Ground breaking acoustic blues
r.j. zurek | Cape Coral, FL United States | 04/06/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In the vast catalog of guitarist Buddy Guy, "Buddy and the Juniors" stands alone. In 1969, producer Michael Cuscuna had a radio show where Buddy was an occasional guest. Buddy would perform impromptu song selections to an enthusiastic audience response. Cuscuna had been discussing recording Buddy in an acoustic setting when Blue Thumb Records president Bob Krasnow brought the project to fruition.
Acoustic recordings were rare at that time, so Cuscuna and Krasnow decided to reunite Buddy with Junior Wells, Buddy's greatest musical partner throughout his career. Junior Mance, one of the jazz world's greatest pianists, seems an unlikely choice to record with the original Blue Brothers, but the results are sublime.
"Talkin' "Bout Women Obviously" and "A Motif is Just a Riff" were recorded totally unrehearsed; just Buddy and Junior Wells creating magic. Junior Mance joins the duo on "Buddy's Blues" and the music is taken to another level.
Willie Dixon's chestnut "Hoochie Coochie Man" sounds surprisingly fresh, due to the low key performance and the virtuostic piano of Mance. The Wells original "Ain't No Need" is a toe-tapper in the "My Babe" tradition, and a reminder of what a fine vocalist harmonica maestro Wells was.
When this recording was released in 1970, Buddy felt it was his best work up to that time. In later years, other excellent acoustic projects would follow, notably "Alone and Acoustic" and "Last Time Around". "Buddy and the Juniors" was the ground breaker for three master musicians who wanted to get together and PLAY- with wonderful results."
IS THIS THE BEST KEPT SECRET OR WHAT ???!!!
Lonnie P. Fredette | PLATTSBURGH, NY, US | 02/28/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Just ONE review??? I can't get my head around this seeming obscurity and lack of recognition for such an excellent cd! SO much praise for "Alone And Acoustic" and this just gets IGNORED?! Do yourself a favor and buy this, you won't be disappointed! This is "stranded on a desert island' stuff! 'Nuf said!"
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1
