Next it’s the disc’s hidden star. Son of Chicago harmonica legend Carey, guitarist Lurrie Bell steps up to deliver a hard-shuffling “Don’t You Lie To me,” adding his gruff but thoroughly convincing vocals to his characteristically incendiary fretwork. Bell has emerged as one of the most intense and inventive guitarists on the scene, and he remains on stage for the rest of the program, providing stellar support to Shirley Johnson (“As The Years Go Passing By”), a pair by sax great Eddie Shaw (standards “For You My Love” and “Sun Is Shining”) before Tail Dragger’s two tunes that end the party.
Other performers represent a veritable who’s who among blues aficionados, including the likes of guitarists Dave Spector and Nick Moss, legendary bassist Bob Stroger, drummer Kenny Smith, with Roosevelt Purifoy on keys and Billy Branch adding harmonica on the disc’s closer. Fittingly, it’s all loose and relaxed – when it comes to the blues, heart and soul matter far more than musical meticulousness, and the mood here is all about honoring and celebrating a genre – and a record label - based on passion rather than precision.
A fine tribute to Mr. Koester and his labour of love, this is absolutely wonderful stuff, and quite likely the closest one can get to being in a Chicago blues bar when the beer’s cold and the music is hotter than hot!
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