Signature [CD]

Charlie Musselwhite

Signature

Alligator ALCD 4801

Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi in 1944, Charlie Musselwhite grew up poor in Memphis where the city's rich musical heritage heavily influenced him. After a brush with the law at age 18, he headed to Chicago and began to sit in with the greats. Musselwhite broke onto the national scene with his 1967 debut album Stand Back! He ended up moving to California, but has spent most of his life on tour. Signature was his second of three Alligator albums. It was released in 1991 and received a Grammy nomination. On it, you'll hear his Deep South influences, probing jazz-influenced harmonica, and overall laid-back sensibility. Musselwhite's treasured musicianship is equaled on many tracks. Four of them were included on Deluxe Edition, which was released in 2005. Andrew Jones Jr. had also worked with Freddie King, Johnnie Taylor, and Katie Webster. His masterful guitar is heard throughout, while Tommy Hill's drums always deliver a blues backbeat. The astute core band is Musselwhite's touring four-piece. They are augmented by a stylish three-piece horn section that adds spunk on a couple numbers.

Musselwhite has lived a hard-life. You can hear evidence of it in his drawling vocals. He is more confident with his songwriting and signature harp/guitar playing. Musselwhite displays his sensational blues harp skills on "Make My Getaway", where he flies like a freewheeling piano man burning up the 88s. Hearing the guitar and harp play the same stormy notes, as part of the lead solo, is the song's highlight. For many, the album's highlight will be the ragged duo with John Lee Hooker. My pick for best song is "Hey! Miss Bessie" because the guitar is supreme while the bass tirades all over you. Using trills and full upper registry twirls, Musselwhite digs deep into the blues on ".38 Special". "Blues Got Me Again" has the lazy ambiance of a rainy afternoon. The song relaxes as much as it provokes. As if he is in deep conversation with his best friend, self-reflective lyrics like ("Blues don't care where you're going / don't care where you been / thinking about a wasted life of women, wine, and gin / looks like blues done got me again") are delivered. At times, during the instrumental "What's New?", the harp could pass for an accordion. Here, the leisure continues, but this time with the feeling of being in your favorite cozy neighborhood restaurant. Whether you are new to the blues or a converted supporter, you'll enjoy the contemporary energy on the instrumental "Catwalk". On it, Musselwhite's wistful Mississippi saxophone carries your troubles away. The full and brazen brass section features on "Mama Long Legs" and "Me And My Baby And The Blues". Since I cannot rate this 3.5 stars, I'm going with 3 stars.

--- Tim Holek