Aron Burton – Past, Present, Future

Aron Burton worked as a sideman on many classic recordings on the Alligator label as well as a stint with Albert Collins. But Past, Present, & Future isn't a tribute to another artist. It's a full-blown testament to the abilities of Aron Burton.
The recording evolved from three different sessions, with eight selections included from a previously issued European recording. Burton, who holds down the lead vocal and bass chores, composed most of the tunes, all of which are saturated with a hard-edged urban blues feeling.
Past, Present, & Future is an exceptional work by an artist who has been around for a good long time, but never really took center stage. Aron Burton has put together a first-rate collection of gritty blues that should bring him out of the shadows once in a while. Blues Review Quarterly

Burton is one of Chicago's most underrated singers and songwriters -- a situation that this release should do much to correct. - Living Blues

Track Listing:
1. Been Down - 4:19   2. Answering Machine Blues - 5:22   3. Live Like a Beggar - 4:16   4. Garbage Man - 5:26   5. Trouble - 3:55   6 Wayward Blues Boy - 6:13   7. Southbound Train - 3:50   8. Rainy Night in Georgia - 6:14   9. The Highway Is Like a Woman - 3:54   10. Funky Emma - 4:59   11. Any Day But Today - 6:01   12. Past, Present, and Future - 6:10   13. Two Way Street - 4:40   14. Spirit - 3:26

Personnel:
Aron Burton (vocals, electric bass, background vocals) , Kenn Lending (lead guitar on 1,4,6,7,9,10,11,13) , Larry Burton (lead guitar on 2,3,5,8,12) , Benno Rupp (lead guitar on 14) , Norman Marogg (guitar on 14) , Jorgen Lang (harmonica on 4,6,7,9,13) , Svenni Svafnisson (bass on 5,10) , Rene Mehrmann (bass on 14) , Patricia Hall (piano, keyboards, on 2,3,5,8,12, background vocals on 3); Pat Hall (piano, keyboards on 2,3,5,8,12) , Champion Jack Dupree (piano o,4,5,11, background vocals on 4,10) , Kjeld Lauitsen (electric piano on 13, organ on 7,9,10,11); Tino Cortes (drums on on 2,3,5,8,12) , Frank Larsen (drums on on 1,4,6,7,9,10,11,13) , Christian Wilson (drums on 14) , Ordy Somchai Sihaampai (drums on 14) , Michael Robert Frank (background vocals on 3) 

Reviews:

1. AllMusic - Bill Dahl
A compendium of tracks cut back in the 1980s (some with the late pianist Champion Jack Dupree) over in Europe (the "past" part of the title) and a few more recent sides waxed in his Chicago hometown, this collection effectively spotlights bassist Aron Burton's talents as a front man.