Search - H-Bomb Ferguson :: Wiggin Out

Instead of shoving that woman, why don't you buy this album?

daniel moore | United States | 02/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"H is something to behold. It is truly a travesty that more people don't know the wonder, humor, spectacle, musicianship, and personality that define one of the last true jump blues men. Do yourself a huge favor, buy this album in triplicate. If you ever get the chance to see this man live, don't miss it for the gods will have surely smiled upon you that day. I'll close with a word from the Bomb, "old jenny-sue, that girl is so fine, you can have my money, but give me my peace of mind.""

Catchy

Mark R. Van Wagenen | Elgin, Illinois USA | 03/14/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is more mainstream than the cover photo of a goofy-looking old man in the purple wig might suggest. Robert P ("H-Bomb") Ferguson goes WAYYY back to at least 1950, when he was discovered by former Duke Ellington Orchestra member Cat Anderson and became known as a classic "blues shouter" despite his diminutive size as well as "The Cobra Man" for his "snake-like shimmy at the microphone" according to the liner notes. He bounced around in several bands back then, including one for the legendary jazz label Prestige Records and shared the stage in the '50s with the likes of B B King, Big Joe Turner and Wynonie Harris. By the late '50s his career started to wane and he temporarily retired in the early '70s, but re-emerged later with the outlandish wigs he is now known for. This album reflects his jazzy blues history, the band consists of Eric Neuhasser on the saxophone as well as Ferguson himself on the piano along with his scratchy voice, but this is blues all the way. There are some toe-tappers here such as "Midnight Ramblin' Tonight" (the leadoff track), "Love Her, Don't Shove Her" and "He Say She Say" actually sung by Keenath Malachi Williams. It's a tight CD that I first heard, in all places, in a record store in a French-speaking section of Montreal. If you like jazz-blues fusion, this is worth considering."