Kevin Johnson also let me know about another upcoming CD Release Party Mississippi Heat's "Hattiesburg Blues" on May 30th:*Mississippi Heat's "Hattiesburg Blues" DELMARK CD release party!
FRIDAY, MAY 30, BUDDY GUY'S LEGENDS with special guest Carl Weathersby!! 754 S. Wabash, @10pm
“Pierre Lacocque was drawn to the sound of the harmonica, and by extension the Blues, before he even knew what the Blues were. He brings a perspective to the music that allows him to cherish the traditions of those who came before him, while having the vision to see how he can build on it. Mississippi Heat's Hattiesburg Blues is a great example of just how good a job he and his band are doing in fulfilling that vision.” BlogCritics.org
* MISSISSIPPI HEAT, Hattiesburg Blues, (Delmark CD - DE 795), with special guests Lurrie Bell and Carl Weathersby -This very underrated Chicago blues band is led by harp innovator/ band leader Pierre LaCocque and dynamic female vocalist Inetta Visor (you’ll love her and Pierre’s “green” song “Nature Is Cryin”), along with their fantastic new guitarist Giles Corey (check out his guitar and vocals on his spotlight song "Say Something Good!") Chris "Hambone" Cameron on keys (including clavinet) and the ubiquitous all star drummer Kenny Smith. Special guests besides heavies Lurrie Bell (singing a new Chicago Blues anthem "Chicago Is My Home!") and Carl Weathersby ("Hell and Back") are guest vocalist, Devin Thompson (Chicago Catz, Rico), and latin percussionist Ruben Alvarez (Howard Levy's Chevere) and the Chicago Horns (Willie Henderson, Hank Ford, Bill McFarland, and Kenny Anderson) - making for a very full sounding (but not cluttered) blues recording, with some unique twists!
You can listen to sound samples of this at:
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"HATTIESBURG BLUES is about how a music evolved from its African roots to the Delta of Mississippi and to the North in Chicago, and how it developed through other routes such as Cuba and South America. Yes, this is a beautiful combination of Chicago Blues and Latin rhythms. Add the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the harmonica of band leader Pierre Lacocque and the powerful and expressive voice of Inetta Visor and here is finally a CD that is an experience in listening from beginning to end. There are no throw-away songs here. Everything fits to form a great CD. Listen to the instrumental, CALYPSO IN BLUE and then listen to CHICAGO IS MY HOME; then listen to NATURE'S CRYIN' and you will tour almost without realizing it on the paths that old and powerful African drums took to propagate their elemental vitality and their raw passion. No instrument or voice takes over, it is communal construction as it is meant to be... I am proud to manage this band and I can say what I say because I have nothing to do with the composition, the production or the performances on this CD."
ReplyDeletewww.mississippiheat.net
"HATTIESBURG BLUES is about how a music evolved from its African roots to the Delta of Mississippi and to the North in Chicago, and how it developed through other routes such as Cuba and South America. Yes, this is a beautiful combination of Chicago Blues and Latin rhythms. Add the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the harmonica of band leader Pierre Lacocque and the powerful and expressive voice of Inetta Visor and here is finally a CD that is an experience in listening from beginning to end. There are no throw-away songs here. Everything fits to form a great CD. Listen to the instrumental, CALYPSO IN BLUE and then listen to CHICAGO IS MY HOME; then listen to NATURE'S CRYIN' and you will tour almost without realizing it on the paths that old and powerful African drums took to propagate their elemental vitality and their raw passion. No instrument or voice takes over, it is communal construction as it is meant to be... I am proud to manage this band and I can say what I say because I have nothing to do with the composition, the production or the performances on this CD."
ReplyDeletewww.mississippiheat.net
SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008
ReplyDeleteCD Review: Mississippi Heat, Hattiesburg Blues
Hattiesburg Blues
Mississippi Heat
Delmark DE795
Since Pierre Lacocque founded Mississippi Heat in 1991, the band personnel has varied, but one thing hasn't changed: Mississippi Heat consistently combines the talents of excellent Chicago blues musicians to create Delta-based Chicago blues with originality and panache.
The band's latest release, Hattiesburg Blues, showcases Lacocque's blues harp backed by a solid band of Chicago blues artists, along with vocalist Inetta Visor and guest stars including blues luminaries Carl Weathersby and Lurrie Bell, both frequent contributors to Mississippi Heat. The 13-track CD features 11 songs written or co-written by Lacocque covering a broad spectrum from Chicago shuffles to soul to Latin-infused blues.
The ensemble sound of Mississippi Heat is led by Lacocque's unique, passionate style of blues harp. Even when on lead, he blends and complements nicely with the band, providing strong and creative solos, as well as finely-timed fills and graceful movement behind vocalists and guitarists. He shows both a mastery of the instrument and a strong sense of melody with his solos on such songs as "Soft-Hearted Woman," an easy, toe-tapping soul blues; "Calypso in Blue," an exotic, rollicking instrumental; and "Nature is Cryin'," a tribute to Al Gore and a lament for global warming. On "Gone So Long," Lacocque delivers a tireless and effortless boogie melody in response to Lurrie Bell's vocals and guitar solos.
Chicago-born Visor, with the band since 2001, deserves more attention among female vocalists. She brings a well-seasoned, dynamic, and versatile vocal flavor to the songs. She's teasing and sassy on "Tiger Man," a hungry, upbeat tune singing the praises of a virile man. She's mournful on "Forgot You Had a Home," a slow burner led by Giles Corey's plaintive guitar solos. And on Denise LaSalle's "Soft-Hearted Woman," she's strong and defiant. She also wrote the lyrics to "Light from Within," a slow, sad blues featuring Weathersby on guitar.
Young guitarist Giles Corey is also worthy of more attention. He brings to the band years of experience, having played in the bands of Otis Rush, Billy Branch and Magic Slim, and he proves his mettle with ear-catching solos on such songs as "Forgot You Had a Home," "Calypso in Blue," and "How Much Worse Can It Be," a song with a brassy, Latin flavor. And, he demonstrates his vocal stylings on "Say Something Good."
Lurrie Bell recorded with Mississippi Heat on the band's 2005 release, One Eye Open. Now at the very top of his game as an independent artist, Bell lends his signature finger-picked electric guitar and husky vocals on two tracks, "Chicago is My Home," a traditional shuffle, and "Gone So Long," a fast boogie.
Carl Weathersby has recorded regularly with Mississippi Heat since 1999's Handyman. Here Weathersby plays on every song and solos on six, every bent-note drenched with soul and emotion. He also provides lead vocals on "Hell and Back."
Other notables on the CD include drummer Kenny Smith, the best and hardest-working drummer in Chicago these days; Devin Thompson, vocalist on the soul-gospel blues "Foolish Man"; Ruben Alvarez, who adds the original touch of Latin percussion on several songs; and trumpet player Kenny Anderson, who also arranged the horns.
Song samples of the CD can be heard at Mississippi Heat's website.
Delmark Records will host a CD release party for Hattiesburg Blues on Friday, May 30 at Buddy Guy's Legends. Carl Weathersby will guest star. Music begins at 10 p.m.
Posted by Karen Hanson at 3:18 PM
Labels: Carl Weathersby, CD Review, Delmark, Giles Corey, Lurrie Bell, Mississippi Heat, Pierre Lacocque
www.mississippiheat.net