I’m going to be brief as some circumstances over the past several days have caught my family off guard… As most of my loyal readers are aware, The Blues Blogger was created as a therapeutic way to express myself after my heart attack more than 2 years ago. Through those years not only have I done some reviews, but I’ve written about some of my personal moments from the past and present. And we’ve also shared some pretty cool music along the way…
This past weekend I prepared a post that helped me sort through some of the things that was playing on my mind. This curative piece hit a strong chord, and out of respect for my family I decided not to post it at this time.
As my readers and online friends are very important to me, I didn’t want to go through this holiday season without writing something… Thank you for all the support you’ve shown me. Your positive and uplifting emails/comments over the years are absolutely incredible and truly appreciated… I need to be with my family, but I’ll be back soon. In the meantime I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year.
We would be hiding from reality if we said this time of season doesn’t bring the Christmas blues for some. For me, music and the memories we share with the ones we love will always be the greatest medicine in the world for that.
A few weeks back I received a message from a friend informing me about a new release by Murali Coryell called Sugar Lips. This immediately brought to mind an album review I did last October for Joe Louis Walker’s latest Between A Rock And The Blues. There were many memorable moments on that record and the song “Way Too Expensive,” a tune Murali wrote was one of them… Now I must admit when information of Coryell’s CD was sent to me I was feeling kind of lousy. No particular reason. Hey, these things happen! However, that didn’t stop me from being curious. So after taking a listen to some clips on cdbaby, I immediately downloaded the album. I really enjoyed the finger snapping grooves and genuine sentiment that’s expressed on this album.
This musical journey opens with the buoyant boogie “Blame it On Me”, and then continues with two highly addictive numbers, “What You Gonna Do About Me” and “Closer To You Baby.” It was at this point I could sense my mood taking a quick turn for the better… I found myself particularly moved by the expressive and poignant fourth track “Mother’s Day.” The song is a tribute to Murali’s mother author/actress Julie Coryell who passed away last May. Murali poetically captures a difficult moment in time; opening a door that allows us to share his thoughts and feelings.
Coryell is a terrific songwriter/guitarist who also has a smooth soulful voice. There is a whole lot of passion happening on this CD, and the well constructed tunes kept coming on “What Works On You” & the title cut “Sugar Lips.”
Murali Coryell
Earning degrees in music theory and composition while in college, Coryell got his start by hosting blues jams in upstate N.Y in the early 90’s. During that time he gigged with artists such as Ritchie Havens and Duke Robillard. Over the course of his career, he’s recorded the songs of Sam Cooke, Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Charles Mingus and Marvin Gaye. He’s toured with B.B. King and also played with Buddy Guy, Levon Helm, George Clinton and George Thorogood among others.
The son of jazz fusion guitarist Larry Coryell, Murali grew up surrounded by music legends such as Carlos Santana, Jack Bruce, and Miles Davis just to name a few. He even wrote a song called “In The Room With Jimi” that depicts a time as an infant in San Francisco in the early seventies when he was brought along to the Fillmore East where his father was playing at the time. There Jimi Hendrix came by to hear his father Larry play and afterward Hendrix came backstage and stood over Murali’s bassinet to check him out.
Flashing back a little (although a very different style and time) I remember listening to Murali’s father Larry play with his band Eleventh House, and also some of his work with guitarist Steve Khan. So it was really cool to see him featured on Sugar Lips.
Murali’s first CD Eyes Wide Open was released in 1995. His previous album “The Same Damn Thing” in 2008 has been featured in Guitar Player Magazine, Elmore Magazine and Blues Revue. In total he has recorded six solo CD’s in addition to collaborating with his father and brother Julian on the album The Coryell’s. His work has also been heard on NBC’s “Crossing Jordan.”
Getting Back to the Last Half of Sugar Lips…
There are several standout tunes like the elegant ballad “I Could’ve Had You,” and the edgy “Still Rockin.” The 9th and 10th tracks “Minor Funk” and “I Still Do” features Joe Louis Walker which show the indisputable chemistry between these two guys. Those four songs display a nice mixture of blues/rock, funk and melodic fortitude. And the hypnotic sound of the last two songs “Music Sets You Free” and the closer “Where Is The Spirit?” really captured my imagination.
The album was recorded in Nashville and produced by Grammy nominated Tom Hambridge who also plays drums. Hambridge’s impressive resume includes producer, songwriting and performer credits with artists such as Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Johnny Winter, Susan Tedeschi, Hank Williams Jr, Delbert McClinton and Bo Diddley. The line-up on this project also includes Reese Wynans (who played with Stevie Ray Vaughan) on keyboards, Steve Mackey (of Delbert McClinton) on bass. Special guests Joe Louis Walker and Larry Coryell are widely featured throughout the album and provide some great moments.
Sugar Lips was a real mood changer for me. It’s a perfect example of the affect music has when something this fine comes your way. While listening to this album many times over I discovered the honest upbeat atmosphere that was generated really livened up my mood. Now that’s a Christmas present I’m confident will last throughout the holiday season and well into the New Year.
So now it’s your turn. Have you heard of Murali Coryell? Did you checkout the link located above and listen for yourself? Let me know what you think by adding your comments. Let’s spread the word about this awesome new release… For information on Murali Coryell you can go to his website by clicking here.
A few days ago my brother emailed me some pictures I haven’t seen for more than 30 years. Some memorable images that acted as a strong reminder of the many articles I’ve written as The Blues Blogger. One of these was a piece I wrote last summer on Junior Wells… Since there are so many new readers in the past few months alone, and this December 9th,2009 marks what would have been Junior Wells’ 75th birthday, I thought I would republish the post. I hope you enjoy my musical memory…
The Year Was 1965
As many of you are already aware, music was a big part of my life growing up. In 1965 I was only five years old and my brother in his early teens. Nothing was cooler to me than hanging out with my brother. Back then he practiced guitar constantly, and those licks he worked on while we were growing up were embedded into my earliest memories…
As usual my brother grabbed his guitar case that was sitting in the corner of the room right next to his Champ Amp. With vast pride, he took out his baby blue Fender Mustang. Then he put on the strap and propped the guitar onto his shoulder; quickly sneaking a peek at himself in the mirror while plugging into his amp…
I sat down on the basement hide-a-bed. It had a cigarette burn the size of a saucer from one of my sister’s crazy parties. Shuffling through a few of his new albums lying on his amp, he picked an LP by Junior Wells entitled Hoodoo Man Blues. My brother gestured for me to be silent as he prepared to practice. Taking the record out of its cover and placing it on the turntable; the stylus hit the vinyl and the room swelled with that sweet sound! My brother would flawlessly play along.
was born Amos Blakemore in Memphis Tennessee on December 9th, 1934. His career would span over 40 years. For those unfamiliar, Wells was famous for performing with the likes of Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Magic Sam, Lonnie Brooks, The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison. Junior was also one of the major and influential players of Chicago’s vibrant, funky, electric blues sound in the late 1950’s and 60’s.
Raised on a farm in rural Memphis and Arkansas, Wells was inspired by the productive blues culture of Memphis and would learn harmonica from Little Junior Parker. After his parents separated, Junior and his mother eventually moved to Chicago in 1946. It was here where Junior discovered his future.
In his teens Wells often played hooky from school; finding whatever time he could to practice his craft. He would sneak into clubs, vying to “sit-in” with bands… One classic story is where Junior convinced his sister and her boyfriend at the time (a Chicago policeman) to take him to Sam’s Ebony Lounge to see Muddy Waters band.
“I went up to Muddy and told him I played harp… Muddy said he’d let me try. Little Walter said, “That little shrimp.” They stood me on a coke box to reach the mike and I made $45 in tips.” ~Junior Wells
When Little Walter left Muddy Waters in 1952, Junior got the call. He stayed with Waters until he was inducted into the army. However, Wells never let that stand in his way. He would go AWOL, and create some of his first recordings during that time.
In 1957, Wells hooked up with producer Mel London, who owned the Chief, Profile and several other record labels. The association resulted in many of Wells’ most memorable songs, including “I Could Cry” and “Lovey Dovey Lovely One” in 1957 and the R&B influenced classic (and one of my personal favorites) “Messin’ with the Kid” in 1960.
Junior was best known for his 1965 album Hoodoo Man Blues on Delmark Records, it featured Buddy Guy on guitar and the vibe emulated the smoky atmosphere of the era’s Westside Chicago blues bars. It made an impression on many people. The music from that LP will always remind me of some the first audible sounds that I recall.
As time progressed into the mid seventies, and after opening for the Rolling Stones with Buddy Guy in that time frame, little was heard of Wells on vinyl. He did however continue to have mass appeal at home and abroad throughout his career.
In 1997 on his album entitled Come on in This House, the critics took notice once again. It would seem that Junior was on the comeback. The album even won the W.C. Handy Blues Award for Traditional Blues Album.
Wells remained a powerful live performer. With one mesmerizing blast from his amplified harmonica, he would gain the respect of everyone in the room. Junior continued to perform until he was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in the summer of 1997. That fall, while undergoing treatment, he suffered a stroke; sending him into a coma. Wells passed away in January 1998.
There are several compilations that were released after his death, as was the film Blues Brothers 2000, where he had a cameo appearance…
Back In The Mid Sixties
There was always these cool musical moments that took place in my household. My parents worked everyday and encouraged music as a form of escape and creativity. Eventually my brother added his friends to the practice sessions. By this time he was really getting his chops down and this lead to some serious rehearsals in our basement on Saturdays. And as a result, my interest in music grew further watching everyone rehearse.
Often there were audible music wars in the house as The Monkees, The Beatles and Paul Revere & The Raiders were blasting from my sister’s bedroom. But to me, even though I was so young, it was the blues that truly stuck in my mind the most. It seemed to come from somewhere deeper inside.
Do you have any favorite songs or memories of Junior Wells that you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you…
The music seen and heard on this site are meant to enhance the enjoyment of the articles and the reader's overall experience. My intention is to honor the artists that have inspired me by weaving my personal experiences together with my love of their music... If you like the music you hear, I urge you to support them by attending their performances and/or purchasing their music. If you hold the copyright and would like me to remove your song or picture then please contact me. I will do so immediately upon request.
Sugar Lips (Clip) [1:01m]: 
