Page 59 - BiTS_03_MARCH_2024

Larry Taylor and The Taylor Family—Generations of Blues:
West Side Legacy—Nola Blue Records NBR024

Guitarist, Eddie Taylor, his wife Vera and their eight children
moved from Benoit, Mississippi to Chicago’s west side in 1949,
once there he soon established himself on the local blues scene,
playing with such artists as; Jimmy Reed, Snooky Pryor, John Lee
Hooker, Floyd Jones, Elmore James and others, until his untimely
death in 1985.

Five of their children went on to become musicians in their own
right and in 2015 Larry, Eddies’ son a singer and drummer, invited
his brothers and sisters, to go into the studios and record a tribute
to their father, with Eddie Jr. (who died in 2019) on guitar and vocal, Tim on drums, Brenda and
Demetria on vocals. In 2017 he expanded this ensemble to include his band the Soul Blues Healers,
releasing the album to become a salute to the 100th anniversary of their father’s birth in 1923.
This collection of 13 numbers include five written by Eddie, one by his wife Vera, four by Larry
and three covers, which are; Magic Sam’s ‘You Belong To Me’, J.B. Lenoir’s ‘Talk to Your Daughter’
and ‘No Shine’, an adaptation of Bill Withers’ ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’. Supporting musicians in the
studio are; Joe B. Brinson, Jerry-O Mansfield, Killer Ray Allison and Ice Mike Thomas; guitar, Michael
“Sleepy” Riley and Abraham Avery; bass, Matthew Skoller; harmonica, Barrelhouse Bonni, Stanley
Banks, Duke Harris and Kevin Stovall; keyboards, B.J. Emery; trombone and Ronnie G.; Saxophone.

The opener, ‘She Treats Me Just the Same’, is a toe tapping, Chicago blues with a splendidly weaving
saxophone, stinging guitar and punchy drum work. Eddie Senior’s ‘Take Your Hand Down’, delivers
a splendidly low-down Jimmy Reed wailing harmonica with tramping percussion and tasty rolling
piano. Another Eddie penned number ‘Bad Girl’, (originally ‘Bad Boy’), see Demetria’s vocals, ooze
defiant intent as the pleasingly rising horns and rolling piano underpin it all. Another, is ‘I Feel So
Bad’, Larry’s comforting vocal is accompanied by a suitably moaning harmonica, backed with subtly
ringing guitar and rolling piano.

‘I Found Out’, sees daughter Brenda, commandingly taking her mother’s song and delivering an
enticing, slinky slow burner, the slightly rising horns leading sympathetic guitar and organ. She
also delivers a delightfully swinging rendition of J.B. Lenoir’s ‘Talk to Your Daughter’ (with the
obvious gender change) the horns; guitar and organ enjoyably meld together in one big swing.
Magic Sam’s ‘You Belong To Me’, is given a splendid big band sound, with punching horns and
percussion underpinning captivating guitar work, over which Demetria delivers a splendidly
commanding vocal.

On ‘Big Town Playboy’, Eddie Jr. plays and takes lead vocals; the lush, easygoing feel of the original
is enjoyably delivered, lazy rolling piano, wailing harmonica and gently strutting guitar, lovely!
‘Penitentiary Blues’, is a gently grooving funker with tight, ringing guitar and spot-on gently
punching horns. ‘I Paid My Dues’, is quite simply, a lovely rolling blues with splendidly engrossing,
instrumental interplay.

Larry’s teenage son Liljet2x continues the musical line as he delivers his own organ led, intriguing
rap adaptation, of Bill Withers’ ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’, entitled ‘No Shine’.

‘Jump Down American Queen’, is a James Brown influenced funker, Larry takes lead vocals as the
tight grooving horns sweetly lead the way, with the rest of the band ensuring a serious and
enjoyable funk groove. ‘Larry & Eddie Jr. Groove (Blues in the Rain)’ is a nicely relaxing harmonica
led slow blues instrumental, that delightfully washes over you.
Recommended!

Brian Harman