18 Jul
Memphis by Jean Jacques Milteau
- Written by Mark Keresman
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Jean Jacques Milteau is a blues harmonica player from the Gallic nation of France who’s set out to tip his figurative beret (in the form of an album, natch) to the iconic soul and blues sound of Memphis. To do this, he journeyed to the mythical city and enlisted the legendary Memphis Horns and the classic/old-school Southern R&B/soul shouters Little Milton (Campbell), Mighty Mo Rodgers and (my personal favorite) Mighty Sam McClain on a program of ballads and chugging juke-joint shuffles. While it’s a mite on the slick side for This Writer’s erratic taste, Memphis does a nice job of evoking the echoes of the Southern-fried sounds originally heard circa 1966-74 on the labels Hi, Amy, Atlantic and Stax. [Think Johnny Taylor, Ann Peebles, Don Covay, etc. - and of course Little Milton and Bobby "Blue" Bland.] There’s plenty of joyously bellowing horns; terse, sizzling guitar licks; gospel-tinged background choruses and the colorfully hearty virtuoso mouth harp of Milteau swingin’ ‘round the corners and taking some shining-in-the-moonlight solos. While he’s no Little Walter - but then again, who is? - JJM clearly learned from the masters as well as auditing classes with the fine non-blues harmonicists Lee Oskar and Charlie McCoy. Re: the Memphis branch of the College of Musical Knowledge - school is in, baby.
Additional Info
- Artist / Group Name: Jean Jacques Milteau
- CD Title: Memphis
- Genre: Blues
- Year Released: 2001
- Record Label: Sunnyside
- Musicians: J-J Milteau: harmonica; Little Milton: vocals, guitar; Mighty Sam McClain, Mighty Mo Rodgers: vocals; Lester Snell: keyboards, horn arr.; Michael Toles: guitar; Andrew Love, Jim Spake: saxes; "Uncle" Jack Hale: trombone; others.
- Label Website: http://www.sunnysiderecords.com/
- Rating: Three Stars
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