Chizmo Charles – Up All Night

13,50

SKU: Blues Leaf 9807 Categories: ,

Description

This disc is a portrait of a wonderfully free-spirited blues artist standing at or very near his creative summit. Raucous R&B, post-war and jump blues, shades of urban swing, a backing band as sharp and mean as a glistening straight razor - It's all right here! "Every now and then I get the chance to know that this time I'm right. I'm right in saying that some of the best singers are still unrecorded. And along comes Charles Anderson a.k.a Chizmo Charles with 12 songs done with complete heart and soul, so Charles proves me right. So, Chizmo Charles, get ready because here comes the gold and platinum awards. Your new Fan." -Ben E. King.

Track Listing:
1. Bed Bug Boogie - 3:23   2. Hurricane - 6:47   3. Up All Night - 3:42   4. Good Times - 4:19   5. Shake Your Moneymaker - 3:37   6. I Got to Have It - 3:22   7. Late at Night - 2:10   8. Angel Eyes - 6:34   9. Tired of Waiting - 4:00   10. The Walkin' Blues - 3:44   11. Bad Bad Whiskey - 3:46   12. All She Wants to Do Is Rock - 2:59

Personnel:
Chizmo Charles (vocals) , Chuck Beatty / Pat Scanga (vocals) , James M. Dougherty Jr. (slide guitar) , James King (harp) , Danny Donohoe (trumpet) , Kenny Blake (alto & tenor saxophone) , Robbie Klein (baritone & tenor saxophone) , Rick Modery (baritone saxophone) , Bobby Boswell / John Wolf (bass) , Dr. James Johnson (piano) , Gil Snyder (keyboards) , Bird Foster / Tom Garner (drums) , Pam Johnson / Michelle Mitchelle (background vocals)

Reviews:

1. AllMusic - Scott Yanow
Singer Chizmo Charles made his recording debut as a leader on this CD, at the age of 70. What is more remarkable than his very late start is that Charles' voice could pass for 50. His versatility and the pure joy in his singing are quite appealing. Although largely a blues date, Charles also performs "Angel Eyes" quite credibly and the music ranges from swing to soul. The highlights include "Bed Bug Boogie," Elmore James' "Shake Your Moneymaker," "The Walkin' Blues," and "Bad Bad Whiskey." With fine support given by the four-piece Midnight Horns (which includes Kenny Blake on alto and tenor), a solid rhythm section, slide guitarist James Dougherty, Jr. (who wrote half of the tunes), and James King on harmonica, the singer is heard throughout in near-exuberant form. Why did it take Chizmo Charles so long to record?