Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds wasn't the only white musician to play with Muddy Waters. Although they had no top forty hits The Chicago Blues Re-Union is comprised of seasoned professionals who when they were young got bitten by the blues bug. They would go to Muddy's gigs and wait until they could join him on stage. They dreamed of being blues musicians and all became accomplished in their own right. On August 3rd, they performed at BB Kings in a band which is both a tribute to Muddy and a vehicle for their own collective talents. The performance was outstanding.

Comprised of Nick Gravenites, Barry Goldberg, Harvey Mandel, Corky Siegel, Tracy Nelson, Sam Lay and with the help of Zach Wagner, Rick Reed, and Gary Mallaber they brought back the sound and styling of Muddy Water's early Chicago blues bands. Nick Gravenites is the guitarist/vocalist who authored "Born In Chicago", the anthem that opens the first Paul Butterfield Blues Band album. Barry Goldberg has played piano with everyone including Michael Bloomfield and Bob Dylan. Harvey Mandel is called a psycho delta blues guitarist for his over the top solos. Corky Siegel was one half of the Siegel/Schwall Band and now leader of Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues, Tracy Nelson is the vocalist from "Mother Earth" who helped define the blues and soul of the sixties and seventies and Sam Lay, drummer/vocalist played with everyone from Muddy to Butterfield.

The album is a replication of their live performance except for the order of the material. The cdopens with Nick's "Born In Chicago", and then continues with a song he wrote for Janis Joplin called "Buried Alive In The Blues". She died before she could add the vocal track but the instrumental was included on her album "Pearl". Tracy Nelson then takes over the vocal chores on "Walk Away", "Miss You Like The Devil", "I Need All The Help I Can Get", "New Truck", and sings harmony with Nick on "Drinkin Wine". Harvey Mandel plays relentless guitar throughout the recording but especially shines on his two originals "Snake" and "GM Boogie", the later written with Barry Goldberg. Corky Siegel plays the harp notably throughout and sings lead on "I'm a King Bee". Sam Lay sings lead on both "I've Got To Find My Baby" and the closing "Hound Dog/Roll Over Beethoven" medley.

The accompanying book and DVD with pictures and footage of an era gone by make this Limited Collectors Edition a very special release. Included are performances with Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, and Michael Bloomfield. This is sure to win a Handy nomination in the category of "Best Traditional Blues Album" of the year.

Richard Ludmerer
Director, The New York Blues & Jazz Society
ricdale2@yahoo.com