For the most part, this is a 1961 session wherein the blues raconteur and pianist Memphis Slim runs through a good chunk of his repertoire, the songs that came to mind that afternoon. As such, its relaxed entertainment, rather than a fixed recording for a larger audience. Which is not to say an audience cant enjoy this music. Slims piano playing is dynamically rich, delicate at times, and pounding when necessary. His vocals are strong, too, but just as capable of dropping down to just above a whisper to make a point. They just dont make records like this anymore, documents of an artist at work without any attempt to be outside the moment.

Quote from Nat Hentoffs liner notes: Aside from the usual hyperbole of record liners, I do think that engineer Bob dOrleans has caught the full sonic impact of Slim more accurately than on any previous recordings by the Chicago-based wanderer. The best description I know of the sound of Memphis Slim is Stanley Dances in the British Jazz Journal: Its an outdoors voice with a hard strength that suggests inflexibility, but it bends at the right times. It has a sombre gravity, dignity, shyness, and a shade of melancholy. As he sings, he often seems to withdraw into memories, fond and sad, of other days, other places and other faces.

• Pressed on 180 gram vinyl by Pallas
• Recorded at Nola Penthouse Studios, NYC, January 16th 1961

CJS9024 -Artist-Memphis Slim

• Internal ID: JIT
• Format: Vinyl
• Format Detail: LP Black
• Handling Note: **Please allow an additional 5 business days for this item’s shipment.**
• Genre: Jazz
• Released: 7/25/18