Proven star power was a scarce commodity at last year’s Chicago Blues Festival. The shortage was so acute that Buddy Guy–the only household name in the lineup–told the local press he was less than impressed with his costars. He even remarked that the annual festival might benefit from charging a small fee for the prime seats at Petrillo Music Shell–a proposition previously championed by more than a few blues insiders, but never by someone wielding Guy’s clout.
Thursday
Without a doubt the hottest harpist in town, Branch has the chops to indulge in showy barrages of clustered notes but prefers to let tradition and taste dictate his sets. Given his busy schedule as leader of the popular band Sons of Blues, how he finds time to pass his wisdom on to schoolchildren is a mystery. But he does, and as always, the fest opener will be a heartwarming opportunity for his students to strut their stuff, abetted this year by guitarist
Another bunch of students from local schools, belting out the blues under the direction of guitarist Fernando Jones. Eighth-grader Pierre Robinson handles the lead vocals for the pubescent aggregation, which was 65 strong at its fest performance last year.
Frankly, the appeal of this east-coast trio is lost on me. Judging from the success of its numerous albums for Alligator, though, it has found a loyal audience for its acoustic pseudo blues. Pianist Ann Rabson and guitarist Gaye Adegbalola, Saffire’s cofounders, are adequate at best on their instruments, and their material, much of which details the trials of growing older (e.g., “Silver Beaver”), is meant to be witty but usually comes off trite.
On a circuit clogged with pretenders, local vet Hinds deserves a higher profile. But despite some impressive credentials, including session work behind Koko Taylor and John Primer, he remains relatively obscure. On vocals he’s a mite stiff, but on the harp he’s as fine and flexible a 50s stylist as you’ll find practicing today.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
During the late 60s guitarist Hytower made fine Chicago soul 45s for local labels like Expo and Brainstorm, and in 1969 he got one shot on Mercury’s Blue Rock subsidiary; “I’m in Your Corner” really should have been a hit. These days Hytower’s as apt to portray late blues and soul luminaries like Muddy Waters and Otis Redding on the musical-theater circuit as to perform under his own name, and that’s a pity–the Root Doctor himself, with his light-fingered jazz-tinged guitar strokes and soul-streaked vocals, is the real live thing.
