Eddie Cleanhead Vinson & Roomful of Blues
Artist: Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson

If there were justice in the world, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson would have been able to tour with this type of group throughout much of his career. Roomful of Blues, a popular five-horn nonet, has rarely sounded more exciting than on this musical meeting with the legendary singer/altoist. Vinson himself is exuberant on some of the selections,... Read More

I Want a Little Girl
Artist: Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson

Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, 64 at the time of this Pablo recording, is in superior form on the blues-oriented material. With Art Hillery (on piano and organ) and guitarist Cal Green leading the rhythm section, and trumpeter Martin Banks and the tenor of Rashid Ali offering contrasting solo voices, this is a particularly strong release. It is true... Read More

Jamming the Blues
Artist: Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson

For this lesser-known outing (reissued on CD), the great altoist and blues singer Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson is heard in fine form at the 1974 Montreux Jazz Festival. With fine support from a four-piece rhythm section that includes pianist Peter Wingfield and some solo space for tenor-saxophonist Hal Singer, Vinson plays a few of his familiar but... Read More

The Complete Folkways Recordings
Artist: Lonnie Johnson

An even two dozen solo performances from late in the legendary guitarist's amazing career (1967), but chock full of stellar moments all the same. Artists of Johnson's versatility were rare even then -- he brings a multitude of shadings to "My Mother's Eyes" and "How Deep Is Tthe Ocean," then delivers a saucy "Juice Headed Baby" with the same... Read More

The Complete Aladdin Recordings of Amos Milburn
Artist: Amos Milburn

Seven discs tracing the entire 1946-1957 Aladdin Records legacy of jump blues pioneer Amos Milburn, whose rippling boogie-based piano talent and predilection of songs about booze made him a postwar R&B superstar. One hundred forty-five tracks in all (including plenty of unissued goodies) tab this as the ultimate collection for Milburn fans. He... Read More

The Great City
Artist: Ernie Andrews

Ernie Andrews has been underrecorded during periods of his career, but in the 1990s, the veteran singer was fortunate enough to make two excellent CDs for the Muse label. This outing finds Andrews particularly inspired, even if he occasionally cannot help imitating Al Hibbler's odd British accent. Frank Wess (on tenor and flute) is a major asset... Read More

Blues, Barrelhouse & Boogie Woogie: 1946-1955
Artist: Amos Milburn

Here's a very reasonable compromise between the pricey Mosaic box and EMI's incomplete single-disc treatment of Milburn's Aladdin legacy: a three-disc, 66-song package that's heavy on boogies and blues and slightly deficient in the ballad department (to that end, his smash "Bewildered" was left off). Everything that is aboard is top-drawer,... Read More