Little Arthur and his band make it look easy. Twist Turner on drums and Michael Azzi on bass just keep on rolling like they'll never stop - talk about a perfect example of sustainable energy. Then there is the guitar work of Rick Kreher, formally of the Muddy Waters band, and Illinois Slim. Standing calmly on either side of Little Arthur, they carry on the most amazing guitar conversation I've heard in ages. Both of them seem to have that rare ability to be playing lead and rhythm guitar at the same time and make their presence felt without flamboyant posturing or striking poses.

The focal point is, of course, Little Arthur; pigeon chested (probably from blowing harp and singing for so many years), he curls his body in around his harmonica and microphone and blows classic harp sounds redolent of all the emotional turmoil you've ever associated with the blues. When he sings, he cocks his head back and fixes his bright, mischievous, shining eyes, on the audience. Seemingly throwing all caution to the winds, he sings with apparent abandon, but he's completely synchronized with the band and sounds like a natural extension of the music.

With Little Arthur Duncan: Live At Rosa's Blues Lounge Delmark records continues to cement their reputation for being able to provide superlative, intimate, live recordings whether on DVD or CD. While the DVD contains a couple of extra tracks, and a commentary by Little Arthur, the CD allows you to listen to the same sound when you don't have a DVD player handy. While the video quality isn't the greatest - it's all been done with hand held equipment you and I could pick up in a store - the overall impact of their recordings is so powerful that it doesn't matter.

Most labels these days give you some overproduced staged "Music Video" of their acts. Delmark goes down the street and catches them live on stage playing in clubs where the walls echo with the sounds of the thousands of blues musicians. You can't recreate atmosphere like that no matter how expensive your equipment. Using five or sixhand held camera's, all shooting at once, and some editing magic, it makes you feel like you're part of the crowd in the bar on that night.

Little Arthur Duncan and his band play are keeping the sound of Chicago blues alive, and Delmark Records brings it live to your house. It really doesn't get much better than that.