Giles Robson & John Primer – Ten Chicago Blues Classics
Giles Robson & John Primer – Ten Chicago Blues Classics
Format: CD – Digital
Label: A Giles Robson & Blues House Productions Release
Release: 2024
Release date: December 6, 2024
Thousands of musicians pledge allegiance to Chicago blues but only a very few have the wherewithal, the stuff, to take the music to an ineffable, special place. Giles Robson and John Primer are such magic-makers, and their collaborative album, ‘Ten Chicago Blues Classics,’ shows an unyielding honesty and a controlled intensity of a rare sort.
Primer has had the golden touch for decades. His uncanny affinity for the gritty blues found in South Side taverns was strengthened on the countless nights he spent playing guitar there in the exalted company of Muddy Waters, Junior Wells and, among others, the aptly nicknamed Magic Sam and Magic Slim. Today, the youthful septuagenarian enjoys status as the-primary guardian of the Chicago blues tradition. And, glad to say, Primer’s splendidness has rubbed off on Jersey (Channel Islands) – based Robson, whose technical prowess, disciplined imagination, and plain conviction peg him as a world-class blues harmonica player.
The genesis of ‘Ten Chicago Blues Classics’ began in 2023 when Robson and Primer first met and performed together on a Robson organized UK tour that starred the guitarist and other “Chicago Blues Legends.” They hit it off and Robson invited Primer back to the UK, in early 2024, for a tour with him and a European rhythm section. Primer’s next jaunt across the pond, several months later, saw them performing as a duo at five venues including Giles’ hometown of Jersey. Things went so well that Primer was heard to shout out to an enthusiastic audience: “When Giles and I play the blues, we put hot sauce on it so you can feel it!”
It made perfect sense that the friends should do a studio album while Primer was in England. Robson enthuses, “Recording this session with John was one of the most memorable and magical experiences of my musical career.
A dream come true.”
The enthralled harmonica ace, who also sings skilfully on seven tracks, and his American hero reject musty cliches and avoid wallowing in nostalgia. Robson says, “While I am a great advocate of innovation, original material, and freshness, I am also a big fan of Blues and Jazz as an interpretive art. The miracle of these musical forms is that even the most well-known tunes (Willie Dixon’s “My Babe,” to name one) can sound fresh and alive no matter how many times they are rerecorded but only if the approach to each rendition is approached with spontaneity, creativity, and energy with deep respect.” They check all the boxes.
Robson exclaims, “I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to record with John…. A magical experience…. He’s like a one-man orchestra and his rhythmical playing generates an incredible, consistent, transfixing energy from the beginning to the end of each song, which is rare.”
Rare energy. Rare magic. Hear the two modern alchemists on their new album – Frank-John Hadley
Website:
https://gilesrobson.com/
https://www.johnprimerblues.com/
Tracks:
01. Blow Wind Blow – Muddy Waters
02. My Babe – Little Walter
03. Rollin’ Stone – Muddy Waters
04. Juke (Instrumental) – Little Walter
05. Let Me Explain – Sonny Boy Williamson (no. 2)
06. Long Distance Call – Muddy Waters
07. Dealin’ With The Devil – Sonny Boy Williamson (No 1)
08. Got My Mojo Workin’ (Instrumental) – Muddy Waters
09. Bad Boy – Eddie Taylor
10. Last Night (Instrumental) – Little Walter