Over two-plus decades,
Bob Corritore has become one of the most reliable sidemen as a talented blues harmonica player, popular with younger musicians and veterans. This compilation features
Corritore in a variety of settings over that 20-year period, with all-star bluesmen galore. Each track singles out his exploits with such notable blues legends as
Koko Taylor,
Louisiana Red,
Robert Lockwood, Jr.,
Eddy Clearwater,
Henry Gray,
Pinetop Perkins,
David "Honeyboy" Edwards, and
Little Milton among countless others. There's no way to pick the best songs (they're all great) unless you favor certain types of blues from boogie, choogling struts, or rough-edged, down-and-dirty Southside Chicago shouts. The funniest track is
Nappy Brown's feature "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes," sung in a deep, ribald manner. In an ultimately classic style, vocalist
Lockwood and pianist
Gray team up on "That's All Right," while
Clearwater takes the cake on an upbeat and joyous "That's My Baby." The lesser known Chief Schabuttie Gilliame cops
Howlin' Wolf during "No More Doggin'" and "Tell Me 'Bout It" whiles
Louisiana Red comes closest to the immortal style of
Muddy Waters. Throughout is
Corritore's biting, literate, clean harmonica playing that fortifies, glues together, and inspires these-well known artists. Nothing less than a fantastic collection of authentic American music,
Harmonica Blues is a must-have item for any fan of this music. ~ Michael G. Nastos