Chicago Blues Festival
Paris Meridien Hotel Jazz Club Lionel Hampton
22nd December, 2007

View: from a cosy corner

It’s a crying shame a European tour by a full Chicago blues band can’t include the UK, but thanks to Eurostar, a trip to the congenial Paris Meridien is not a hardship. Two of the festival’s frontmen are the sons of famous fathers: Eddie Taylor Jr, a neat, solid, unfussy singer/guitarist, and Lurrie Bell, son of late harmonica ace, Carey, who sings and plays guitar with aplomb. Backed by drums, bass and harp, Taylor offered satisfying versions of Crosscut Saw, I’m In The Mood and a romping, uptempo You Don’t Love Me. Bell’s incisive singing and fluent guitar brought oldies like the menacing Hoochie Coochie Man and rousing Messin’ With The Kid to life. But the undoubted star of the show was Taildragger. The dapper James Yancy Jones doesn’t look like Howlin’ Wolf, but the big, rasping voice is thoroughly lupine. A consummate crowd-pleaser, he walked through the club serenading with songs like Highway Is My Home, and his own signature tune, My Head Is Bald.

Reviewed by Mike Atherton
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