Midwest Record (March 15, 2019)

One reason to pay attention to Corritore is that his cover art is usually a lot of fun. Another reason to pay attention is that this time around, the harp player takes it to the next level of the game. Not content with being a proficient white boy with the blues, he kicks it so old school here that he’s making authentic 50s jungle music! Helped out by a cast of thousands, this is sure to put your old school grand parents in the hospital. Totally bad ass and in the pocket throughout, this is the perfect way to kick off a misspent youth. Killer stuff throughout.

Keys And Chords (Netherlands) (March 22, 2019)

Het album ‘Do The Hip-Shake Baby!’ is de briljante opvolger van ‘Don’t Let The Devil Ride’ voor Bob Corritore & Friends. De dertien nummers zijn een verbazingwekkende reeks songs met heel wat speciale gasten, waaronder Alabama Mike, Sugaray Rayford, John Primer, Oscar Wilson, Henry Gray, Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry, Jimi “Primetime” Smith, The Fremonts, Andy T-band feat. Anson Funderburgh, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Main, Bob Stroger, Fred Kaplan, Bob Welsh, L.A. Jones, Adrianna Marie, Willie Buck, en Nathan James… om er hier maar enkele te vernoemen. De betoverende vocalen, overdonderde gitaren, barrel house piano tunes, fantastische ritmesecties en Corritore’s soulvolle mondharmonica lieert zijn Chicago blues. Stel je een blues juke joint voor, denk hierbij aan enkele vrouwelijke dansessen, en laat je overweldigen door deze schitterende muziek. De nummers werden gemixt in Kid Anderson’s Greaseland Studios. De plaat ‘Do The Hip-Shake Baby!’ is alweer het veertiende album in de illustere carrière van Corritore. Slim Harpo’s swingende ‘Shake Your Hips’ mag de dans openen. Mighty Joe Milsap vocaliteit en Corritore’s harpvirtuositeit continueert met de rijkelijke muzikale interacties. Het sixties swing-rockende ‘Gonna Tell Your Mother’ (Jimmy McCracklin) mag Alabama Mike voorzien van enige zangprestaties. Cash Box King’ Oscar Wilson is aan zet in het mid-tempo en Chicago blues begeesterde ‘Bitter Seed’, origineel van Jimmy Reed.

Pianomeester Henry Gray mag Hank Ballard’s ‘The Twist’ de hemel in prijzen. En dan is het tijd voor een eerste blues trage met Bill Perry’s ‘You Better Slow Down’ (feat. Bill ‘Howl-N-Madd’ Perry). Alabama Mike is terug voor het doorspekte ‘Worried Baby’, net zoals John Primer met Muddy Waters’ ‘Love Deep As The Ocean’ ons naar de Windy City katapulteert. Het swingende nummer ‘Trying to Make a Living’ heeft dan weer onze grote teddybeer Sugaray Rayford en jumping Junior Watson in de setting. Alabama Mike en Andy T mogen ‘Stand By Me’ inkleuren, net zoals Mighty Joe Milsap vocaal het zwoele ‘I’m Gonna Keep What I’ve Got’ gestalte mag geven. Zanger/gitarist John ‘Primetime’ Smith was ook eerder al gast op Bob’s release ‘Don’t Let The Devil Ride!’. Hier komt hij de ritmesectie vervoegen voor het swingende ‘Got The World in a Jug’. De track ‘Few More Days’ is opnieuw een kolfje naar de hand van zanger Alabama Mike, net zoals de soulvolle vocalen van Sugaray Rayford zijn significantie vinden in het afsluitende ‘Keep The Lord On With You!’. Het is uiteraard vanzelfsprekende dat in ieder nummer de mondharmonica van Bob Corritore centraal staat. Met een hele waslijst aan gast muzikanten divergeert het album als nooit voorheen. Sterk staaltje blues…!

Philip Verhaege (5)

Rootstime (Belgium) (March 2019)

Mocht je in het overweldigende bluesrock aanbod van de laatste tijd vergeten zijn hoe de blues in zijn meeste elementaire vorm ook al weer klonk, dan heb ik hier het perfecte album voor je! Bob Corritore uit Chicago heeft namelijk, samen met een enorme groep vrienden, een album opgenomen waarin de blues in zijn meest ouderwetse en pure vorm te horen is. Bob Corritore nog voorstellen is misschien overbodig. Als mondharmonicaspeler van de ‘old- school’, radiomaker, producer en eigenaar van de befaamde Rhythm Room club in Phoenix, Arizona zorgt Corritore voor het in leven houden van de bluescultuur, en dit al bijna 40 jaar. De “Keeping The Blues Alive” award die hij in 2007 ontving was dan ook meer dan verdient. Ondertussen is Corritore al genomineerd voor vijf Blues Music Awards. “Do The Hip-Shake Baby” is het veertiende album van Corritore, hoewel hij op meer dan zeventig anderen verschijnt.

De naam Bob Corritore, is al tijden lang verbonden met de Chicago blues, en een gevestigd begrip op zich. Deze man heeft een enorme staat van dienst achter zich, en zo veel gedaan, dat het teveel zou zijn om daar allemaal over uit te wijden. Doch wil ik U wel een ‘klein’ beeld geven van deze man. Als Bob twaalf is, hoort hij voor het eerst Muddy Waters op de radio. Dit feit verandert zijn leven. Nog geen jaar later, speelt hij al mondharmonica. Als hij op het middelbare school gymnasium zit, krijgt hij de kans om naar een optreden van Muddy Waters te gaan. Als tiener was hij vaak te vinden bij grote mondharmonicaspelers als ‘Big’ Walter Horton, ‘Little’ Mack Simmons, Louis Myers, Junior Wells, ‘Big’ John Wrencher en Carey Bell, van wie hij vaak tips en aanmoedigingen kreeg. Bob ging naar optredens van Howlin’ Wolf, Billy “Boy” Arnold, John Brim, ‘Sunnyland’ Slim, ‘Smokey’ Smothers, Eddie Taylor, met wie hij vaak bevriend geraakte. Corritore werkte in de late jaren ’70 en begin jaren ’80 al samen met “Tail Dragger”, “Big Moose” Walker, Willie Buck, Louis & Dave Myers en Eddie Taylor.

In 1981 verhuist Bob naar Phoenix, Arizona. Daar speelt hij ruim een jaar lang samen met Louisiana Red, voordat Red naar Duitsland verhuist. Bob zit niet stil en werkt ook samen met ‘Big’ Pete Pearson, Buddy Reed, Tommy Dukes, ‘Chief’ Schabuttie Gilliame en Janiva Magness. In 1984 gaat Bob, naast zijn optredens en opnames, ook de ‘Those Lowdown Blues’, een blues radio show, op KJZZ verzorgen. KJZZ is het vlaggenschip van de Nationale publieke omroep in Tempe, Phoenix, Arizona. Ze zenden uit vanaf de campus van het ‘Rio Salado College’, die als sinds 1985 de eigenaar is van het station. In 1991 opent Bob zijn bekende blues en roots concert club, ‘The Rhythm Room’. De club opent nieuwe perspectieven voor Bob. Hij nodigt er grote artiesten uit om samen met zijn band ‘The Rhythm Room All-Stars’, te komen optreden. Deze sessies zijn nu nog altijd beroemd. Als gasten ontving Bob in zijn club Bo Diddley, Little Milton, John Brim, Jimmy Rogers, Henry Gray, Pinetop Perkins, Henry Townsend, Honeyboy Edwards, Big Jack Johnson, Ike Turner, Smokey Wilson. Lil’ Ed, Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith, Nappy Brown, R.L. Burnside, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Sam Lay, Barbara Lynn en …

In 1999 brengt Bob zijn éérste album “All-Stars Blues Sessions” uit. Zijn (inter) nationale doorbraak komt er na optredens met Henry Gray, Louisiana Red en ‘Big’ Pete Pearson. In 2007 verklaart de burgemeester van Phoenix officieel, dat 29 september de ‘Bob Corritore Day’ wordt, om hem te eren voor al zijn muzikale bijdragen aan de Phoenix’ gemeenschap. In hetzelfde jaar ontvangt Bob ook de “Keeping The Blues Alive” award van de ‘Blues Foundation’. Bob’s album “Travelin’ The Dirt Road”, dat hij in 2007 opnam met Dave Riley, is genomineerd voor een ‘Blues Music Award’. In 2008 werkt Bob samen met Pinetop Perkins, die met het album een Grammy®-nominatie haalt. In 2010 wint Bob met het album “Harmonica Blues” een ‘Blues Music Award’. In 2012 krijgt Bob in de categorie mondharmonica de ‘Living Blues Award en is hij de ‘Star Blues’ Artist Of The Year’. Bob treedt regelmatig op met de ‘Rhythm Room All-Stars’samen met Dave Riley, Louisiana Red, Henry Gray, Sam Lay, Tail Dragger, John Primer, Mud Morganfield, Diunna Greenleaf, Bob Margolin, “The Andy T/Nick Nixon Band”, “The Delta Groove Harp Blast” e.a.

Nu dan, het nieuwe album genaamd “Do The Hip-Shake Baby”, de opvolger van “Don’t Let The Devil Ride” van vorig jaar: dit is een verzameling nummers die zijn opgenomen tijdens sessies die zijn gehouden tussen 2016 en 2018 met daarop de nodige vrienden die het album invullen. Op deze 13 songs die niet eerder uitgebracht werden krijgt Corritore o.a. steun van tal van vooral bekende vocalisten en gitaristen, als Alabama Mike, Sugaray Rayford, Oscar Wilson, Henry Gray, John Primer, Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry, Jimi “Primetime” Smith, The Fremonts, Andy T band ft. Anson Funderburgh, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Main, Bob Stroger, Fred Kaplan, Bob Welsh, LA Jones, Adrianna Marie, Nathan James en vele andere vrienden. Dat deze mensen veel te betekenen hebben, zal niemand verwonderen, want dit zijn mensen die gewoon de Chicago Blues en meer vertolken als geen ander. Toch kent dit album heel veel variatie, en dat is dan ook door de verscheidenheid van de stemmen die je hoort. Het album is gewoon een feestje op zich kan ik U zeggen, en de band is geweldig. Met de zojuist vermelde artiesten kan het ook niet anders, het neusje van de zalm dus.

Hoogtepunten dan maar even. Het album opent met Slim Harpo’s swingende “Shake Your Hips”, hier gezongen door Mighty Joe Milsap, maar we horen al snel Corritore’s harpvirtuositeit die met zijn scheurende harp ons verder blijft verrassen in de overige twaalf songs. Het helpt je uiteraard, als je kan rekenen op enkele prima vocalisten, zo horen we Alabama Mike in het rockende “Gonna Tell Your Mother” van Jimmy McCracklin, en is terug om de nummers “Worried Baby”, “Stand By Me” en Eddy Bell’s “Few More Days” soulvol in te kleuren. Als we drie absolute lievelingen van dit album moeten kiezen gaan voor het swingende “Trying to Make a Living” met de geweldige stem van Sugaray Rayford en Junior Watson als gitarist en het afsluitende “Keep The Lord On With You!” met wederom die soulvolle vocals van Sugaray, maar ditmaal Kid Ramos in de setting. Als derde nummer gaat de keuze naar Bill Perry’s “You Better Slow Down” met de vocals van Bill ‘Howl-N-Madd’ Perry, een parel van een slowblues moet ik zeggen.

Het helpt je uiteraard, als je kan rekenen op enkele prima backing muzikanten, want zomaar een twintigtal muzikanten begeleiden allen Corritore met zijn krachtige mondharmonica licks. Hij is dan ook een mondharmonicaspeler, met een goede blaastechniek, maar ook iemand die heel genuanceerd kan fraseren. “Do The Hip-Shake Baby” waarvan de nummers werden gemixt in Kid Anderson’s Greaseland Studios is wederom een geweldige traditionele bluesopname met een frisse, gepassioneerde aanpak om het ‘old school’-gevoel naar voren te brengen, terwijl het relevant blijft in het hedendaagse blueslandschap. Het is een schijf, die blijft boeien, door de veel stemmigheid, en uitstekende vertolkingen van pure Chicago Blues en dus alle reden om dit album aan te schaffen.

Soul Bag (France) (April 4, 2019)

Un an à peine après son excellent “Don’t Let The Devil Ride”, l’harmoniciste est de retour avec “Do The Hip-Shake Baby!”, à venir le 3 mai sur Southwest Musical Arts Foundation. D’après son auteur, l’idée du disque, enregistré entre 2016 et 2018, est d’évoquer l’atmosphère d’un club de 1968 « avec ses gogo dancers » ! Comme toujours, le patron du Rhythm Room de Phoenix a fait appel à des amis pour l’accompagner, et cette fois-ci Alabama Mike, Sugaray Rayford, Oscar Wilson, Henry Gray, John Primer, Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry, Jimi “Primetime” Smith, Andy T, Anson Funderburgh, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Bob Stroger, Fred Kaplan, Bob Welsh, LA Jones, Adrianna Marie, Nathan James et quelques autres ont répondu à son invitation…

Blues 21 (April 12, 2019)

Bob Corritore, the friend that we all would like to have. Bob Corritore is among the great names of blues harmonica players in Chicago. With fourteen albums published by his own and dozens of collaborations in recording sessions for other mates, his prestige has grown him steadily becoming one of the most requested session-man in today’s blues scene. You only need to listen once his last album to have no doubt, if there was still, that Corritore is one of the best contemporary blues harmonists playing today around.

Blues ‘N’ Roots (Switzerland) (April 2019)

Die Szene im amerikanischen Südwesten trägt einen Namen: Bob Corritore. Viele Jahre schon lebt der aus Chicago stammende Tausendsassa in Phoenix, Ari- zona, führt seinen Music Club ”The Rhythm Room”, und agiert als Promoter, Produzent, Manager, Band- leader und Sideman. Wo er die Zeit noch hernimmt, seine Harmonica zu spielen und zu touren, wissen die Götter. Und ausserdem scheint Corritore auch ständig mit irgendwelchen Leuten im Studio zu stehen. Aus seinem immensen Archiv stammen die hier vorliegenden Aufnahmen, eingespielt zwischen 2016 und 2018 mit (nachgezählt!) 40 verschiede- nen Musikern, welche sich wie ein Who’s Who der Blueswelt lesen. Eine klingende Geschichte der Blueswelt stellt die Songauswahl dar. Selbstredend, dass diese Juwelen eines Jimmy Reed, Muddy Wa- ters, Slim Harpo, Hank Ballard oder Jimmy McCrack- lin mit Finesse, Routine und viel Engagement inter- pretiert werden. Corritores Harmonica fusst in der Chicago-Tradition, seine Begleitung wirkt unauf- dringlich, aber pointiert, und nimmt das Wesen von Song und Sänger auf, seine Soli tönen kraftvoll und melodiös.

– Marco Piazzalonga

Blues News (Finland) (April 2019)

Huuliharpisti ja bluesin monitoimimies Bob Corritore julkaisi alkuvuodesta neljännentoista albuminsa. Chicagossa syntynyt ja siellä 12-vuo-tiaana bluesinnostuksen saanut Corritore on aina ollut leimallisesti tuulisen kaupungin tyylisuunnan harpisti, vaikka on asunut jo pitkään Phoenixissa.Tällä julkaisulla kuullaan aiempaa monipuolisempaa musisointia. Ennen levylautaselle asettelua huomio kuinnittyy kansiteksteissä esiintyjäluetteioon. Yli 40 ystävää, joista jokainen on alan ehdotonta huippua, niin laulajat, kitaristit kuin muut instrumentalistit, Äänitykset on tehty vuosina 2016-2018, Suomalaisen Saana “Molly Moonstone” Koskisen käsialaa oleva ka nsi kuva kertoo, että nyt haetaan bluesbiletystunnelmaa, jossa pipo ei ole tiukalla.

Bob Corritore soittaa huuliharppua kaikilla levyn kolmellatoista kappaleella, mutta ei laula eikä ole säveltäjänä. Levyn avaa Slim Harpon Shake Your Hips, jossa esiintyy The Fremonts laulaja Mighty Joe Milsapin johdolla. Vahva veto hypnoottisella kompilla, jolla saadaan juhlatunnelma käyntiin. Toinenkin lainaus Harpolta kuullaan myöhemmin, I’m Gonna Keep What I’ve Got, niin ikään Fremontsin tähdittämänä.Tässä huomio kiinnittyy siihen, miten hyvin Corritore on sisäistänyt Harpon huuliharpputyylin. Varsinainen yllätys on Hank Ballardin sävellys The Twist, jonka lauluja piano-osuudet hoitaa yli 90-vuotias Henry Gray ilman että ikä tuntuu missään.

Eikä Chicago-blues ole tälläkään levyllä unohtunut. Paras esimerkki siitä on Muddy Waters -laina Love Deep As The Ocean, jossa hienoa kitarointia ja vokaaleja esittää John Primer. Trying To Make A Living on kappale, jossa kitaristia ei tarvitse luntata kansiteksteistä. JuniorWatson on sen verran tunnistettava länsirannikon tyylin edustaja ja nyt laulusta vastaa Sugaray Rayford. Päätöskappale on Rayfordin säveltämä ja laulama Keep The Lord On With You! Yli seitsemänminuuttinen esitys on vaikuttava mutta melko raskas blues, jossa Kid Ramos soittaa tyylikkäästi kitaraa.

Muita artisteja, joita ei äsken tullut mainittua, ovat mm. Alabama Mike, Oscar Wilson, Bill Perry, Jimi Smith, Anson Funderburgh, Bob Stroger, Fred Kaplan ja Brian Fahey. Kappalemaininnat edellä painottuivat bluesimpaan osastoon. Lisäksi tarjolla on näytteitä rhythm & bluesista, soulista, gospelista ja rock & rollista. Hienoja kappaleita ja muusikoita, mutta punaisena lankana on Bob Corritoren loistava harpputyöskentely. Hän osaa sovittaa soittonsa eri tyylisuuntiin ja vaikka on levyn pääesiintyjä, ei yritä ottaa itselleen sen suurempaa roolia kuin hyvälle harpistille kuuluu. Tämä on mainio levy, jota voi suositella niin keskittyneeseen kuunteluun kuin juhlatunnelmaan.

– Harri Haka

Making A Scene (May 1, 2019)

Bob Corritore is a Blues Music Award winner with a total of six nominations including one again this year as Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica. His last album was 2018’s “Don’t Let the Devil Ride”.

Corritore is also back with a brilliant follow-up, his fourteenth album, “Do The Hip-Shake Baby!” Although Corritore plays harmonica throughout the recording here he is cast in the role of producer; highlighting some amazing vocalists, guitarists, pianists and rhythm sections. This time Corritore’s friends number thirty-nine!

The party begins with “Shake Your Hips”, Slim Harpo’s 1966 Excello Records follow up single to “Baby Scratch My Back”. The musicians on the track are The Fremonts and they include Mighty Joe Milsap, vocals; Patrick Skog, guitar; Tony Tomlinson, bass; and Alan West, drums. The Fremonts are featured again on Harpo’s “I’m Gonna Keep What I’ve Got”.

The amazing Alabama Mike is vocalist on four tunes. Jimmy McCracklin’s “Gonna Tell Your Mother” first recorded in 1951; Asie Reed Payton’s “Worried Blues”; Little Junior Parker’s “Stand By Me” also from 1961, and “Few More Days” from Eddy Bell and The Bel-Aires. Some of the musicians on these tracks include guitarists L.A. Jones, Johnny Rapp, Andy T, and Anson Funderburgh; pianists Fred Kaplan and Larry Van Loon; bassists Adrianna Marie, Bob Stroger and Doug Swanson, and drummers Brian Fahey and Jim Klinger.

Henry Gray sings and plays piano on Hank Ballard’s “The Twist” popularized by Chubby Checker in 1960. John Primer is vocalist on Muddy Waters’ “Love, Deep As The Ocean” with Bob Welsh on piano. Oscar Wilson of The Cash Box Kings sings on Jimmy Reed’s “Bitter Seed”. Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry takes a turn on his own “You Better Slow Down”, while Jimi “Primetime” Smith is lead vocalist on “I Got The World In A Jug”.

Have you ever seen Sugaray Rayford shake his hips? He could knock someone off the stage! He sings on “Trying To Make A Living” featuring guitarist Junior Watson. Rayford sings again on the closer, his self-penned gospel tune, “Keep The Lord On With You”, with Kid Ramos on guitar.

Although recorded in different sessions between 2016 and 2018 Corritore’s production is meticulous. This soul blues dance party is a must to own.

– Richard Ludmerer

Elmore Magazine (May 1, 2019)

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Harmonica ace Bob Corritore knows how to throw a party. The owner of Phoenix’s renowned Rhythm Room and affable sideman, leader, and collaborator enlists the support of a staggering 39 artists on this effort. Yes, get your magnifier to read the liners. This is Corritore’s 14th career album and perhaps his best, based on the assembled talent and stellar mixing job by Kid Andersen. These are tracks culled from recording session from 2016 to 2018. Corritore calls it his “Harmonica go-go album” as it rightfully carries the vibe of a 1968 live music dance club or juke joint. From fun-loving blues romps to early R&B to early rock n’ roll with a few nods toward soul and gospel, you can practically picture the gyrating go-go-dancers moving to this charged-up music

These are all covers excepting Corritore’s “I Got the World in A Jug” with Slim Harpo’s title track and Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” being the most recognizable. Corritore is not a vocalist but can tap the best of them. Alabama Mike on four tracks, the most of any, and is backed by the Andy T Band with Anson Funderburgh on two. Sugaray Rayford has the honors on two including the stirring gospel finale “Keep the Lord with You.” Other notable vocal turns come from 94-year-old pianist Henry Gray doing Cubby Checker’s “The Twist,” John Primer on Muddy Waters’ “Love Deep as the Ocean” and Oscar Wilson on Jimmy Reed’s “Bitter Seed.”

Guitarist Junior Watson joins Rayford for “Trying to Make a Living” and Kid Ramos is aboard for the gospel closer. The other lesser known vocalists who shine are Mighty Joe Milsap from The Fremonts (two tunes), Bill Howl-N-Madd” Perry with a standout “You Better Slow Down” and Jimi “Primetime” Smith on Corritore’s witty original. There’s a banter and background vocals that help to build the party-like atmosphere. Throughout Corritore blows hard, in the company of these blues veterans playing loosely, old school style. There’s no groundbreaking here but these players do dig deep. Keep this one on hand for that first barbecue and tell your guests to bring their dancing shoes.

— Jim Hynes

Sound Guardian (Hungary) (May 3, 2019)

Upravo danas, 3. svibnja, poznata izdavačka kuća VizzTone Label Group objavila je “Do The Hip-Shake Baby!”, kojeg potpisuje harpist Bob Corritore i Friends. Ovako udruženi snimili su ovaj album s izuzetno dojmljivim sadržajem, koji bi morao biti dio svake ozbiljnije blues kolekcije.

I ovaj put, naravno, promociju mogu zahvaliti Richardu Rosenblattu, koji se doista trudi kako bi “Blues Corner”, ali i radijska emisija “Blues 4U” imali ovakve ekskluzivne promocije i prezentacije. Doista mi je drago što se ova promotivna priča ovako sjajno i progresivno nastavlja.

Nema sumnje, dragi moji, pred nama je apsolutno “tvrdi” i nadasve briljantni album tradicionalnog i west coast bluesa izuzetnih glazbenih gostiju i prijatelja, te osebujnog, duboko tradicionalistički određenog svirača usne harmonike, naprosto briljantnog Boba Corritorea. Uzajamno uvažavanje i poštovanje duboko je odredilo ovaj njihov status i odnos. Razlog je čisto ljudski, pristojnost i poštovanje, koje je apsolutno zdrava podloga za svaku suradnju; ako toga nema, ako to nije prisutno, onda zapravo sve pada u vodu i nema nikakvog smisla.

Bobu Corritoreu (usna harmonika) pridružila se ovakva ekipa: apsolutno nevjerojatni 94-godišnji Henry Gray, Larry Van Loon (klavir), Bob Welsh i Fred Kaplan (klavijature), Brian Fahey i Marty Dodson (bubnjevi), Bob Stroger (bas), gitaristi Johnny Rapp, John “Primetime” Smith, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Andy T Band feat. Anson Funderburgh, te Johnny Main, LA Jones, Adrianna Marie, Nathan James, sjajni pjevači “Mighty Joe Milsap” (The Fremonts) i Sugaray Rayford a tu su i drugi glazbenici.

Ma da, ova i ovakva ekipa garancija su ne dobrog, već izvrsnog blues partyja! Pred nama je album od kojeg će nam krv brže kolati, od kojeg će nam nutrinu bića grijati neka posebna toplina a kostima strujiti ona poznata hladnoća koja zapravo izaziva sveopću ugodu. Blues znalci jako dobro znaju o čemu pišem, jer upravo to nam se često događa. Ovakve reakcije ne može izazvati nešto što nije dobro, što nema “ono nešto”. Duboko u sebi nosim te neke znakovite vibracije, osjećaj da bi tako trebao zvučati pravi blues album.

Kao i mnogi prije njega, Bob je dosta dugo čekao na svoju afirmaciju, a sada, nakon što već gotovo puno desetljeće važi za itekako uvažavanog glazbenika, ta je afirmacija samo došla kao potvrda kvalitete i nadahnuća ovog odličnog glazbenika.

Ova “frendovska” ekipa već je sama po sebi dovoljno označila sve što treba. “Friends” su zapravo siva eminencija američke blues scene. Njima nasuprot stoji “mladi” Bob Corritore, koji je najprije samo slušao, a onda je krenuo u taj beskrajni plavičasti svijet u kojem danas ima itekako značajnu ulogu.

Bob nije samo svirač “usnjaka”, Bob ima svoj klub, on je radio DJ i glazbeni producent. No, ako sve stavimo na stranu, ostaje njegova svirka “usnjaka”. Taj njegov prezentacijski stil u sebi snažno objedinjuje jedinstvene glazbene bravure Little Waltera, Juniora Wellsa i Jamesa Cottona. Naravno, velika stvar samog Boba je upravo taj njegov, vlastiti i originalni stil sviranja “usnjaka”. Svakako da je baš time Corritore stekao globalnu afirmaciju. To je doista veliki uspjeh, kojeg se treba respektirati i odati mu veliko priznanje.

S druge pak strane, ovakav sudar ili sraz generacija glazbenika nevjerojatno oslikava svu veličinu, snagu i raskoš prezentacijske forme samih glazbenika, ali i ovog zaista, jedinstvenog albuma.

“Do The Hip-Shake Baby!” svojim sadržajem donosi nam istinski tsunami tradicionalnog bluesa, koji najprije samo nadire i to čini polako i postupno a onda, kada postane visok preko 30 metara, samo vas poklopi i priča je završena! Ovih 13 pjesama će vas pomesti svojom ekspresijom. Album je to što se sluša u cijelosti i tih gotovo 50 minuta proći će k’o tren.

PREPORUKA:
Svakodnevno se u mojim rukama nađe dosta albuma, ali samo neki zasjednu na ono posebno mjesto u mom biću. E upravo tu se smjestio “Do The Hip-Shake Baby!” izuzetnih Boba Corritorea & Friends.

Na kraju, Richard Rosenblatt o svemu kaže: “This is a carefully assembled collection of fun loving blues, rhythm and blues, early rock ‘n’ roll, soul and gospel rock songs. Imagine a live-music dance-club in 1968 complete with go-go dancers! Bob refers to this as his Harmonica-a-go-go album! Mixed at Greaseland Studios by Kid Andersen, this the 14th album of Corritore’s illustrious career, and his best yet!”

– Mladen Loncar

BluesMagazine.nl (Netherlands) (May 3, 2019)

Je mag jezelf best wel gelukkig rekenen als je je kan omringen met een grote groep muzikale vrienden. En zanger en mondharmonicaspeler Bob Corritone moet dan een zeer gelukkig mens zijn want opnieuw brengt hij, na het album ‘Don’t Let The Devil Ride‘, een album uit onder de noemer Bob Corritone & Friends.
En zijn vriendenkring is op dit album zeer groot. Ik zal ze eens opnoemen: de band The Fremonts met zanger Mighty Joe Milsap, blueszanger Alabama Mike, gitarist L.A. Jones, zanger-pianist Henry Gray, zanger-gitarist Bill Perry, The Andy T. Band met gastgitarist Anson Funderburgh, gitarist John Primer, gitarist Junior Watson, zanger Sugaray Rayford, zanger John “Primetime” Smith, gitarist Kid Ramos, gitarist Johnny Main van The 44s, bassist Bob Stroger, pianist Fred Kaplan, bassist Bob Welsh en gitarist Nathan Jones.

Met zo’n uitgebreide vriendengroep kan het niet anders dan dat dit album één groot bluesfeest is. En Bob Corritone levert in elk nummer op dit album een indrukwekkende harmonica bijdrage, die van hard brullend en loeiend tot ingetogen, hartverscheurende switcht.

Er wordt geopend met het Slim Harpo nummer Shake Your Hips, dat gezongen wordt door Mighty Joe Milsap. Het nummer heeft hier een zeer broeierige en deinende bonkende uitvoering gekregen met Bob’s scheurende en loeiende harmonica in de hoofdrol. Gonna Tell Your Mother is een uitbundig swingende cover van het Jimmy McCracklin nummer, dit keer gezongen door Alabama Mike en met gitarist L.A. Jones. Een heerlijk jumpblues nummer waarin de harmonica vrolijk pompt en het jazzy gitaarspel van L.A. Jones positief opvalt.

Jimmy Reed’s Bitter Seed pompt loom en heeft de rauwe, diepe zang van Oscar Wilson naast de luid huilende en kermende harmonica van Bob. Hank Ballard’s The Twist is in een heerlijk intiem swingende versie te horen mey zanger-pianist Henry Gray in topvorm, aangespoord door de hard kermende harmonica van Bob.
You Better Slow Down is een nummer van Bill “Howl’n Madd” Perry. Een zeer lui en rauw nummer in de stijl van “Little Red Rooster”. De soulstrot van Alabama Mike past perfect in de pompende soulvolle shuffle Worried Blues. John Primer is te horen in het Muddy Waters nummer Love Deep As The Ocean. Een ´basic” bluesnummer dat rauw en fel klinkt met snijdende gitaarwerk en de bronstige harmonica van Bob.

Daarna volgt de luchtige shuffle Trying To Make A Living met gitarist Junior Watson en de krachtige soulvolle stem van Sugaray Rayford. Stand By Me is een pure soulballad met zanger Alabama Mike en the Andy T. Band met gastgitarist Anson Funderburgh. Bob’s harmonica fungeert hier als de blazerssectie. Slim Harpo’s I’m Gonna Keep What is in een fel rockende uitvoering te horen met de doorleefde zang van Mighty Joe Milsap.

I Got The World In A Jug is een boogie van Canned Heat en klinkt hier loom en lui met zang van John “Primetime” Smith. In Few More Days gaan Bob en zijn vrienden op de soulvolle doowop toer met Alabama Mike als hoofdzanger.

Het rauwe en traag funkende Keep The Lord On With You met vlammend gitaarwerk van Kid Ramos en intense zang van Sugaray Rayford sluit dit album af.
Bob Corritore en zijn vrienden hebben wederom een zeer geslaagd en indrukwekkend bluesalbum afgeleverd! Van mij mogen ze elk jaar een reünie houden en daar dan een album van uitbrengen!

-Peter Marinus

Don And Sheryl’s Blues Blog (May 7, 2019)

Harmonica master Bob Corritore’s follow-up to his 2018 release, “Don’t Let The Devil Ride,” is here, courtesy of the fine folks at Vizztone Records. Yep—Bob has compiled cuts from eight different sessions from 2016 to 2018, and “Do The Hip-Shake Baby!” is a cool mix of jump, blues, and even gospel that Bob lovingly refers to as his “Harmonica A- Go-Go” album! The thing that makes this whole collection so much fun is the mix of band members and different vocalists, that include Oscar Wilson, Sugaray Rayford, Alabama Mike, Mighty Joe Milsap, Bill “Howl’N” Madd” Perry, and Primetime Smith.

The festivities kick off with the title cut, and Mighty Joe Milsap and the Fremonts layin’ down that Excello-riffic groove over Bob’s good-n-greasy harp. They come back later for the Sixties-inspired soul-blues of “I’m Gonna Keep What I’ve Got.” Alabama Mike busts out one of our favorites, with the jumpin’ “Gonna Tell Your Mother,” with that too-cool-for-school call-and-response chorus. Oscar Wilson is on vocal on the loping, Jimmy Reed-ish groove of “Bitter Seed,” while Alabama Mike returns, this time with Fred Kaplan on piano for another one of our favorites, the down-home, Sam Cooke-styled “Worried Blues.” John Primer gets deep into Muddy mode for the Delta-licious “Love Deep As The Ocean,” and the set closes with another favorite. Sugaray takes us to Blues Church, testifyin’ over the haunting vibe of “Keep The Lord On With You,” featuring Bob’s harp, along with guitars from Kid Ramos and Johnny Main keeping the hellhounds off everybody’s tail!

Bob Corritore remains one of the premier blues harp players on the planet, as well as one of the most personable guys you’d ever want to meet. He’s no slouch as a photographer, either—it was Bob that took the photo of Don Crow with Jimmie Lee Vaughan eleven years ago at the 2008 Blues Music Awards in Tunica, MS. that serves as Don’s Facebook page cover photo! Enjoy some great blues and “Do The Hip Shake, Baby!” Until next time, Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.

ABS Magazine (France) (May 2019)

Faut-il le répéter ? Bob Corritore est certainement l’un des musiciens de la planète Blues les plus fédérateurs. Le bonhomme affiche certes un talent inouï à l’harmonica qui frappe dès le premier morceau de ce nouveau CD, Shake Your Hips, dont l’atmosphère poisseuse colle littéralement à la peau. Bob, c’est aussi et avant tout une très belle personne, d’une gentillesse et d’une ouverture d’esprit incroyables, qui feraient presque oublier à quel point son œuvre est importante : producteur, dee-jay, patron de club et 14 albums déjà à son actif… sans compter toutes les collaborations sur scène ou sur disque. Aussi n’est-il pas étonnant qu’autant de musiciens de talent soient prêts à répondre présent à chaque nouveau projet. Avec Bob Corritore, on est certain que l’enregistrement aboutira à un « vrai » disque de Blues, avec le son et l’esprit. C’est encore le cas ici : Alabama Mike, Sugaray Rayford, Oscar Wilson, Henry Gray, John Primer, Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry, Jimi “ Primetime” Smith, The Fremonts, Anson Funderburgh, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Main, Bob Stroger, Fred Kaplan, Bob Welsh, LA Jones, Adriana Marie, Nathan James sont de l’aventure. Cela donne en 13 titres sans aucun moment faible un excellent album de Blues mixé aux Greasland Studios par Kid Andersen.

– Marcel Bénédit

Medium (May 15, 2019)

Haiku of contrition:
Yummy blues burger.
Corritore does blues right.
Nothing too fancy.

The deal. Blues rock is a like a hamburger. It shouldn’t bee too clever, too fancy, or overdone. The goal of both should be to spotlight what’s inside, whether it’s pickles, beef, or songs. Which is why I love Bob Corritore. He’s a master of blues simplicity, covering it in a cool, smart way. Corritore isn’t pouring his heart out, or looking to unearth an emotional truth. Instead, he’s just creating fun-but-honest music.

Do the Hip-Shake Baby is a compilation of songs recorded between 2016 and 2018, with a rotating cast of singers and backing musicians. It follows the same pattern of last year’s Don’t Let the Devil Drive, which I loved. What’s great about both albums is that Corritore is really just a facilitator. His harmonica appears on every track, and he’s fantastic. He’s got a huge tone and a wonderful sense of song. But he’s not the lead singer. While his harmonica work is prominent, it’s often not even the focal point of the track. He’s the glue that keeps every song, and the album, together, though. The cohesiveness is especially since the tracks were recorded over two years.. But the album feels like a single live show.

At the same time, with different singers on every song (eight singers across 13 tracks), the album has the feel of a mix tape. There’s a common thread of authentic blues and just about all of the tracks have a certain element of dance. “The Twist” here is much slower than Chubby Checker’s iconic version, but it still swings and sways, getting the titular hips titularly shaking. “I’m Going to Keep What I’ve Got,” a Slim Harpo tune, holds onto Harpo’s sick riff, which sounds, impossibly, almost like a string section. Mighty Joe Milsap’s vocals sound larger than life and Corritore’s harmonica weaves through the song, sewing everything together. But the groove is the real star.

Straight talk. Corritore isn’t breaking any new ground here, which is fine. The blues is limited, which is what makes it a perfect art form. If you push it too far, it becomes something else, like metal or rock. Corritore doesn’t push. He just makes sure everything is as it should be. He’s like a classic portrait artist capturing a subject with the precision of a photograph. Corritore similarly channels the blues and gets its unmodified essence down on tape.

The confession. I just missed this. I probably could have pushed to see if anyone was interested but I’ve been a little busy with a non-music article which sort of put me in a different head space. But I also enjoyed the album so much, I sort of wanted to save it for Heard Lately.

Closing arguments. The reality is, except for the song selection, this isn’t all that different from Don’t Let the Devil Drive (both even feature many of the same singers and musicians). But that was an amazing album, as is this one. It’s more of the same, but the same here is so much better than so much of what’s released each year. I never heard of Corritore before last year. I’ve come to learn he’s a Phoenix blues legend. He has a national profile but I’m not sure why he’s not a more familiar name. I think the big issue is that he blends in too well. He’s not showing off and he’s not making the songs about himself. It makes for great albums but less great publicity. I’m glad he’s chosen to prioritize the former.

– Steven Ovadia

Bman’s Blues Report (May 16, 2019)

Just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Do The Hip-Shake Baby!, from Bob Corritore & Friends and I really like it. Corritore usually sticks pretty close to traditional Chicago style blues but not on this one. He’s mixing it up but the mix is great. Opening with Shake Your Hips, Mighty Joe Milsap is upfront on vocals and they are rich and powerful. With Alan West on drums and percussion this track has a swampy rhythmic feel and Corritore’s harp work is used like a sharp knife carving in essential riffs. Very nice. Alabama Mike leads on Gonna Tell Your Mother, a classic R&B track with Johnny Rapp and LA Jones on guitar, Adrianna Marie on bass, Fred Kaplan on keys and Brian Fahey on drums. With sassy backing vocals and a slick guitar solo, this track is swinging. Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry gets down, slow and gritty on You Better Slow Down. Corritore has his harp singing on this one over the classic guitar riffs of Perry and Rapp. Very nice. Up tempo shuffle, Trying To Make A Living features Sugaray Rayford upfront with Junior Watson on flat laid out guitar and Kedar Roy on bass. Corritore tees up another super solo giving this track that extra spark. Jimi “Primetime” Smith sings I Got The World In A Jug in simple Chicago styling. Corritore stretches a bit on this one but as always, contains not dominating the show. Wrapping the release is Rayford again upfront on Keep The Lord On With You! This song is rich in vocal and meaning with excellent vocal, harp and with the excellent addition of Kid Ramos on guitar joined by Marty Dodson on drums and Blake Watson on drums. This is an excellent closer for a very strong release.

Paris Move (France) (May 20, 2019)

Quand on s’appelle Bob CORRITORE, on peut aisément transposer au blues business les principes de la Camorra. On dispose en effet d’un tel réseau d’amis et d’obligés qu’il suffit de décrocher son téléphone pour réunir en studio la cream of the crop de la diaspora blues contemporaine. Depuis le vétéran des 88 touches Henry Gray jusqu’à Kid Ramos, en passant par des piétons tels qu’Anson Funderburgh, Kid Andersen, Sugaray Rayford, Junior Watson, Bob Stroger, Nathan James, Fred Kaplan, June Core, Marty Dodson, Bob Welsh, Oscar Wilson ou John Primer, vous l’excuserez du peu. À la tête de son propre club (le Rhythm Room de Phoenix, Arizona), l’harmoniciste cumule pas moins de 14 albums en tant que leader, mais figure en invité sur 70 autres, et en a produit une vingtaine de plus… La mode est certes aux albums chorals, mais chez ce bon Bob, il s’agit quasiment d’un inventaire. Depuis la bienvenue relecture mambo-swamp du fameux “Shake your Hips” de Slim Harpo jusqu’à ce “Trying To Make A Living” échevelé qu’incendient de concert la guitare du grand Junior Watson, les vocals exaltés de Sugaray Rayford et l’harmo du patron, les 13 titres qui composent cette collection délivrent le meilleur diagnostic possible de l’état du blues en 2019. It’s pretty alive and well indeed, comme en témoignent la faconde et le plaisir manifeste des protagonistes convoqués. Dans une veine plus Howlin’ Wolf que nature, “Keep On The Lord With You” conjure ainsi les outrages du temps, pour célébrer le caractère éternel du voodoo avec un Junior Watson impérial. Aussi contagieux que communicatif, le blues à la CORRITORE s’autorise ici quelques incursions vers le twist (“The Twist” de Hank Ballard ou “Few More Days” d’Eddy Bell), histoire de bien souligner le message: have a party!

– Patrick Dallongeville

Downbeat (May 24, 2019)

Four Stars

The 14th entry in Corritore’s discography finds him in the company of 40 friends from around the country at eight sessions held during the past three years. Funneling a deep sense of blues harmonica history into his music, while getting the right mix of bravura and steadiness, is second nature to this Arizonian. Whether in party-hearty or downhearted moods, Corritore and various groupings of friends knock the dust off well-selected old r&b and blues numbers, like Jimmy Reed’s “Bitter Seed” and Hank Ballard’s “The Twist.” Not pretending to be a singer, Corritore counts on legit vocal practitioners Alabama Mike, Mighty Joe Milsap and, among others, Sugaray Rayford. The latter unleashes a ferocity worthy of Howlin’ Wolf on “Keep The Lord On With You,” a profane Rayford “prayer.”

– Frank John Hadley

Reflections In Blue (May 2019)

This album is a truly retro dance party in the making. Blues, R&B, early rock & roll, soul and rockin’ gospel blend beautifully on this collection of tunes culled from recordings made between 2016 and 2018. This piece is smokin’; due, in no small part to the incredible list of friends joining Bob on those sessions. That list includes Sugaray Rayford, Henry Gray, John Primer, Bob Stroger, Junior Watson, Andy T Band (with Anson Funderburgh), Alabama Mike, and many others. The album offers a good mix of upbeat numbers and slow burnin’ belly rubbers. Corritore has built a reputation for playing well with others…a fact that is clearly heard here. I applaud those performers on the album for their efforts to keep it old-school…even though some tunes were updated for a more modern crowd. Any time I see Slim Harpo, Hank Ballard, Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed covered on the same album; I get excited. The fact that they covered “Got The World In A Jug (And The Stopper in My Hand)” is an unexpected bonus…and a real treat. This tune goes back to the early 1920s. For those who like their blues straight-up with no chaser, this album will be a delight. Care has been taken, as I stated earlier, to make it more palatable to a more contemporary audience. This one should be enjoyed by all. The older audience will appreciate the historical aspects…and it is a ton of fun. Bob Corritore is a true master of the harmonica, and one hell of a bandleader. – Bill Wilson

The Rock Doctor (May 2019)

Three and a half stars

What does a good time sound like? This. Hip-Shake is the spirited follow up to last year’s acclaimed Don’t Let The Devil Ride and holy cow can Bob blow some harp!

Do The Hip-Shake Baby! is 13 songs culled from recording sessions between 2016 and 2018 that feature an array of amazing guests too lengthy to repeat here, talented guitarists, piano players and in-the-pocket rhythm sections that give Corritore’s hot harmonica room to grind and play. It’s blues, R&B, soul and gospel/rock that entertains and soothes. Recorded at Kid Andersen’s increasingly famous Greaseland Studios, Bob’s 14th album will leave you wishing you were more familiar with his other records.

When I first put this on I was farting around with the music room- probably tidying up- but before long I forgot what I was doing and just listened. Hip Shake recalls an earlier time in rock & roll when lines between genres were blurrier and bluer than they are now. The spirit recalls those early Stray Cats records, that fun vibe of guys picking up their instruments and playing because it felt good. There’s some cool jump blues here like Shake Your Hips, plus some excellent slow n sleazy grooves like You Better Slow Down. Production is robust, so you can really feels these guys when they play.

Do The Hip-Shake Baby is old school yet not trying to replicate a 50’s or 60’s listening experience. Fresh, vital and deep… this is a keeper.

KEY CUTS: Shake Your Hips, You Better Slow Down, I’m Gonna Keep What I’ve Got

– John Kereiff

La Hora Del Blues (June 2019)

Con este álbum Bob Corritore nos transmite y sumerge en el ambiente de aquellos clubs de finales de los años sesenta donde el blues, el rhythm and blues, el rock and roll mas visceral, caliente y carismático de cincuenta o el ‘swamp rock gospel’ cautivaban a las audiencias de adolescentes de aquellos años. Las trece canciones que dan forma a este disco están extraídas de los archivos particulares de Bob Corritore, pertenecientes todas ellas a diversas sesiones que entre los años 2016 al 2018 Bob ha ido realizando regularmente. Junto a la siempre eficiente armónica de Corritore se encuentran artistas de la talla de Alabama Mike, Sugaray Rayford, Oscar Wilson, Henry Gray, John Primer, Bill Perry, Jimi “Primetime” Smith, The Freemonts o la Andy T. Band con artistas en sus filas como Anson Funderburgh, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Main, Bob Stroger, Fred Kaplan, Bob Welsh o Nathan James entro muchos otros. El álbum ha sido mezclado por Kid Andersen en sus estudios Greaseland de Memphis. Estamos ante un disco lleno de autentico, palpitante, desnudo, corrosivo, genuino y, en ocasiones, ‘low down dirty blues’ a cargo de verdaderos maestros de género, de aquellos en los que uno no puede salir indemne y queda totalmente atrapado. Para quien busque blues en mayúsculas, sin duda este es uno de esos discos imprescindibles. BUENiSIMO. With this album Bob Corritore drives us to the atmosphere of those late sixties dancing clubs, where blues, rhythm and blues, passionate hot, charismatic fifties rock and roll, soul or swamp gospel rock captivated most teenagers of that time. The thirteen songs that give shape to this album come from Bob Corritore’s particular files and belong to different sessions which from 2016 to 2018 Bob regularly did. Together with the always efficient Bob’s harmonica playing you will find such great artists like Alabama Mike, Sugaray Rayford, Oscar Wilson, Henry Gray, John Primer, Bill Perry, Jimi “Primetime” Smith, The Freemonts or The Andy T. Band featuring musicians like Anson Funderburgh, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Main, Bob Stroger, Fred Kaplan, Bob Welsh or Nathan James among others. The album has been mixed by Kid Andersen in his Greaseland studios in Memphis. We are facing a genuine, burning, raw, intense album that sometimes features low down dirty blues, performed by true masters, one of those recordings one cannot get out alive that certainly will catch listeners. For those who look for blues in capital letters, definitely this is one of those albums not to be missed. ESSENTIAL.

Living Blues Magazine (June 2019)

Bob Corritore hardly needs an introduction in the pages of this magazine. Over the last three decades, the Chicago native’s many musical endeavors–from opening the Rhythm Room club to hosting a long running weekly blues radio show on station KJZZ–has helped transform Phoenix, Arizona into an unlikely blues oasis, and the Grammy-nominated producer and harmonica player has appeared on over 100 recordings since the late 1970s.

His latest project is a follow up to last year’s Don’t Let The Devil Ride. Based on the same concept, Do The Hip-Shake Baby! tosses Corritore in the mix of a rotating stable of guest artists. The number of performers that appear on the baker’s dozen tracks (all recorded between 2016 and 2018) is as long as Corritore’s discography, and includes notable names like Sugaray Rayford, Henry Gray, John Primer, Junior Watson, Bob Stroger, Fred Kaplan and June Core.

Many of the songs lock into that post-war electric blues vein that Corritore excels at, particularly “I Got The World In A Jug, You Better Slow Down,” “Love Deep As An Ocean” (with Primer on vocals and guitar), and “Trying To Make A Living.” Corritore shows off his first position chops behind Oscar Wilson’s vocals on the Jimmy Reed number “Bitter Seed,” and pianist Henry Gray continues to belie his 90-plus years with an energetic, dance-worthy take on the Hank Ballard classic, “The Twist.” Rayford returns to the helm as the album closes with a head-turning, gritty blues gospel original, “Keep The Lord With You!”

Although Corritore is cast in a supporting role more often than not here, Do The Hip-Shake Baby! clearly demonstrates why many consider him to be one of the top harmonica players on the scene today.

– Roger Gatchet

Blues & Rhythm (UK) (June 2019)

A lifelong fan of the blues, Chicago native Bob Corritore has added his swoopingly soulful harmonica to a substantial number of recordings, both as a solo performer and with a vast array of other like-minded musicians over the past three decades. He is also a big-eared producer (Louisiana Red, Kim Wilson and Robert Lockwood Jr. among others) as well as the owner of his own concert club, the Rhythm Room, a Phoenix, Arizona institution.

His latest project, ‘Do The Hip-Shake Baby!’, is a similar ‘and friends’ follow-up to his acclaimed 2018 release ‘Don’t Let The Devil Ride’ (also on the Southwest Musical Arts Foundation label) and, likewise, just as craftily assembled. Thirteen titles move from jumping and jiving blues, gospel-rock and soul to rhythm & blues, swamp blues and early rock’n’roll and feature a lengthy collection of special guests – from Alabama Mike (who takes the vocal on four songs) and pianist Henry Gray (who channels Hank Ballard on a rhumba-fied recall of ‘The Twist’) to guitarist John Primer (with a spot-on, elemental re-working of Muddy’s classic ‘Love Deep As The Ocean’) and Oscar Wilson – who, along with Corritore’s harmonica (that reminds me a lot of Canned Heat’s Alan ‘Blind Owl’ Wilson) and guitarist Andy T’s guest-embellished band really shines on a great recall of Jimmy Reed’s ‘Bitter Seed’.

The fore-mentioned Alabama Mike is particularly compelling on both a wrenching recall of the traditional ‘Worried Blues’ and a live-wire redo of Jimmy McCracklin’s advisory ‘Gonna Tell Your Mother’. The Andy T Band, with Andy on guitar and the likes of Anson Funderburgh, Kid Ramos, Junior Watson, The Fremonts, Bob Stroger, June Core and Fred Kaplan among others, are, variously, along for a ride that’s the embodiment of that vintage West Coast sound.

Further notable tracks feature both Kid Ramos, on an eight-minute hypnotic testimonial ‘Keep The Lord On With You’, – composed and sung by yet another ‘friend’ Sugaray Rayford – along with resolute covers of a couple of Slim Harpo numbers with Corritore at his insinuatingly sharpest. Corritore refers to this as his ‘Harmonica-a-go-go’ album, imagining a live-music dance club in 1968 complete with hip-gyrating go-go dancers, lots of cigarette smoke and a light show. Mixed at Greaseland Studios by Kid Andersen.

– Gary von Tersch

Blues Bytes (June 2019)

Phoenix blues impresario / harmonica player Bob Corritore has a sterling reputation for taking steady parade of outstanding blues singers and players into the studio when they are in town to play at his Rhythm Room club, resulting in many years of excellent blues compilations. Last June I declared his Don’t Let The Devil Ride! album as perhaps his best collection to date. I will now retract that statement because Corritore’s newest album, Do The Hip-Shake Baby! (VizzTone Records), is even better and has already cemented a spot on my 2019 Top Ten list.

The 13 cuts on Do The Hip-Shake Baby! were cut in various sessions from 2016 through 2018, containing a veritable who’s who of blues stars and session players as well as Corritore’s own harp playing. Every song here is wonderful, especially if your preferred style of music is back alley Chicago blues or downhome blues. There’s even a touch of soul found throughout the disc.

The disc kicks off with Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips,” opening with some tribal drumming and harmonica before Mighty Joe Milsap of The Fremonts jumps in with echo-laden vocals. This version is very different from the original, but I’m sure that Slim Harpo would like it. Alabama Mike takes the lead vocals, with Willie Buck singing behind him, on the up-tempo shuffle “Gonna Tell Your Mother,” with guitar solos from L.A. Jones. Veteran blues crooner Oscar Wilson steps up to the mic for a lesser-known Jimmy Reed song, “Bitter Seed,” with nice piano work from Fred Kaplan. Corritore just plan nails the Jimmy Reed harp sound, making his riffs the highlight of this number.

Cut number four is reason enough to buy this CD, with 90-something piano player Henry Gray doing “The Twist.” That’s right, you read that correctly — “The Twist,” done originally by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters and then made famous by Chubby Checker. No other explanation needed other than a whole bunch of exclamation points. Bill “Howl-N-Mad” Perry takes us into a Mississippi jook joint with the slow country blues “You Better Slow Down.” Alabama Mike returns for a unique version of the blues standard “Worried Life Blues,” a mid-tempo shuffle with a taste of Sam Cooke in his vocals while Corritore contributes Louisiana-style harp and Jimi “Primetime” Smith lays down a killer guitar solo.

As good as the album has been to this point, it just gets better when John Primer comes in with a Muddly Waters cover, “Love Deep As The Ocean.” Primer puts a lot of power into his vocals as well as playing such a strong guitar solo that I’m sure Muddy would be grinning from ear to ear. Bob Welsh’s piano playing is also a highlight of this cut. Sugaray Rayford and guitarist Junior Watson team up on the up-tempo shuffle “Trying To Make A Living,” with Rayford’s vocals booming through the sound system. We get more outstanding soulful vocals from Alabama Mike on Little Junior Parker’s slow soul ballad, “Stand By Me.” Corritore comes in with tastefully effective harmonica playing partway through the tune.

Milsap must really like Slim Harpo’s music since his other contribution to the album is a fine cover of “I’m Gonna Keep What I’ve Got,” leading into Jimi “Primetime” Smith’s tasteful vocals on the up-tempo blues “I Got The World In A Jug.” I’ve been listening to Corritore play harmonica for nearly 30 years, but quite frankly I’ve never heard him play to the level of his work on this song. The man sounds like he’s possessed! Alabama Mike shifts gears completely with the rockabilly-ish “Few More Days,” on which he’s backed by a background chorus of some of the Phoenix area’s best soul singers: Jerry Lawson (formerly of The Persuasions), Michael Reed, Stan Devereaux and Phil Hendricks. A brilliant move in assembling this group of veteran vocalists.

Closing the disc is a slow-moving, heavy blues, “Keep The Lord On With You,” featuring raspy Howlin’ Wolf-style vocals by Sugaray Rayford. This song is so intense that it should come with a parental advisory warning. Or maybe not advised for those with heart conditions. Regardless, it’s an excellent ending to one of the best albums of the year.

If you have any interest at all in the blues, which I assume you do since you’re reading this review, then you will absolutely want to add Do The Hip-Shake Baby! to your shopping list right away. You may be tempted to just get the digital version, but I recommend you order the physical CD so that you have all of the liner notes and session information. Do it now.

– Bill Mitchell

The Alternate Root (June 6, 2019)

Having lots of friends has certainly helped Bob Corritore put together his recent release, Do the Hip Shake, Baby. Musical backing from the Andy T Band features players such as Anson Funderburgh, Junior Watson, and Kid Ramos while Bob Corritore installs a revolving cast for microphones duties. Do the Hip Shake, Babyclaims a diverse line-up though the assembled players look to their own ‘friend’, Bob Corritore, to pull it all together with his harmonica. Bob shows the way it is done on Do the Hip Shake, Babybecoming the glue that holds the rock’n’roll romp of “Few More Days” (featuring Alabama Mike) with harmonica blasts and the Blue cry accenting “You Better Slow Down” (featuring Bill ‘Howl-N-Madd’ Perry). Sugaray Rayford lists the things he is losing along with Kid Ramos in “Trying to Make a Living” while the band sways on the salvational pull of “Stand by Me” while Bob Corritore and Friends make it safe to dance in Do the Hip Shake, Babywhen Henry Gray shouts out the steps for “The Twist” and Mighty Joe Milsap opens the album on a percussive rattle with “Shake Your Hips”.

Blues Matters (UK) (June/July 2019)

This is the fourteenth album from top US Harp player Bob Corritore and is comprised of 13 tracks all studio recorded between 2016 and 2018. A quick check of the sleeve notes and there are more than 35 guest artists and other musicians throwing their contribution into the mix. The notes say that you should regard this as a live music dance club (with Go Go dancers!) You get Blues, R’n’B, Rock’n’Roll and a snatch of country. Once again it is one of those albums that will have you changing your mind as to which is your favourite song with tracks ranging from Gonna Tell Your Mother (2.42 mins) to the more than seven-minute version of Keep The Lord On With You. There is almost certainly something for everyone here, I just wish that I had so many friends to call on!

– Dave Stone

Chicago Blues Guide (July 2019)

Harmonica ace Bob Corritore is at it again! Hot on the heels of his highly-acclaimed 2018 release, Don’t Let the Devil Ride, he’s back with an equally compelling CD featuring the finest singers, guitar slingers, keyboard tinglers, and legendary musicians in the business.

This should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed Corritore’s long-running musical career and the many accolades he’s received. Although Corritore now calls the desert Southwest home, he’s a Chicago boy who came up during the golden age of Windy City harp players.

On Do the Hip-Shake Baby! Corritore perfectly captures the Chicago vibe during this time frame. It’s easy to picture him strutting out in a sharkskin suit and blasting some of the R & B flavored blues, soul and rock & roll that were so prevalent in the late sixties. But, the beauty of this CD is the fact is that it shifts, shakes and changes shapes on every single track. It is Corritore’s masterful, versatile harmonica that ties all the music together.

Do the Hip- Shake Baby! is the 14th album of Corritore’s illustrious career and it’s a fun romp down his musical memory lane. Corritore is right on the money when he calls this his “Harmonica-a-Go-Go” album. From start to finish it makes you want to break out those white dancing boots or pointy-toed shoes to cut a rug with Corritore and company.

The CD kicks off with a conga beat and Mighty Joe Milsap belting out vocals on “Shake Your Hips.” This earthy number showcases Corritore’s swamp-like, driving harp and Milsap’s mighty vocals. “Shake Your Hips” is further enhanced with a star turn by Milsap’s regular band, the Fremonts. Billing themselves as purveyors of “Gulf Coast R & B” and vintage-Americana, the CD’s retro vibe gets rocking and rolling with these cool cats who “put the song before the solo.”

One of Corritore’s favorite collaborators, Alabama Mike, returns on the second track, “Gonna Tell Your Mother.” This rollicking number has a shuffling ‘50s style beat and delicious doo-wop type backup vocals by Jimi “Primetime” Smith and Chicago’s very own Willie Buck. After his smoldering swamp-flavored turn on the first track, Corritore effortlessly segues into rocking, bopping harp player on “Gonna Tell Your Mother.” He comes out with some sizzling solos, which conjure up images of a hyper-active harpist cavorting around the stage in front of a slew of swooning bobbysoxers.

They take it down to a slow and satisfying Jimmy Reed groove on a cover of his “Bitter Seed,” which features the indomitable Bob Stroger on bass. Making this track even sweeter is the fact that Chicago-based blues vocalist, Oscar Wilson takes the lead on “Bitter Seed.” The Cashbox King is right on the money and more than up to the task of handling Mr. Reed’s material.

On “The Twist” 94-year old Henry Gray is on his game with a rave-up for the ages. The ageless Gray sings, tickles the ivories and plays with the passion of someone who has sparkled on stage for over seven decades. Corritore’s harp provides the perfect foil for Gray’s take on the classic dance number that will get you twistin’ on the floor.

While Gray showed no signs of slowing his row, the next track takes it down a notch for a mournful Mississippi vibe on “You Better Slow Down.” Fittingly, Delta blues legend, Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry is on hand to draw the listener into his lament on the consequences of fast-living and skirt chasing. Corritore again hits on all harmonica cylinders with some stellar solo work.

Alabama Mike returns in a different incarnation for “Worried Blues” where he belts out a nuanced narrative of bad luck and trouble that runs the gamut from perfectly-timed cries to “aw shucks” spoken word delivery. This man is worried!

Alabama Mike might be going the solo route in his story, but this song is a great example of an ensemble performing at peak level. There’s ring leader Corritore on harp and the brilliant Bob Stroger on bass. This dynamic duo is joined by two of the most called upon performers on the CD. We’re talking Johnny Rapp on guitar and keyboardist Fred Kaplan, who both contribute greatly to all the songs they play on.

While this entire CD features top-notch talent, the seventh track features the “Real Deal” in all his blues singing, guitar-slinging, Muddy Waters band member glory. “Love Deep as the Ocean” finds John Primer in top-form, with his stinging, Muddy style licks and his fine, expressive voice, as he delves into a memorable rendition from Mr. Morganfield’s Woodstock album, along with Corritore channeling Paul Butterfield.

The spotlight’s on Sugaray Rayford on the next cut, “Trying to Make a Living.” Here, Rayford shouts, screams, whoops and adds the vocal spark that makes this track flat-out fun, despite its down-and-out title. Junior Watson comes aboard to add some inspired guitar licks to this swinging little number.

The next track summons up the slow and satisfying soul vibes of the mid-sixties. On “Stand By Me” (not the Ben E. King classic) The Andy T Band with Anson Funderburgh, join Alabama Mike for a spine-tingling rendition in the best tradition of tender, soulful ballads made famous by Sam Cooke, Percy Sledge, Otis Redding and others.

While Slim Harpo influenced a slew of British musicians ranging from the Rolling Stones to the Yardbirds, it’s obvious that he also made his mark on Mr. Corritore. On “I’m Gonna Keep What I’ve Got,” Corritore’s harp summons up Harpo’s good-time brand of blues. He’s supported once again by Mighty Joe Milsap and the Fremonts, comprised of Patrick Skog on guitar, Tony Tomlinson on guitar/bass and Alan West on drums and percussion.

The crew circles back to another Chicago connection on the next track. “I’ve Got the World in a Jug” was penned by Johnnie Mae Dunson Smith who was a key force during the early Chicago blues scene. Here, her son, Jimi “Primetime” Smith comes on to add a dash of Maxwell Street grittiness that would do his musical mentor, Jimmy Reed, proud!

Alabama Mike is joined by Phil Hendricks on harmonies for the short but sweet “Few More Days” This toe-tapping tune about time on earth leads into the final song of the CD that’s focused on eternity. On “Keep the Lord with You” Sugaray Rayford gives an impassioned performance complete with soaring harmonica solos and some reverent guitar work by Kid Ramos and Johnny Main. Rayford urges his bandmates to “Testify!” as they solo to save their souls.

Do the Hip-Shake Baby! was produced by Corritore, Clark Rigsby and Kid Andersen and is the compilation of recording sessions spanning from 2016 through 2018. It was mixed by Andersen at the famed Greaseland Studios in San Jose, CA. The impressive ensemble cast featured on various tracks include some of the best keyboardists, drummers, guitarists, bass players and vocalists in the business.

You can get “hip” to the entire crew who made this brilliant CD possible via the liner notes on Do the Hip-Shake Baby!

Blitz Magazine (July 11, 2019)

“Contrary to the ever-present swarm of roots pretenders…..you can be steeped in blues traditions and still draw blood today”.

Journalist Jon Young made that poignant observation in praise of vocalist/guitarist Sue Foley on the cover of her Big City Blues album in 1995. Nearly a quarter-century after the fact, Young’s words ring true more than ever.

Since that time, those blues aspirants have (perhaps inadvertently) continued to foster the same aesthetic setbacks as that which has befallen country music since its last gasp of consequence, the so-called New Traditionalist movement ran its course in the early 1990s. Interestingly enough, both camps professed the inspiration of the pioneers of their respective movements. Yet their efforts often drew more from the tedious and elitist pomp of early 1970s mainstream rock.

In the case of the blues, the roots pretenders of which Young spoke seem to still be commanding the bulk of attention within the genre today. Granted, much of it is by default, given the alarming attrition rare among pioneers of the movement. Nonetheless, the rigid twelve-bar template tempered by lyrics that are rife with cliche remains the order of the day.

That is not to say that there are not those within its ranks who take umbrage with both those developments and the observers’ assessment thereof. And in the case of harmonica master Bob Corritore, discernment above the norm in such matters has prompted him to take decisive and corrective action. The result is the magnificent thirteen track collection at hand.

Enlisting the services of a litany of like minded colleagues such as Sugar Ray Rayford, Junior Watson, Willie Buck and Alabama Mike as guest vocalists (along with a wealth of associates in other musical roles), Corritore charged each to bring the genre full circle back to the impassioned musical force that it was under the stewardship of its vaunted founders.

Much of the material here represents some of the genre at large’s more familiar yet revered fare, including Slim Harpo’s Shake Your Hips, Hank Ballard And The Midnighters’ The Twist, Junior Parker’s Stand By Me and Eddy Bell And His Bel-Aires’ Few More Days. But in each of these and other instances, Corritore and his colleagues rose to the occasion and did their best to deliver with the passion of those who inspired them.

To that effect, Sugar Ray Rayford closes out the proceedings in true fire and brimstone fashion with his world class rendition of Keep The Lord On With You. Indeed, given the return to form atmosphere present throughout these proceedings, Do The Hip-Shake Baby!may well be the result of answered prayer.

-Michael McDowell

Blues Blast Magazine (July 18, 2019)

To say Bob Corritore has friends is understating reality by quite a bit. Recorded over three years, from a total of eight different recording sessions, this collection features close to forty musical acquaintances along with Corritore, who is at the center of everything as usual, blowing fine harmonica accompaniment at every turn. Something of a blues renaissance man, Corritore has a long-running radio program, is a noted producer, and runs the Rhythm Room, a notable blues club in Phoenix, Arizona. Listeners can count on any project he spearheads to be loaded with sounds from some of the finest purveyors of the electric blues tradition.

One look at the credits lets you know that you will be treated to an A-list team, starting with Alabama Mike (Michael Benjamin), who’s energetic style enlivens four tracks. “Gonna Tell Your Mother” is a jumping number while “Few More Days” traces back to early rock & roll records, with Corritore offering a homage to Lazy Lester in his solo. On Asie Payton’s “Worried Blues,” and especially “Stand By Me,” the singer conjures up images of Sam Cooke, his voice so sweet and soulful.

Other highlights come from Sugaray Rayford, recipient of the 2019 Blues Music Award in the Soul Blues Male Artist category, unleashing his powerful voice on “Trying To Make A Living,” his intensity matched by Junior Watson’s impeccable guitar work. Closing out the disc, his uses his original, “Keep The Lord On With You,” as a seven-plus minute testimonial that once again takes us to that dark place where the spiritual and secular elements of life battle for the upper-hand, enveloped by Corritore’s mournful tones and the ministrations of Kid Ramos and Johnny Main on guitar.

Jimmy Reed’s “Bitter Seed” is a fine fit for Oscar Wilson, lead singer for the Cash Box Kings. He uses his deep, rich tone to convey the plight of a man in the throes of unrequited love, with the leader adding some excellent first position harp licks. The ageless wonder, Henry Gray, shows that he can still bring it vocally and on piano on a jaunty rendition of “The Twist”. Corritore has done two albums with John Primer, so it isn’t surprising to find one track from the Chicago guitarist and singer included, “Love Deep As The Ocean,” written by his former bandleader, Muddy Waters. The duo’s deep respect for the music is evident in every note of this standout track. The Fremonts, with singer Mighty Joe Milsap out front, take over on two Slim Harpo tunes, “Shake Your Hips” and “Keep What I Got,” while Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry serves up plenty of heartache with a tale of a cheating man on the smoldering original, “You Better Slow Done”. Corritore’s hearty blowing on “I Got The World In A Jug” makes the track another highlight, with Jimi “Primetime” Smith on lead vocal and guitar, with Fred Kaplan’s rousing fills on piano a constant delight.

Other contributions include the Andy T Band with Anson Funderburgh on two tracks. Johnny Rapp adds guitar on six tracks and L.A. Jones makes one appearance. The bass guitar is covered by Bob Stroger, Adrianna Marie, Kedar Roy, Troy Sandow, Nathan James, Blake Watson, Doug Swanson, and Tony Tomlinson. The drum chair is shared by Alan West, Jim Klingler, Brian Fahey, Marty Dodson, Malachi Johnson, June Core, and Rene Beavers. Other keyboard contributions are courtesy of Larry Van Loon and Bob Welsh.

With so many players involved over numerous sessions, one might wonder if this project really holds up as more than just some disparate tracks thrown together in a rush to get another product out in the marketplace. Anyone who recognizes the majority of contributors knows that all of these players live this music, always playing it with the utmost respect and reverence, yet adding their own interpretations with plenty of individual flair. Bob Corritore is the ringleader, ensuring that the end result is another blue-chip collection that resonates through repeated listens. Look for this one to garner plenty of attention come award nomination time!

– Mark Thompson

Jazz ‘N’ More (Switzerland) (July 2019)

Die Szene im amerikanischen Südwesten trägt einen Namen: Bob Corritore. Viele Jahre schon lebt der aus Chicago stammende Tausendsassa in Phoenix, Ari- zona, führt seinen Music Club ”The Rhythm Room”, und agiert als Promoter, Produzent, Manager, Band- leader und Sideman. Wo er die Zeit noch hernimmt, seine Harmonica zu spielen und zu touren, wissen die Götter. Und ausserdem scheint Corritore auch ständig mit irgendwelchen Leuten im Studio zu stehen. Aus seinem immensen Archiv stammen die hier vorliegenden Aufnahmen, eingespielt zwischen 2016 und 2018 mit (nachgezählt!) 40 verschiede- nen Musikern, welche sich wie ein Who’s Who der Blueswelt lesen. Eine klingende Geschichte der Blueswelt stellt die Songauswahl dar. Selbstredend, dass diese Juwelen eines Jimmy Reed, Muddy Wa- ters, Slim Harpo, Hank Ballard oder Jimmy McCrack- lin mit Finesse, Routine und viel Engagement inter- pretiert werden. Corritores Harmonica fusst in der Chicago-Tradition, seine Begleitung wirkt unauf- dringlich, aber pointiert, und nimmt das Wesen von Song und Sänger auf, seine Soli tönen kraftvoll und melodiös.

– Marco Piazzalonga

Soul Bag Magazine (France) (July / August 2019)

Pour éviter de réduire la chronique de ce nouveau disque de Bob Corritore à une liste de noms, ne citons ici que les chanteurs, dans l’orde d’apparition, Mighty Joe Milsap, Alabama Mike, Oscar Wilson, Henry Gray, Bill Perry, John Primer, Sugaray Rayford, Jimi “Primetime” Smith, le line-up de musiciens étant plus qu’à l’avenant. Bob est constamment pertinent dans ses interventions avec une palette de styles impressionnante, du sud au nord et à l’ouest, il joue tout avec classe. Ce qu’il apporte en plus est justement ce qu’il fait moins que les autres, c’est-à-dire envoyer des solos à tout-va, toujours plus loin dans l’héroïsme. Avec lui, nous écoutons des orchestres avec des musiciens et des chanteurs qui ont chacun leur place. Et nous écoutons du blues, une musique où les âmes se révèlent. Est-ce un hasard si c’est là que Sugaray Rayford est comme on peut le préférer? Les tripes se tordent, les peaux frissonnent, les coeurs se gonflent, la vie revient. Merci à Bob Corritore et Kid Andersen, coproducteur, qui, avec d’autres comme Big Jon Atkinson, entretiennent l’espoir.

– Christophe Mourot

In A Blue Mood (August 24, 2019)

“Do the Hip-Shake Baby!” is Bob Corritore’s latest blues party recording with a variety of artists including vocalists Mighty Joe Mislap, Alabama Mike, Oscar Wilson, Henry Gray, John Primer, Bill ‘Howl-N-Madd’ Perry, and Jimi ‘Primetime’ Smith. Backing musicians include Corritore on harmonica throughout, Gray on piano, Primer on guitar, Andy T and Anson Funderburgh on guitar, LA jones, on guitar, Fred Kaplan on keyboards, and Kedar Roy on bass. There are many others, and the poor layout makes getting some details like songwriting credits hard to read.

Those familiar with the previous recordings Corritore has produced will not be surprised by the solid revivalist Chicago and swamp blues performances heard here. It opens up with a solid rendition by Mighty Joe Mislap of Slim Harpo’s “Do the Hip-Shake Baby!” that allows Corritore to display his harp skills over a swampy, trebly foundation. Milsap, who is also backed by the Fremonts, also ably sings another Slim Harpo song, “I’m Gonna Keep What I’ve Got.” Alabama Mike, with LA Jones guitar and Corritore on unamplified harp, rock Jimmy McCracklin’s jump blues, “Gonna Tell Your Mama.” His performances include two Sam Cooke styled performances, “Worried Blues” and Junior Parker’s “Stand By Me,” both ably backed by the Andy T Band. Henry Gray sounds pretty vigorous for a pleasant revival of “The Twist.”

Oscar Wilson does a nice Jimmy Reed cover, “Bitter Seed,” with Corritore emulating Reed’s harp style and Fred Kaplan lays down some nice piano in the backing. Jimi ‘Primetime’ Smith also does a solid Jimmy Reed shuffle, “I Got The World In A Jug,” with Corritore on amplified harp, Fred Kaplan on piano, Bob Stroger on bass and Brian Fahey on drums.

Bill ‘Howl-N-Madd’ Perry wrote and delivers a solid down-home vocal on “You Better Slow Down,” that sounds like an unissued Excello recording as Corritore wails in his backing, while John Primer does a homage to his former boss Muddy Waters on “Love Deep As The Ocean,” with Bob Welsh channeling Otis Spann. With Junior Watson swinging on guitar, Sugaray Rayford energetically (perhaps a bit over the top) revives Bobby Saxton “Trying to Make a Living” with a fresh arrangement. His other performance is a Howlin’ Wolf styled original, “Keep The Lord On With You!” with Kid Ramos on guitar that is the closing track.

With a variety of performers and consistently solid, idiomatic blues performances, Bob Corritore has delivered another winning collection of traditionally oriented blues.

– Ron Weinstock

Back To The Roots (Belgium) (August 2019)

Twee schaars geklede go-go-danseressen met de in zwart pak gestoken en met kuif en zonnebril getooide harmonicaman Bob Corritore voor een glittergordijn prijken op de cover. De illustratie maakt meteen duidelijk uit welke hoek de muziek komt, namelijk de dancings van halverwege de jaren zestig. Ofwel blues, rhythm and blues, rock-‘n-roll, soul en rockende gospel. Corritore nam tussen 2016 en 2018 bij elke samenscholing met muzikanten wel iets op. Zo onstond een boeiende en gevarieerde selectie songs waarin het inmiddels geperfectioneerde harmonica-werk van de hoofdrolspeler de verbindende factor is. Mighty Joe Milsap, zanger en frontman van The Fremonts, is blijkbaar een Slim Harpo-adept, want hij covert zowel diens ‘Shake Your Hips’ als ‘I’m Gonna Keep What I’ve Got’. Het galmende jaren vijftig/zestig-geluid van de buizenversterkers sijpelt uit de speakers. De luie shuffle ‘Bitter Seed’ (Jimmy Reed) door Oscar Wilson sluit daarop naadloos aan. Nog gruiziger is ‘You Better Slow Down’ van Bill ‘Howl-N-Madd’ Perry. Vers geschreven, maar klinkend als een ether-piraat in de jaren zestig. Sugaray Rayford herwerkt de pittige R&B-hit ‘Trying To Make A Living’ van Bobby Saxton (1960). Rayford sluit het album af met het als een bezwerend voodoo-ritueel overkomende ‘Keep The Lord On With You’, waarin hij bijna angstaanjagend zingt. Natuurlijk staat in de begeleidende peptalk dat dit ‘Corritore’s best yet’ is. Deze keer heeft de platenbons gelijk.

– Rien Wisse