Continued from page 18 spirituals and protest songs, all with blues undertones. A dazzler from her crystal pure vocals to her fiddle and banjo picking, Giddens gripped the crowd with old and new politically charged tunes including“ Birmingham Sunday” about the 1963 church bombing that killed four little girls and a masterful version of the Staple Singer’ s“ Freedom Highway.”
Chicago’ s own Ronnie Baker Brooks returned to the blues fest main stage like a prince claiming the throne. Wearing a t- shirt emblazoned with his late and legendary father Lonnie Brooks who passed away in April, he proceeded to take up the mantle that Lonnie passed to him. Joined by his brother Wayne Baker Brooks, the Brooks family dynasty commanded the crowd with an emotional tribute of Lonnie Brooks classics topped off with a rousing rendition of his signature‘ Sweet Home Chicago,” made even more entertaining with a guest harp solo from Billy Branch.
As the link between the orginal post war generation of Chicago blues musicians and those that followed, Branch served as a sort of roving elder statesman for the fest connecting classic blues with newer forms. His Friday show displayed his 40 years of blues dedication, complete with backup singers, horn section and even dancers. Former Sons of the Blues members Lurrie Bell, Carlos Johnson and Freddie Dixon made guest appearances, but it was the appearance of 6th ward alderman Roderick Sawyer, who presented Branch with a proclamation for his 40 years of spreading blues culture, that seemed to surprise him the most. Evoking the days of Theresa’ s Lounge and Junior Wells, Branch did a medley of hits, including a tribute to the late harp icon James Cotton. His harp playing with fiery and melodic but his most pivotal song at the blues fest wasn’ t a blues song at all.
Che’‘ Rhymefest” Smith was a controversial choice as a headliner and his show did nothing to dispel the questions. Strolling out in a linen vest and requisite fedora, he announced,“ My name is Rhymefest and I’ ll bring something different to the fest.” And that he did. Instead of playing tunes from his rumored collaboration of blues and hip hop, he played a straight hip hop show. His well-crafted and uplifting tunes, including“ Trapped In Heaven” and“ Jesus Walks” were engaging but they had no place in a blues fest. It wasn’ t until he introduced his Grammy-Award-winning song“ Glory” from the“ Selma” soundtrack, that a clear connection between hip hop and blues was demonstrated. Billy blasted his harp during the section of the song that John Legend did a piano solo and the hip hop song about injustice, spiritual redemption and protest came together with blues harp riffs, It was a modern blues anthem if there ever was one.
Other highlights included Jarekus Singleton, who lit up the Mississippi Juke Joint Stage with raw, contemporary blues, Big Bill Morganfield caused a stir at the Crossroads stage on Saturday with a voice like Muddy’ s and and an energetic style all his own, and Chicago Wind with Matthew Skoller and Deitra Farr proved that they’ ve created a crowd pleasing blues super group.
26 illinoisentertainer. com july 2017