"Wednesday, May 21st, 1997. Tonight I "educated" 25
out-of-town bankers about what a Good Blues Experience can be! I took them to the
club Blue Chicago to see Michael Coleman and the Backbreakers with Karen
Carroll and bonus guest artist Eddie C. Campbell.
We
wandered in at ten and took over the tables and booths close to the stage; the
first set had just begun. Coleman is a fine guitarist with a tough city blues
style; he was accompanied by solid drums, bass and electronic keyboard, a good
band with a pleasant demeanor. He sang well, too. After three or four strong
numbers, Karen Carroll took the stage. She is a great blues singer, an example
of the wealth of blues talent in Chicago unknown nationally, but who has toured
Europe many times and is no doubt better known over there. No ax to grind -
just recognition of the richness of living blues in Chi-town.
Carroll
really commanded the audience with "Love Her With A Feeling", amusing
all my uninitiated colleagues and thrilling the longtime blues fans. She mixed
it up with a bluesy ballad here and a soul song there, but returned often to
the raucous man-woman blues themes, much to the whole club's delight - her band
included…
The
second set got started and then in walked Eddie C. Campbell, to whom Coleman
respectfully surrendered the microphone and the stage, backing him up while standing
below and behind him at the side of the platform. Campbell got into a blues
groove, very "primitive", compelling stuff. His vocals were rougher
than Coleman's, ideally suited to his rough but appealing guitar style that led
the band so forcefully. No pretty single-note solos, just a helluva dance
groove. I don't know much about Campbell, but saw him a long time ago, and was
delighted that he "invaded" the show and strutted his thang for four
or five numbers this night. Coleman gave up his own guitar for a little while
and amusingly played with Campbell's walking cane, reminding me of a playful
James Brown or perhaps Dr. John...
Carroll
got up again and continued to charm the audience, keeping them in stitches with
her ribald tales of love. She's a bona fide blues mama. She was also fun to
talk to, interesting and knowledgeable. I must mention her brilliant Delmark CD
"Had My Fun" DE-680: it cleverly captures her live on the first four
numbers, and on the remaining six cuts she beautifully and forcefully sings
great material, backed strongly by the Johnny B. Moore band. This is the kind
of record that should be on the national charts (I'm dreaming, I know). Bob
Koester is responsible for recording and releasing the highest calibre modern
blues, and this is a fine example!
It's hard
to imagine a better night of blues than this one. Two o' clock closing time
came way too soon......."
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