Name: Masters of Modern Blues
Brand: Testament (City Hall
SKU: 32774
Availability: OutOfStock

Masters of Modern Blues

Rating

Album: Masters of Modern Blues
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Rollin' & Tumblin'	More Info...	0:03
2)	Trouble Is All I See	More Info...	0:03
3)	Mr. Tom Green's Farm	More Info...	0:04
4)	My Black Mare	More Info...	0:03
5)	What Kind Of Little Girl Are You?	More Info...	0:02
6)	So Cold In Vietnam	More Info...	0:03
7)	Sweet Home Chicago	More Info...	0:03
8)	Walkin' Blues	More Info...	0:03
9)	Black Panther	More Info...	0:03
10)	Two Trains Runnin'	More Info...	0:03

Album: Masters of Modern Blues
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Rollin' & Tumblin'	More Info...	0:03
2)	Trouble Is All I See	More Info...	0:03
3)	Mr. Tom Green's Farm	More Info...	0:04
4)	My Black Mare	More Info...	0:03
5)	What Kind Of Little Girl Are You?	More Info...	0:02
6)	So Cold In Vietnam	More Info...	0:03
7)	Sweet Home Chicago	More Info...	0:03
8)	Walkin' Blues	More Info...	0:03
9)	Black Panther	More Info...	0:03
10)	Two Trains Runnin'	More Info...	0:03

Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Johnny Shines (vocals, guitar); Walter Horton (harmonica); Otis Spann (piano); Lee Jackson (bass); Fred Below (drums).
Personnel: Johnny Shines (vocals, guitar); Big Walter Horton (harmonica); Otis Spann (piano); Fred Below (drums).
Audio Remixer: Mark Linett.
Liner Note Author: Pete Welding.
Recording information: One-Derful Studios, Chicago, IL (06/1966).
Photographers: Ray Flerlage; Pete Welding.
Johnny Shines had been playing the blues steadily since the 1930s (travelling and playing extensively with Robert Johnson), and had moved to Chicago in the '40s, where he regularly performed with an electric band, but he made only a handful of recordings during that time. Shines quit playing music in the late '50s due to frustration with the industry, but '66's MASTERS OF THE MODERN BLUES helped revive his career, and restored him to his rightful position as a notable figure in the genre.
With the help of Windy City heavyweights Big Walter Horton (harmonica) and Otis Spann (piano), and bassist Lee Jackson and drummer Fred Below lending nuanced support, Shines unleashes his old-school tricks, which include bottleneck playing and the intricate phrasing of Delta blues. Shines translates the Mississippi style effectively to an electric context, aided by his understated tone and the sensitivity of his accompanists. Shines does not pack the rollicking punch of many Chicago artists, but instead maintains the mournful, trance-like feel of early acoustic blues. This can be heard especially on "Mr. Tom Green's Farm," a fluidly paced duet between Shines and bassist Jackson. The rest of this distinctive album is of equally high quality.

Professional Reviews

Down Beat (5/95, p.57) - 4.5 Stars - Very Good Plus - "Absolutely killer... propelled by the best drummer in postwar blues, Fred Below....100 percent rock-solid."