but Mud Morganfield's position as
the eldest son of the legend, not to mention
his sound alike and look alike attributes,
adds a dose of authority to the 14-track
CD. Carefully selected familiar as well as
obscure Muddy Waters songs, plus a crack
band provide a solid classic Chicago blues
collection. The opening track, "Gone To
Main Street," showcases Kim Wilson's
evocative harp blasts played against Billy
Flynn's sharp guitar riffs. "Just To Be With
You" serves up more nasty blues riffs, with
Mud's intonations recalling his dad but
not quite the required fire. By the third
tune, the rollicking "Don't Know Why," the
party really starts. Mud pushes the band
along with an explosive "yeah!" and hits
all the right vocal notes that honor his
father while adding his own flavor. "Still
A Fool" and "I Want You To Love Me" roll
along with commanding vocals and spirited playing. Highlights include "My Dog
Can't Bark," with Mud growling the verses
like he's on a Southside street corner and
Kim wailing on the harp like it's his lifeline. "She's Got It" dazzles with swaggering shouts and sizzling harp and "Still A
Fool" conjures the haunting, soul-grabbing
singing that defines the blues. A slight rearrangement of "I Just Want To Make Love
To You" gives a fresh spin to the iconic
tune and "She Moves Me," unfolds a
mournful and eloquent closer. For Pops
delivers a fitting tribute to H