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This expanded version of the All Stars meant that instead of being limited to just Chicago blues
they could now also tackle the soul sounds of people like Ray Charles. We kick off with Little
Walter’s ‘My Babe’ followed by Muddy’s ‘Got My Mojo Working’ both demonstrating how Cyril
had combined the Chicago blues with the girl group vocals – I’m not convinced it worked but it
shows how Cyril wasn’t just content to ape Muddy Waters – much as Muddy had developed
‘Mojo’ from Ann Cole’s original.

There are also country blues here as well, ‘Careless Love’ features Baldry on vocals and Davey
Graham on guitar and Leadbelly’s ‘On a Monday’, has Cyril playing harp behind Rory McEwen’s
vocals and 12-string guitar. Many of the tracks feature Baldry on lead vocals with Cyril playing
harp but the Davies’ original ‘Preaching the Blues’ does feature Cyril on lead vocals and I think
he sounds great. Cyril was a big influence on the harmonica players who came next – Mick
Jagger, Brian Jones, Paul Jones and Keith Relf – and while his playing may not be up to the
standard of players around today like Paul Lamb and Mark Feltham, at the time he was the only
one in Britain who could match the power and technique of Little Walter. He was also a good
band leader, picking great players to work with and choosing a repertoire of interesting songs
both originals and covers that combined several genres. I’m sure he would have gone on to
greater things if he had lived longer.

Graham Harrison

Taj Mahal—Savoy—Stoney Plain Records ASIN :
B0BQY1S7N3

On this record Taj celebrates the jazz standards that his parents
used to dance to in the 1940s – ‘Do Nothing ‘Til You Hear From
Me’, ‘Summertime’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, ‘Mood Indigo’ etc.
The album is produced by John Simon (Leonard Cohen, The Band
etc.) who also plays piano and does the arrangements and core
musicians include Danny Caron (guitar), Ruth Davies (bass) and
Leon Joyce, Jr. (drums), with excellent West Coast horn players
like Charles McNeil as well as lush background vocals.

The blues isn’t entirely forgotten with versions of Louis Jordan’s
‘Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby’ and ‘Caldonia’ (where Taj even adds some harmonica) and
‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ features a fun vocal duet with Maria Muldaur. Although over the years
I’ve been a big fan of Taj I’m afraid that I prefer him singing the blues which I think that his voice
is much better suited to – particularly at this stage in his life – I also felt that the background
vocals were a bit ‘cheesy’ and distracting on songs like ‘Killer Joe’ (which has more harp from
Taj).

Graham Harrison

Tony Holiday—Motel Mississippi—Forty Below Records
ASIN : B0BSWB887D

Singer harp player Tony Holiday is best known for his ‘Front
Porch Sessions’ where he records and plays with bluesmen on
their front porches however, this album sees him recording at
the Dickinson’s Zebra Ranch Studios in Coldwater, Mississippi.
Joining him are A.J. Fullerton (guitar, banjo), Dave Gross (guitar,
keyboards, accordion, production), Aubrey McCrady (guitar),
Victor Wainwright (keyboards), Terrance Grayson (bass), Lee
Williamson (drums) with Kevin Houston (Southern Avenue)