Chicago / The Blues / Yesterday! Vol. 21

"For this 21st volume of our Chicago/ The Blues Yesterday series, let's delve again into the great diversity of the many blues played in Chicago during the 1940's-60's: jazzy blues, R&B, Country blues coming from the Deep South and Soul blues...

Singer and piano player Lil Palmore was a favorite in the uptown Chicago clubs during the late 1940's: Garrick Stage Bar, Hurricane, Ritz Lounge, Pitts Pub... Outside this Ebony single featured here in which she is backed by Willie Dixon and probably guitarist Leonard Caston, Lil has also recorded with Brother John Sellers, Little Brother Montgomery and Jimmy "Boo Boo" Blazer.

Saxophonist Claude Mc Lin (1925-95) was born in Chicago and studied music at the famous Du Sable High School. He started a musical career in 1946, playing also in the best jazz and R&B Chicago clubs with Lester Young, Gene Ammons or as the leader of his own band. He recorded under his own name from 1950 in Chicago and then Hollywood where he settled down during the mid-50's, being on numerous sessions backing artists like Amos Milburn or Red Callendar.

Little Son Joe (Ernest Lawlars) (1900-61) is of course mostly known as the guitarist husband of the great Memphis Minnie, recording constantly with her from 1939. Before that, Joe (born in Hughes, Arkansas) teamed with Robert Wilkins. Joe also recorded 10 tracks under his own name, mostly his own striking compositions (like the all time classic Black rat swing) between 1939 and 1953.

At last, Mitty Collier (born in Birmingham, Al, 1941), starting to sing Gospel at an early age, shows the beginning of the Chicago Soul blues. She recorded for Ralph Bass more than a dozen singles between 1961 and 1967, backed by the usual Chess session musicians like guitarist Cash McCall. During the late 1960's, Mitty left Chicago, pursuing a career more and more in a Gospel vein. We have selected some of her bluesiest tracks. ---Gerard Herzhaft, jukegh.blogspot.com"