Carey Bell Deep Down CD

Blues harmonica master Carey Bell was pushing 60 when he began recording for the Alligator label, with decades of great albums behind him, but DEEP DOWN nevertheless marked a late, great phase in Bell's career. With a sharp band that includes his son Lurrie on guitar and Lucky Peterson on piano, Bell digs deep into the classic Chicago blues sound with both his voice and his harp, turning out a brace of tunes that feel much more like from-the-gut blues battle cries than perfunctory readings.

Recorded at Streeterville Studios, Chicago, Illinois. Includes liner notes by Scott Dirks.

Personnel: Carey Bell (vocals, harmonica); Carl Weathersby, Lurrie Bell (guitar); Lucky Peterson (piano); Johnny B. Gayden (bass); Ray "Killer" Allison (drums).

Producers: Carey Bell, Bruce Iglauer, Scott Dirks.

JazzTimes (7-8/95, p.128) - "...Bell and company lay down a solid set of grooves..."
Option (7-8/95, p.92) - "...Bell's harp solos are huge, brawling things, louder than a Mack truck, but still expressive. His style is soaked in decades of Chicago electric blues, full of life on the road and classic blues themes..."
Jazziz (10/95, p.101) - "...At 59, Carey Bell drives his swinging, Chicago-based sextet with full-throttle ferocity and a gritty voice to match his big, distorted harp sound....he makes his command of the instrument obvious. DEEP is a dose of classic...R&B medicine.
Sing Out! (8-10/95, p.140) - "...shows the veteran blues man at the peak of his powers musically...he's in complete control...performances you won't easily forget..."