Roosevelt Sykes Grind It! CD

Six songs, recorded (in decent sound) in September 1973 at the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival. Sykes, then 66 years old, is in good form both musically and instrumentally; his set includes a version of his classic "Driving Wheel" and the standards "St. James Infirmary" and "Night Time Is the Right Time." Most of it is relaxed and laidback, but he does crank up the tempo on "Run This Boogie," and milks the crude double entendre of "Dirty Mother for You" ("gonna be a jumping mother for you" and many such variations) for all it's worth. His singing is high-spirited, as are his boogie piano riffs. Sykes' tracks occupy only half of this CD -- the remainder of which is devoted to six songs by another early blues legend, Victoria Spivey, also recorded at the 1973 Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival. ~ Richie Unterberger

This CD features six tracks recorded with the electric band the Brooklyn Blues Busters in September 1973 at the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival. It's a little unusual to hear Spivey in this setting, backed by musicians that sound more like the Paul Butterfield group than the pre-war "classic" urban blues accompaniment with which she is most associated. It's not a bad or uncomfortable combination, however, the set including her famous "Black Snake Blues" and "Detroit Moan." The band doesn't overplay, as sometimes happened in these situations, and Spivey's vocals are likable, though not especially powerful. While this is not among her most highly recommended or representative recordings to be sure, it is not an embarrassment. Spivey's six tracks occupy only half of this CD, the remainder of which is devoted to six songs by another early blues legend, pianist Roosevelt Sykes, also recorded at the 1973 Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival. ~ Richie Unterberger

1st half of CD consists of Sykes' live solo piano performance, 2nd half of CD consists of Spivey's live set of original songs

Recorded live on September 7 & 9, 1973.

This is part of the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival Series.

Personnel: Roosevelt Sykes (vocals, grand piano); Victoria Spivey (vocals, grand piano); John Nuzzo (harmonica); Gary Churchill (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Eric Nuyhaus (drums).

Liner Note Author: John Sinclair.

Recording information: Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival (1973).

Editor: Keith Keller.

Photographer: John Gibbs Rockwood.CMJ (2/14/00, p.20) - "...irrefutable evidence of the musical magnitude of these 2 blues legends and their ability to work both the songs and the audience."
JazzTimes (8/00, p.85) - "...Radiates with glory from a golden bygone era....The Sykes half of the program is the real treat here..."