One of the more satisfying blues records to be released so far this year, Harmonica Blues pays tribute to Bob Corritore, an impressive blues harpist if there ever was one. Corritore is a blues stalwart and wears many hats in the blues world; As a musician, producer, and radio personaility (he's been the host of Those Lowdown Blues on KJZZ in Phoenix, Arizona for many years now), he's had a positive impact on the careers of multiple performers, and that's a good thing. But his positive impact as a musician and producer on his own career is clearly audible on Harmonica Blues, which is a kickass compilation record featuring a long list of collaborating blues greats, including Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Louisiana Red, Kid Ramos, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, and many more. It was recorded over 20 years, from 1989 to 2009. The tracks all feature excellent harmonica, but the all-star cast and the production celebrate all of the players (in other words, it's a very strong and balanced album—no danger of harp overload here). No matter how balanced the record is, though, you can't overlook Corritore's impressive versatility, from the slippery and elastic tones of "Things You Do" to the ferocious roar of "1815 West Roosevelt," or the laid-back moan of "Tin Pan Alley." And that's just for starters. Corritore never misses with his playing or his tone. This is an excellent record.

Blindman's Blues Forum (August 2010)

Recommended. Bob Corritore is surely no newcomer to the blues world. The opening sentence in the disc’s liner notes make that clear by stating ”Harmonica Blues celebrates forty years since Bob Corritore first picked up a harp.” Living in Chicago in the 1970s meant he was probably at the center of the blues harp universe as well. Not a bad place to hob-nob considering who was around then. Since those early days in the Windy City a few decades back, Corritore relocated to Phoenix, AZ, and opened up the Rhythm Room. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit, it’s a long-running and highly successful club that has played host to almost every touring blues artist or band you can think of. The list of singers on this CD is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Corritore’s recording itinerary; he’s played with or behind a seemingly endless number of top-shelf stars. The tracks mostly date from the last ten years (1815 West Roosevelt with Eddie Shaw was cut in 1989) and feature past greats like Koko Taylor, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Nappy Brown and Little Milton along with still-living legends; Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Louisiana Red, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and more. Add Carol Fran, Big Pete Pearson, Chico Chism, Bob Margolin, Kid Ramos, David Maxwell, Bob Stroger and Eddie Taylor, Jr. to the mix and you’ve got a bona-fide top-notch blues disc. In short, there’s a great variety of singers with Corritore’s creatively full-toned harp well to the fore on every track. Don't let that fool you into thinking this disc is only a vehicle for Bob's harmonica flights, he proves without question that he fully understands what being a strong sideman is all about. This one is bound to please no matter where you stand in the blues universe. Hat’s off to the fine folks at Delta Groove for consistently offering some of the best music around!

- Craig Ruskey

BlogCritics (August 2010)

Bob Corritore has been playing badass blues harp for 40 years and he's played it for and with nearly every blues artist of note in those years. Harmonica Blues isn't a 'Greatest Hits' compilation but gathers tracks that Corritore has contributed to over his years in the business. He is the common thread through most of these recordings but listeners will also get to enjoy the sounds of legends who have now passed (Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Robert Lockwood Jr., Nappy Brown) as well as those still working and making great music today (Honeyboy Edwards, Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger, Chris James, Patrick Rynn).

- Josh Hathaway

Guitar Omnivore (August 2010)

This Week's Best Guitar CDs......................

The newest from harmonica player/Rhythm Room owner/record producer/radio host/band leader Bob Corritore features a feast for the guitar fan. Guests include Little Milton,Robert Lockwood Jr.,Louisiana Red,Bob Margolin,Honeyboy Edwards, Eddy Clearwater, ,Kid Ramos and his "Lucky to be Alive" collaborator Dave Riley. I think there are some non-guitar players too.

- Phil Clark

Wasser-Prawda.de (Germany)(August 2010)

Vor vierzig Jahren griff Bob Corritore erstmals zur Bluesharp. Heute zählt er zu den aktivsten Harmonikaspielern der Szene. Auf "Harmonika Blues" sind Aufnahmen mit Koko Taylor, Little Milton und vielen anderen versammelt.
In seiner Jugend wuchs er mit dem Chicagoblues von Muddy Waters und Big Walter Horton auf, hörte Howlin Wolf oder Sunnyland Slim. Als er selbst zur Harmonika griff, trat er mit Louisiana Red auf, bis der nach Deutschland übersiedelte. In den langen Jahren seiner Karriere hat er bislang auf mehr als 35 Alben mitgespielt. Doch als Solist hat Bob Corritore nie die ganz große Karriere gemacht. 1999 erschien mit "All Star Blues Sessions" die erste Platte unter seinem Namen.

Daneben ist er Produzent, macht eine regelmäßige Radiosendung und schreibt in regelmäßigen Newslettern über die Blues-Szene aus seiner Sicht. Eine Würdigung seiner Karriere ist die Veröffentlichung von "Harmonika Blues", die von Delta Groove Records veröffentlicht wurde. Die 15 Titel aus den Jahren 1997 bis 2009 vereinen so unterschiedliche Musiker wie Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Louisiana Red, Nappy Brown oder Eddie Clearwater. In den verschiedenen stilistischen Richtungen vom Soulblues eines Little Milton über den Rhythm & Blues von Brown bis hin zum Chicago-Blues von Koko Taylor kann Corritore sein Können präsentieren. Ein wundervolles Album nicht nur für Fans der Bluesharp sondern eigentlich für alle Bluesfans. In dem beigefügten Player kann man es in voller Länge anhören.

- Blue Priest

Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine (August 2010)

Along with the indefatigable Charlie Musselwhite, Chicago native Bob Corritore is one of the most active and highly regarded harmonica players on the scene today. His passionately energetic approach vividly carries forward that patented "old school" style of playing that he, like Musselwhite, learned from many of the original trailblazers of Chicago blues. Corritore cut his teeth sitting in as a teenager with John Henry Davis on Maxwell Street until he could sneak into the myriad of local blues clubs, where he hung around with great harp players such as Big Walter Horton, Little Mack Simmons, Junior Wells and Carey Bell and caught plenty of performances by the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Billy Boy Arnold, the Aces, John Brim, Sunnyland Slim and Eddie Taylor among many others. In 1981, Corritore moved to Phoenix, Arizona with Louisiana Red (a partnership that lasted about a year until Red relocated to Germany) and played with various area bands until he opened his blues and roots music-oriented Rhythm Room club in 1991-- where he promptly put together an All Stars combo to back every blues and roots musician he could think of that he could talk into venturing to Arizona, along with the legendary Big Pete Pearson, who was already there. And, fortunately for blues fans everywhere, he had (and still has) great ears and never turned the tape recorder off. The fifteen tracks collected here hold together remarkably well and date from 1989 to 2009.

Friends is certainly the operative word in the album's title as Corritore's accomplished chromatic harp-work, seemingly selfless personality and production acumen unerringly bring out the best in everyone from Koko Taylor (a tough version of her "What Kind Of Man Is This?") and Little Milton (an extended version of his great take-off on Billy "The Kid" Emerson's "Red Hot" titled "6 Bits In Your Dollar" is an apt closer) to piano pounding Henry Gray (the utterly raw "Things Have Changed") and Nappy Brown--with his marvelous, raw-boned take on Smokey Hogg's advisory "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes." A few other highlights would have to include Pearson's melancholy workout on Bob Geddins' classic ghetto saga "Tin Pan Alley," Corritore's own pulsing instrumental "1815 West Roosevelt" (where he's complemented by gritty saxist Eddie Shaw), Pinetop Perkins' flamboyant sketch of his "Big Fat Mama" and Louisiana Red's tale of woe "Tell Me 'Bout It," that recalls John Lee Hooker in all his primitive eerie-ness. Other selections feature Carol Fran, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Honeyboy Edwards, Eddy Clearwater, Dave Riley, Tomcat Courtney, Eddy Clearwater and Chief Schabuttie Gilliame--who dat? Victoria Spivey, who released a host of albums in this "revue" format toward the end of her career, is smiling somewhere. Len "Kazoo Papa" Kunstadt too.

- Gary von Tersch

D Music (August 2010)

Buying a good harmonica Blues album is like buying a cow that provides you with fresh sweet milk every morning. Buying a great harmonica blues album like Bob Corritore and Friends, Harmonica Blues, is like buying a cow that not only provides you with fresh sweet milk but also comes with a deed to a South African diamond mine. Harmonica Blues is priceless. The line-up of talent that has been put together here is like an all-star team of Blues legends. From the opening song with Koko Taylor singing like only Koko can on "What Kind of Man is This?" to Pinetop Perkins talking about a "Big Fat Mama" to Little Milton singing "6 Bits in Your Dollar", this album offers you a history of the blues tutorial in only one hour.

Bob Corritore's harmonica acts as the tour guide on this walk through his newly built blues neighborhood. There aren't any houses in this neighborhood though; only juke joints and step inside any one and you're going to be blown away by the down-home blues being crafted by professionals. Every musician present here knows exactly what to play and say. Legends always seem to know when it's time to shut up and let others shine. A perfect example is "Tin Pan Alley" featuring Big Pete Pearson on vocals. The band on this song functions as a perfect machine fading in and out when needed and play so beautifully they damn near take ownership of the legendary song.

Blues music has a formula that anyone can play. But playing the blues with your hands and playing the blues with your soul are as different as Cubic Zorconia and Diamonds. The second song on the album "Tell Me 'Bout It" features one of the most widely known and used blues riffs ever, but it's played as though it is the very first time those notes have been played in that order. Louisiana Red handles the vocals here like only a seasoned Bluesman can, with class. He tells his story like he is one of the Brothers Grimm that has given up on nursery rhymes and moved onto something more important, the Blues. The elder Delta Statesman, Pinetop Perkins, makes an appearance and sounds better than ever singing "Big Fat Mama". His trademark voice and piano speed the blues along with a bit of the Delta boogie that would make a dead man tap his toe. This song, like the others, sounds like it was recorded 50 years ago and just found last week in someone's basement next to some old paint cans thanks to the brilliant production by Mr. Corritore. Bob has shown that after 40 years of playing the harp and producing, he still has not only has "it" but he is also the definition of "it".

This album is simply great Blues. Bob Corritore and his friends provide the listener with a solid hour of some of the best Roots and Blues music I've heard in a long time. Every "Friend" on Harmonica Blues has brought their "A" game and together they have made a beautiful argument against sitting in silence. With "Friends" like these, who needs any other CD's? 5 out of 5 stars

- Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

About.com:Blues (August 2010)

Blues harpist Bob Corritore is one of those vastly underrated musical "MVPs" that seem to forever haunt the edges of the blues scene. His raging harmonica riffs can be heard on over three-dozen recordings, and he's lent his skills in support of artists like Louisiana Red, Tomcat Courtney, Henry Grey, and others. His 2009 recording with Dave Riley, Lucky To Be Living, earned the pair near universal acclaim, and set the stage for the next act in Corritore's still-ascending career.

Truth is, Corritore was born to play the blues. As the story goes, he heard Muddy Waters on the radio at age 12 and had that epiphany that all blues lifers describe. He would buy blues albums, sneak into shows, and sit in with bluesman John Henry Davis on Chicago's Maxwell Street. Corritore would later hang around with, and learn from masters of the blues harp like Big Walter Horton, Louis Myers, Junior Wells, and Carey Bell on his way to working with artists like Tail Dragger, Big Pete Pearson, R.L. Burnside, and others as a session player and producer. Through the years, Corritore has also championed the blues as a radio host, club owner, and band leader.
Bob Corritore's Harmonica Blues

Billed to "Bob Corritore and Friends," Harmonica Blues is a collection of 20 years of recordings featuring Corritore's inspired harpwork. These 15 songs are more than a mere compilation, however, representing more of a tribute to the artists that Corritore has performed and recorded alongside, as well as a tip of the hat to traditional Chicago and country-styled blues. As for his "friends," a blues fan couldn't have asked for a more impressive roster of talent: Koko Taylor, Henry Gray, Nappy Brown, Tomcat Courtney, Honeyboy Edwards, Dave Riley, Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin, Pinetop Perkins, and many more!
"Blues harpist Bob Corritore"

Harmonica Blues kicks off with a raucous 2005 take on Koko Taylor's "What Kind Of Man Is This?," the Queen of the Blues rocking and rolling with a great vocal performance that shouts out from the speakers as Corritore's powerful harp blasts dance beneath Taylor's voice. "Steady Rollin'" Bob Margolin provides some subtle six-string work while the all-star rhythm section of bassist Bob Stroger and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith holds down the bottom line with a fat groove. Louisiana Red adds a little Delta dirt to the Chicago blues romp "Tell Me 'Bout It," Corritore laying down some raw, Little Walter-styled harp on top of Chris James' guitar and Patrick Rynn's bass.
Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes

Recorded in early 1998, "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes" features the late, great Nappy Brown on vocals on this fun R&B burner that sounds like it was put on tape during the 1950s. Corritore displays a more subtle side here, laying down a little harp when necessary, while Kid Ramos picks out a muted rhythm with great tone. The spry instrumental "1815 West Roosevelt" dates back to 1989, but sounds like 1959 as Corritore's harp-driven lead is complimented by Eddie Shaw's gale force sax and some damn fine guitar from Buddy Reed.

"That's All Right" is another throwback to an earlier era, Robert Lockwood Jr. howling the blues like it's 1949 again, Corritore's hypnotic harmonica riffs laid down nicely beside Henry Gray's energetic piano play. Listening to the song, it's hard to tell that it was recorded in 2001. Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater takes front and center on a rip-roaring take of his original "That's My Baby," his soulful, playful vocals accompanied by Corritore's stuttering harpwork and Chris James' steady rhythmic hand. The song rocks along nicely, bassist Patrick Rynn and drummer Jon Hiller providing a strong foundation for Clearwater's swaggering personality and guitar.
A Tale of Two Pianos

Henry Gray's piano on "Things Have Changed" is nearly lost beneath his raw, powerful vocals but if you dig deep and listen you'll hear some delightfully innovative keyboard pounding on this Chicago blues styled houserocker. Corritore's harp blasts through the mix like a reckless tornado while Johnny Rapp's guitar squeals with delight beneath the rhythms. Recorded in 1997, it's a picture-perfect example of the blues. By contrast, Pinetop Perkins lays down a fierce boogie-woogie pattern on "Big Fat Mama," his New Orleans-styled piano-pounding complimented by Corritore's often barely-audible but glib harpwork. Chris James cuts loose with an athletic solo about two and a half minutes in, then Perkins' piano plays "call and response" with Corritore's harp.

With Delta blues legend David "Honeyboy" Edwards on the microphone for "Bumble Bee," Harmonica Blues takes a trip back to the Mississippi juke-joints of Edwards' youth. While Edwards picks out a complex rhythm, Corritore blows his harp like crazy, and with James' guitar and Rynn's bass, the instruments often weave a tangled, fascinating web of sound. Another R&B legend, Little Milton, closes out Harmonica Blues with the up-tempo "6 Bits In Your Dollar," the kind of humorous, slightly bawdy song that knocks 'em out in the clubs. With Milton's strong vocals driving the song, Corritore's subtle harp work beneath, Henry Gray's explosions of piano, and Johnny Rapp's guitar threaded throughout, it's a magical blues moment.
The Reverend's Bottom Line

If I'm lying, I'm dying 'cause the Reverend is here to testify that you won't find a single fumbled moment or misstep on Harmonica Blues. The album does a great job in showcasing Bob Corritore's talents as a blues harp stylist, while the friends that he's assembled for these songs represent a virtual cream of the blues crop. If you like the blues, you're going to love this one! (Delta Groove Music, released August 17, 2010)

- Reverend Keith A. Gordon

BlogSpot: In A Blue Mood ( August 13, 2010)

Bob Corritore has been championing blues for four decades, first while living in Chicago and producing albums by under-recorded harmonica masters Little Willie Anderson and Big Leon Brooks, then later after moving to Phoenix, Arizona, as a radio programmer on KJZZ as well as the operator of The Rhythm Room where so many blues greats and lesser known acts have played over the past couple decades. Corritore is a pretty fair harmonica player with a swinging touch and a nice fat tone and has recorded and played with many over the years, which have been represented on various compilations under his name or by the artist (such as a superb Robert Lockwood album). Delta Groove has just issued a solid new compilation of 15 performances, “Harmonica Blues,” on which Corritore adds his harp to a varied group of artists, some of whom are no longer with us.

The opening “What Kind of Man Is This,” has him supporting the late Koko Taylor with a solid band that includes the Bob Margolin. Louisiana Red is in fine form backed by Corritore and Rhythm Room regulars Chris James and Patrick Rynn, while Dave Riley, with whom Corritore has shared albums with is solid on a tune by the late Frank Frost. Its interesting hearing the late Nappy Brown on the Piedmont-ish “Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes,” with atypical guitar from Kid Ramos and Johnny Rapp lending this a unique feel. Eddie Shaw is present for “1815 West Roosevelt,” an atmospheric instrumental with Shaw’s raspy sax complimenting Corritore’s harp, while Robert Lockwood reworks “That’s All Right,” with henry Gray on piano for a terrific take on the Jimmy Rogers classic. Big Pete Pearson really tears vocally into “Tin Pan Alley,” with Chris James and Johnny Rapp’s guitar among the sup[port and Corritore sounding terrific on chromatic harmonica.

Tomcat Courtney, another down home bluesman that Corritore has championed and recorded struts on “Sundown San Diego,” while That’s My Baby,” is a slightly frenzied Eddy Clearwater rocker. “Things Have Changed,” is a strong performance by pianist Henry Gray with the late Chico Chism, while Pinetop Perkins is heard on an engaging, if unremarkable “Big Fat Mama.” Chief Schabuttie Gilliame does a fresh take on “No More Doggin’” as if it was John Lee Hooker’s song, while Honeyboy Edwards has the company of Corritore, James and Rynn to help hold his performance of “Bumble Bee,” together. Carol Fran’s “I Need to Be Be’d With,” is a terrific vocal and the disc closes with a solid Little Milton performance that is a bit more down home in its flavor. It is a solid ending to a very spirited compilation of very good to superb performances. Bob Corritore’s solid harp enlivens all of these performances, but at no time does he overshadows the blues legends and masters he shares the recordings with on this most entertaining compilation of real deal blues

- Ron W

Blues Festival Guide (August 2010)

HARMONICA BLUES celebrates forty years since Bob Corritore first picked up a harp. He maximized his early proximity to the 1970s Chicago Blues scene, befriending and learning from masters Louis Myers, Eddie Taylor, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Little Willie Anderson, Big Leon Brooks, Lester Davenport, Big Smokey Smothers, Little Mack Simmons, and others. Since relocating to Phoenix, Arizona in 1981, Bob has been prolific as a player, producer, radio personality since ‘84, and owner of the renowned Rhythm Room with which he’s been associated for nineteen years now. In 1999 his debut CD ALL-STAR BLUES SESSIONS was issued, an impressive selection of his productions and his own playing. Two years later the anthology RHYTHM ROOM BLUES confirmed his taste and the quality of his associates. Since the release of ALL-STAR BLUES SESSIONS, Bob has built on that illustrious foundation, contributing his authoritative harp to about forty releases.

Now the hard work, dedication, love and talent through which Bob has built a remarkable life and career in the Blues are brought to bear on HARMONICA BLUES, fifteen diverse but uniformly rewarding tracks featuring his harp and production, and a virtual Who’s Who of traditional Blues recorded between 1989 and 2009. A listen, or just a glance at the credits, makes it clear how well Bob is able to recruit stellar Blues players, then combine and accompany them in ways that bring the best out of the featured artist. Lockwood’s emphatic and only recording of “That’s All Right,” the Blues classic which he reputedly wrote, is a historic and musical highlight. Koko Taylor, Eddie Shaw, Eddy Clearwater, Henry Gray, Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards and Little Milton are other leaders with deep Chicago roots, while Eddie Taylor Jr., Bob Stroger, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Chico Chism, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, Bob Riedy and Jon Hiller contribute as sidemen. But HARMONICA BLUES encompasses far more than Bob’s Chicago background, thanks to the likes of Louisiana Red, Dave Riley, Nappy Brown, Big Pete Pearson, Tomcat Courtney, Chief Schiabutte Gilliame and Carol Fran, and accompanists including Bob Margolin, Kid Ramos, Buddy Reed, David Maxwell and others including some Rhythm Room stalwarts.

Blues News (Finland) (Fall 2010)

Bob Corritore on bluesin monitoimimies. Oman nettisivuston pitäjä, radiopersoona omalla ohjelmallaan Phoenixissa mutta ennen kaikkea huuliharpisti. Juuri viimeksi mainittu osaamisalue on se, mistä hänet tunnetaan parhaiten. Tämän, niin kuin monen muun harpistin dilemma on se, että hän ei laula. Bob on radio-ohjelmassaan jammaillut lukuisten bluesartistien kanssa ja tämä on kolmas kooste kyseisistä sessioista.

Bob on kaikilla raidoilla tärkeässä roolissa. Vierailijat eivät myökään ole divaritason artisteja. Koko Taylor avaa levyn väkevällä tulkinnallaan, jossa taustoja soittaa mm Bob Margolin. Osa levyn kappaleista on nimenomaan sähköbluesia ja laulajalista on yhtä bluesin juhlaa. Akustiset kappaleet antavat ehkä kuitenkin eniten tilaa Corritoren harpputaidoille. Juttelin Bobin kanssa ja hän kertoi, että tämä levy heijastelee hänen elämänsä parhaita hetkiä.

Erityismaininnan hän antaa instrumentaalille ”1815 West Roosevelt”. Siinä osoitteessa Chicagon West Sidella toimi Eddie’s Place –niminen klubi jonka omisti Eddie Shaw. Howlin’ Wolf soitti siellä säännöllisesti. ”Kävin siellä ensimmäistä kertaa 1974. Wolf bändeineen tarjosi illasta toiseen mahtavan esityksen! Eräällä keikalla hänellä oli uusi rumpali Chico Chism joka korvasi Robert Plunkettin. Hänestä tuli paras ystäväni ja musiikillinen oikea käteni. Tämä kappale on omistettu tuolle klubille ja siinä ovat mukana loistava saksofonisti Eddie Shaw sekä hienoa kitarointia esittävä Buddy Reed.”

Tämän mainion albumin monilukuisesta kanssasoittaja ja –laulajalistasta aiemmin mainittujen lisäksi persoonallisimpia ovat Little Milton, Robert Lockwood Jr, Honeyboy Edwards ja Carol Fran. Pianisti Henry Gray antaa myös hienoja ääninäytteitä. Mihin tällaista levyä sitten tarvitaan? Vastaus on helppo. Ensinnäkin erinomaisen huuliharpistin, Bob Corritoren taitojen dokumentoimiseksi. Ja toisaalta hänen kanssaan soittaneiden ja laulaneiden alan mestareiden hienojen tulkintojen tarjoamiseksi meille kaikille.

- Harri Haka

Nashville Blues Society (August 25, 2010)

Born in Chicago in 1956, Bob Corritore's life-altering moment occurred when he was 12 years old, and heard Muddy Waters on the radio. He immersed himself into learning everything he could about playing the harp, and began to frequent Maxwell Street, where the legends busked on the street corners by day and in the clubs at night.

Since those days, Bob has played with and befriended 'em all, and he proudly celebrates his 40th year of playing the harp with his latest Delta Groove release, "Harmonica Blues," by Bob Corritore and Friends. And what a "friends" list he has--these fifteen cuts were recorded between 1989-2009 with not only a virtual "who's who" in Chicago blues, but a hugely impressive cast of backing musicians as well. Many of the players who aided Bob early on in his career are here to support him on this set. "1815 West Roosevelt" is a great example of this. It's an instrumental cut that finds Bob trading licks with sax legend Eddie Shaw. The song, recorded in 1989, serves as a tribute to Shaw, who owned the club located at that address, and who encouraged Bob to sit in whenever possible to gain valuable club experience.

One thing that always impressed us about Bob's playing is that he never "overpowers" the person he is backing. He is powerful when the song calls for it, or subtle if need be, and always seems to bring out the best in everyone in the band.

The set kicks off with Bob blowing over a vibrant vocal from Koko Taylor, recorded in 2005, and entitled "What Kind Of Man Is This?" It also features Bob Margolin on guitar, Bob Stroger on bass, and Willie Smith on the drums. That unmistakably-deep baritone of Nappy Brown makes an appearance from 1988 with "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes," with guitar from David "Kid" Ramos, and Chico Chism on drums. Bob's recording partner from the delta, Dave Riley, appears on a spirited "Things You Do," while Robert Lockwood, Jr. joins with Bob on harp and Henry Gray on piano for a boisterous read of "That's All Right."

Bob is equally at home on the big ol' chromatic harp, too. With Eddie "The Chief" Clearwater on vocals, Bob blows a mean tribute to Carey Bell on "That's My Baby," then slows it down to a simmer on "Tin Pan Alley" with vocals from Big Pete Pearson.

We had two favorites, too. Little Milton Campbell gives everyone a lesson in "old-school" sayings in the set-closing "6 Bits In Your Dollar." And, one of Bob's best friends, Iverson Minter, better known as Louisiana Red, gives a sprightly read of the stop-time tale of a really no-good woman called "Tell Me 'Bout It," which also features David Maxwell on piano, Chris James on guitar, and Patrick Rynn on bass.

Bob Corritore moved to Phoenix, AZ, in 1981, and has since added successful club owner and radio personality to his resume'. He has never been one to put himself or his career first, preferring instead to help others the way he was helped by his mentors back in his youth in Chicago. "Harmonica Blues" brings it all together, and is a perfect showcase for Bob's incredible harp chops! Until next time....Sheryl and Don Crow.

A1 Blues (August 27, 2010)

Talking to Bob (Corritore) reminds me of talking to Bob Koester at Delmark Records or Bruce Iglauer at Alligator Records because he has such a vast knowledge of the blues. He’s met or played with most everyone. Like the other two men, Bob works very hard to help other blues artists whenever possible, as well as recording some great blues himself.

Bob Corritore has played harmonica on over 35 releases to date. He hung around great harp players such as Big Walter Horton, Little Mack Simmons, Louis Myers, Junior Wells, Big John Wrencher, and Carey Bell, receiving harmonica tips and encouragement from many of them. He would regularly see the Aces, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Billy Boy Arnold, John Brim, Sunnyland Slim, Smokey Smothers, Eddie Taylor, and in many cases became personal friends with these blues veterans. Corritore worked with Tail Dragger, Big Moose Walker, Willie Buck, Louis and Dave Myers, and Eddie Taylor in the late 70s and early 80s. Harmonica Blues is a wonderful CD with a real who’s who of the blues world. Since Bob never sings, he has brought guest artists in to do the singing like Little Milton, Honeyboy Edwards, Nappy Brown, Eddy Clearwater, Big Pete Pearson, Koko Taylor and Dave Riley. If you think these names are impressive wait till you hear the music, it’s even better. This is a must have CD, you will love every track, and why wait till it wins a bunch of blues awards. Get Harmonica Blues today.

- A1 Mark

Colorado Biz (August 27, 2010)

What to do if you’re a veteran blues harmonica player who doesn’t sing but wants to put out a solo disc? How about surround yourself with some of your friends and heroes. That recipe suits Bob Corritore well on this new set of traditional Chicago blues. You have to appreciate Corritore’s journey to assemble this 15-song set recorded between 1989 and 2009, jampacked with performances by some of the best in the blues. There’s a bittersweet side to this collection, too, since some of the players are no longer with us.The album kicks off with the late Koko Taylor singing her self-penned “What Kind of Man is This?” featuring Bob Margolin on guitar and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith on drums. Corritore plays just a beat behind Taylor’s vocal, punctuating her big, brassy voice with a powerful but restrained wails and moans. He gets to punch up the volume a bit for the solo, of course.Other late great icons appearing include Nappy Brown (“Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes”), Little Milton (“6 Bits in Your Dollar) and Robert Lockwood Jr. (“That’s All Right”). They’re nestled along songs featuring such still-active players as Eddy Clearwater (“That’s My Baby”) and Pinetop Perkins (“Big Fat Mama”).Corritore, long-time owner of the Rhythm Room club in Phoenix, includes performances from some of his blues friends who also relocated to Phoenix. Guitarist/singer Louisiana Red’s spoken word intro to “Tell Me ‘Bout It” lends it an instant down-home charm. Guitarist/singer Dave Riley – with whom Corritore has recorded two duet albums in recent years – pays tribute to his late mentor and bandmate Frank Frost.

- Mike Cote

Baltimore Blues Society (August 2010)

Fifteen tracks recorded between 1989-2009 with an astonishing array of blues legends, all-stars and deluxe side men anchored by Corritore’s tasty harp work make this a must have disc. Koko Taylor, Nappy Brown, Robert Lockwood Jr., Little Milton. Louisiana Red, Eddy Clearwater, Eddie Shaw, Chico Chism, Big Pete Pearson, Henry Gray, Kid Ramos, Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin, Bob Stoger, Willie”Big Eyes”Smith and Dave Maxwell all make at least one appearance along with rising stars Patrick Rynn and Chris James. Highlights include Lockwoods’ “That’s All Right” which is the best known cover on the disc and Nappy Brown singing “Baby Don’t Tear My Clothes.”

- Bob Cofey

Seattle PI (August 2010)

Bob Corritore feat. Koko Taylor – "What Kind Of Man Is This?:" Talk about an all-star recording with this one. You get the great Koko Taylor on vocals, Bob Margolin on guitar, Bob Stroger on bass, and Corritore blowing some sweet, vintage harp. That collection of talent produces a simmering slab of blues that oozes pure, vintage Chicago. Corritore doesn't swiping anyone's licks but he demonstrates a deep, beautiful knowledge of the legacy of the great Walters of Chicago (Little Walter, Big Walter Horton).

- Josh Hathaway

Blues Magazine (Netherlands) (August 26, 2010)

De naam Bob Corritore, is al tijden lang verbonden met de Chicago blues, en eenn gevestigd begrip op zich. deze man heeft een enorme staat van dienst achter zich, en zo veel gedaan, dat het teveel zou zijn om daar allemaal over uit te wijden. Doch wil ik U wel een klein beeld geven van deze man.

Bob werd in 1956 geboren in Chicago en kwam al vroeg met de blues in aaraking. Muddy Waters zorgde ervoor dat de stoppen finaal door sloegen bij hem, en al heel snel was ie te vinden bij elke blues optreden in de buurt. en kwam daar in aanraking met Junior Wells, Walter Horton, stuk voor stuk allemaal grote jongens, die later ook vrienden van hem werden.
De Bluesharp is zijn ding altijd geweest en nu al zo een 40 jaar dus. Die vriendschap van velen heeft werkelijk boekdelen gesproken, want in het begin van de jaren tachtig, speelde hij al regelmatig met Louisiana red en ook Big Pete Pearson kwam toen al in the picture. Een man die later een voortreffelijk album zou af leveren. wat te denken van Javina Magness, waar hij een tijdje in de band heeft gespeeld.

Daarbij was deze man dan ook nog radio man, en werd ook nog eens producer van de nodige albums van genoemde mensen en meerdere. Hij heeft zelf op zo’n 35 albums gespeeld. In 1999 kwam zijn eigen album uit, genaamd All Stars Blues Sessions, en vervolgens melde onze vriend zich dan ook nog bij Pinetop Perkins. 2008, stond hij aan de wieg van het succes van Chris James en Patrick Ryn, en de lijst wordt maar langer en langer.

Nu dan, het nieuwe album genaamd Harmonica Blues. Dit is een overizht van bijzondere opnames die gemaakt werden tussen 2000 en 2009 met daarop de nodige vrienden die het album invullen. Dat deze mensen veel te betekenen hebben, zal niemand verwonderen, want dit zijn mensen die gewoon de Chicago Blues en more vertolken als geen ander. Toch kent dit album heel veel variatie, en dat is dan ook door de verscheidenheid van de stemmen die je hoort. je hoort o.m Carol Fran/pas geleden ook een album uitgebracht. Big pete pearson, die echt een strot heeft die klinkt als een klok, de genoemde Perkins, altijd goed natuurlijk, maar ook Henry Cray, en Little MIlton leveren hun bijdragen.

Het album is gewoon een feestje op zich kan ik U zeggen, en de band is geweldig, met Bob margolin, Dave RileylChris James, Patrick Rynn. Kid Ramos en ga zo maar door, het neusje van de zalm dus. Hoogtepunten dan maar even. Het album opent met de legende Koko Taylor met een echte dreigende chicago shuffle What Kind Of man Is This? en een stem die door merg en been heen gaat, Dan Louisiana Red in een slow blues om te zoenen Tell Me About It, met een scheurende harp er in. Swing it out, effen met een akelig goede Eddy Shaw op de sax natuurlijk in 1815 West Roosevelt, een erg goede instrumental. Vervolgens komen we op een nummer dat lijkt op de gewone Tin Pan Alley, maarr wel anders is, en geweldig vertolkt door Big Pete Pearson, en voor mij absoluut een van de lievelingen van dit album..

het nummer Things have Changed met vocals van Henry cray is ook een parel van een slow blues moet ik zeggen. Natuurlijk is Pinetop ook van de partij in Big Fatt mama, en driving boogie track, die heerlijk klinkt. Het laatste nummer laat Little Milton horen in de vocals en hoe, uniek wat deze man deed altijd als je het mij vraagt. het is een schijf, die blijft boeien, door de veel stemmigheid, en uitstekende vertolkingen van Pure Chicago Blues Nummers, en jawel door Bobby zelf ook geproduceerd.

- Door Frank van Engelen

Blues Bytes (September 2010)

Harmonica Blues (Delta Groove Music) marks Bob Corritore’s 40^th anniversary as a harmonica player. Corritore’s life was changed when, as a 12 year old, he heard Muddy Waters on the radio. Within a year, he was playing harmonica and stocking up on blues records. He got his start backing John Henry Davis on Maxwell Street, and hung out with harp players like Big Walter Horton, Carey Bell, Little Mack Simmons, Louis Myers, and Junior Wells, learning from each and every one of them. In the late 70’s/early 80’s, he produced recordings for artists like Little Willie Anderson and Big Leon Brooks before heading south to Phoenix.

In Phoenix, Corritore made his mark as a performer (with Big Pete Peterson, Chico Chism, Janiva Magness, Chief Schabuttie Gilliame, among others), a radio show host (“These Lowdown Blues” on KJZZ since 1984), and a club owner (the Rhythm Room, since 1991). Over time, Corritore and his band would back many great blues artists on shows and recording sessions. He’s released many of these performances on some outstanding collections since 1999 for various labels. Harmonica Blues captures 15 fantastic performances recorded over the past couple of decades, teaming Corritore with an All-Star cast of blues legends.

While the collection pays tribute to Corritore’s Chicago roots with appearances by Koko Taylor (“What Kind of Man Is This?” from 2005), Eddy Clearwater (“That’s My Baby,” a tribute to Carey Bell), piano masters Henry Gray (“Things Have Changed”) and Pinetop Perkins (“Big Fat Mama”), one track that really stands out is Robert Lockwood, Jr.’s 2001 reading of “That’s All Right.” Lockwood allegedly authored the Chicago classic and this was his first, and only recording of it. Other contributors with Chicago roots include Honeyboy Edwards (“Bumble Bee”), Little Milton (the epic closer, “6 Bits In Your Dollar”), and sidemen Bob Stroger, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Chico Chism (drums), Chris James (guitar), Patrick Rynn (bass), and Bob Margolin (guitar).

There’s much more than a Chicago flavor to the disc, though, with performances by Dave Riley (Frank Frost’s “Things You Do”), Louisiana Red (“Tell Me ‘Bout It”), Carol Fran (“I Need To Be Be’d With”), Nappy Brown (“Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes”), Big Pete Pearson (“Tin Pan Alley”), Chief Schiabutte Gilliame (“No More Doggin’”), and Tomcat Courtney (“Sundown San Diego”).

Corritore provides stellar harp in support of these artists, and gets the spotlight on “1815 West Roosevelt,” with Eddie Shaw, an instrumental paying tribute to Shaw’s former club that was located at that address.

Thank goodness for Bob Corritore, who’s devoted most of his life to not only getting the blues out there on the airwaves and in the clubs, but also for producing some fantastic recordings by blues legends that we might have missed otherwise. Harmonica Blues is as essential a purchase as there can be for a true blues fan.

-Graham Clarke

Blues in Britain (September 2010)

DeltaGroove’s latest two offerings will be seen as “manna from heaven” for all lovers of harmonica blues – as they feature two of the genre’s most talented performers in Mitch Kashmar and Bob Corritore.

I have reviewed several Bob Corritore projects, most recently on the Blue Witch label, and have also had the pleasure of seeing him at Phoenix’s Rhythm Room – and have always been impressed by the quality of his harp work and his natural ability to provide stunningly sympathetic accompaniment to a legion of veteran blues artists – so it doesn’t surprise me to find out that his early mentors were some of my favourite harp players – Big Leon Brooks, Lester Davenport and Little Willie Anderson.

The tracks on this set were recorded between 1989 and 2009, and feature a plethora of well and lesser known blues artists – all masters (or mistresses) within their field – with a cast of musicians that includes the likes of Bob Margolin, David Maxwell, Kid Ramos, Chico Chism, Eddie Shaw, Bob Riedy, Tom Mahon et al.

The set comprises fifteen tracks, so I will have to cherry-pick a sample to give an idea of the breadth of traditional blues that are covered in this set.

The set opens with a typically powerful and gritty performance from Koko Taylor, “What Kind Of Man Is This?” allowing the band (featuring Bob Stroger, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Bob Margolin) led by Corritore’s harp to give a masterclass in Chi-Town ensemble playing. “Tell Me ‘Bout It” finds Louisiana Red in vintage Muddy mode accentuated by Corritore’s Little Walter styled harp – Frank Frost’s “Things You Do” is given an aggressive Jimmy Reed feel by Dave Riley and Corritore – “Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes”, fired by deep resonant vocals, proves that Nappy Brown was as capable of delivering Mississippi and Chicago blues as he was of the city blues for which he is renowned – whilst Big Pete Pearson’s anguished rendition of “Tin Pan Alley” is enhanced by plaintive harp, guitar and piano.

Chief Schabuttie Gilliame’s “No More Doggin’” is a Wolf inspired rough diamond – Carol Fran’s “I Need To Be Be’d With” is another real surprise as she proves to be a “mistress” of Chicago blues – as does Little Milton on “6 Bits In Your Dollar” – whilst Corritore steps out front himself with a harp tour de force on the raunchy instrumental “1815 West Roosevelt”.

There are great performances from Robert Lockwood Jr, Tomcat Courtney, Eddy Clearwater, Henry Gray, Pinetop Perkins and Honeyboy Edwards – all of which deserve a more detailed appraisal – not just for their personal contributions but also for the sheer quality of Corritore’s, always sympathetic, accompaniment.

A must purchase!
Ratings 10/10

- Mike Rainsford

Crossroads Blues Society (September 2010)

Bob Corritore’s latest release from Delta Groove Music, “Bob Corritore And Friends Harmonica Blues”, is very exciting to me! This CD is over one hour of Bob Corritore’s harmonica talent being showcased on 15 tunes with 14 different blues singers. Also we are treated to a great instrumental track, “1815 West Roosevelt”, featuring Eddie Shaw on the saxophone. What a treat this track is.

If you are not familiar with the name Bob Corritore, this recording will make you know who he is. He is one fine understated, underrated harmonica player! For about 40 years he has been playing harmonica with just about anyone that plays or sings the blues. He is a very traditional, old school blues harp player. Do not look for the Jason Ricci style here. That is great stuff also. He has developed his own style with great tone, which is an essential part of blues harp. Bob’s style can be said to be somewhat understated but always tastefully present.

Corritore is very successful at being a blues artist. Besides recording and performing the blues he also owns his blues club in Phoenix, AZ, The Rhythm Room, has a weekly blues radio show and sends out a blues newsletter on the internet. Bob is dedicated to the blues.

The lineup of blues singers on this project is like a list of blues history. Starting out with Koko Taylor’s, “What Kind Of Man Is This?” is a great start. Koko’s heavy vocal style and Bob’s harmonica just compliment each other all the way through this tune. Not to list the entire vocalist on the recording does not seen fair. When you have a list including Louisiana Red, Eddy Clearwater, Dave Riley, Honeyboy Edwards, Nappy Brown and Big Pete Peterson you realize why I say this. You know that this CD is serious blues material!“Big Fat Mama” with Pinetop Perkins on piano and vocals is a standout tune on this CD. How do you go wrong with lyrics such as, “big fat mama with meat shaking on her bones”? Who would we offend with this line of thought? Pinetop plays some great piano on this track and with Bob’s harp solo this is a fine tune.

Also included in the list is Chief Shabuttie Gilliame with Kid Ramos doing “No More Doggin’” and “Bumble Bee’ with Honeyboy Edwards to name a couple. The great artist on this disc just goes on and on. You do not have to just be a fan of blues harmonica to enjoy Bob Corritore’s Delta Groove CD, “Bob Corritorre And Friends Blues Harmonica”. This recording is truly a blues lover’s CD to listen to. From the start to the finish it is all about the blues and how blues should be felt and played. There is not one bad or iffy tune on the project, check it out.

- Harmonica Joe

WVKR (August 2010)

A collection of live-in-the-broadcast-studio recordings from Mr. Corritore’s long-running radio program. Besides the caliber of the guests, the thing that makes this special is that he is in there jamming with each one, making these one-of-a-kind performances with a spontaneous edge. Any track could be a highlight, but I’ve been playing Koko Taylor, What Kind of Man is This (1), Nappy Brown, Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes (4), Big Pete Pearson, Tin Pan Alley (7), Henry Gray, Things Have Changed (10), Little Milton, Six Bits in Your Dollar (15).

- Nicholas de Leeuw

Baby Sue (August 2010)

In the world of blues and harmonica, Bob Corritore has done it all. He's a player...a writer...a disc jockey...a producer...and an overall enthusiast for the genre. Bob got his start in the 1970s in Chicago learning from and playing with some of the greats. Then in 1981 he relocated to Phoenix, Arizona where he continues to manage and run the well-known club the Rhythm Room. Harmonica Blues is being released to celebrate Bob's forty years in the business. The disc collects material featuring Bob's harmonica playing as well as tracks he has produced. The number of artists featured here is staggering. Some of the featured players include Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Robert Lockwood Jr., Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Henry Gray, Nappy Brown, and Eddy Clearwater to name a few. Corritore is so well respected and admired in Phoenix that the city even named a day in his honor. Seems almost impossible to cram 40 years' worth of work onto a single disc...but these fifteen tracks give an excellent overview of what this man's career is all about. High points include "What Kind of Man Is This?", "That's All Right," "Big Fat Mama," and "Bumble Bee." Good rockin' stuff with guts.

- LMNOP

The Ripple Effect (August 2010)

Although the modern mouth organ was invented in the early 1820's in Vienna, Austria, it wasn't until 1857 when Matthias Hohner shipped one of his creations to relatives in the United States that the blues harp began to evolve. It is said that it was so portable and such a hit that even Abraham Lincoln carried one in his pocket. It became the Civil War soldier's portable orchestra and was known to be played out west by lawman Wyatt Earp and outlaw Billy the Kid.

Harmonicas were first recorded in the 1920's on "race records" - music intended for African Americans. These recordings memorialized great blues harp players such as Walter Horton and Sonny Terry. The second great wave of American blues pocket piano players came in the 1950's with such notables as Sonny Boy Williamson, II, Little Walter, Big Walter Horton and Howlin' Wolf. This was the era when the mouth harp met the microphone which allowed the instrument to be heard above the electric guitar and drums. The sound became integral to the bump and grind music of the day. It is this era, the 1950's-early 60's, that Bob Corritore and Friends recapture on Harmonica Blues.

The disk is a 15 track compendium of recordings from 1989 through 2009 of Corritore with some of the greatest blues musicians of the 1950's and early 1960's. Only one song, "1815 West Roosevelt," was written by Corritore. It is an instrumental named after the address for a long gone blues joint called "Club Alex" on the West Side of Chicago that use to feature Muddy Waters. The remainder of the album is comprised of blues music written and performed by the creme de la creme of early Delta and Chicago blues artists.

For 20 years Corritore has been the host of Arizona radio station KJZZ's weekly radio show "Those Lowdown Blues" a show that brings the music of, and interviews with, bluesmasters to the desert airwaves. Corritore also books all of the entertainment for his nightclub the Rhythm Room (Phoenix's top spot for national touring blues talent.) As you hear on this record he is also a world class blues harmonica player. As a result Corritore was able to assemble a veritable Who's Who list of artists to play with him on "Harmonica Blues."

The album features the late Koko Taylor singing her song "What Kind Of Man Is This?" with Muddy Waters' guitarist Bob Margolin and drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Legendary Louisiana Red sings his wife's song "Tell Me 'Bout It." Dave Riley, probably best known as the engineer for the Parliament-Funkadelic bands, warbles delta blues harmonica immortal Frank Frost's "Things You Do." The late Nappy Brown wails on the late Texas country blues legend Andrew "Smokey" Hogg's "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes." Robert Lockwood, Jr. performs the immortal Jimmy Rogers' "That's All Right." Big Pete Pearson, known as Arizona's King of the Blues, tackles the late Bob Geddins' "Tin Pan Alley." Tomcat Courtney, a San Diego blues guitarist who didn't release his first album until he was 78 years old, belts out his blues "Sundown San Diego." Eddie "The Chief" Clearwater, a Chicago blues legend and contemporary of Magic Sam, Otis Rush and Freddie King, shreds on vocals and guitar on his blues anthem "That's My Baby." Howlin' Wolf's main piano player until 1968, Henry Gray, sings his song "Things Have Changed" with the late great Chico Chism, Howlin' Wolf's last drummer, on drums. Chism also joins the inimitable and seemingly ageless Pinetop Perkins on Perkins' tune "Big Fat Mama." Chief Schabuttie Gilliame, a local Phoenix blues legend, performs his blues "No More Doggin'." Dave "Honeyboy" Edwards who, along with Pinetop Perkins are the oldest Delta blues players still touring the US, sings the blues of legendary Memphis Minnie McCoy's called "Bumble Bee." Lafayette, Louisiana's Carol Fran plays her song "I Need To Be Be'd With" while the late Chism again sets the pace on drums. The album ends with the late Little Milton singing his "6 Bits In Your Dollar" accompanied by Henry Gray and Chism. Throughout it all Corritore blows a mean harp as an accompaniment to the work of these blues legends.

This is a special album. It contains what may be some of the very last recordings made by some of the greatest blues artists and sidemen of the 20th Century. To be able to bring them all together in one album on which they play with such joy, abandon and soul is a thing of beauty. The album itself is a graduate level class in the harmonica blues given by a master instructor surrounded by the originals who pioneered the genre.

If you love Delta and Chicago harmonica blues this recording is a must have for your collection.

- Old School

C.W. 's Music Blog (August 2010)

Bob Corritore has been a fan of The Blues every since he first heard Muddy Waters playing on his radio at the young age of 12 years old. Since then he’s been playing his blues’ harp (over 40 years now) along with being featured on over 35 records to date.

For his latest release Corritore has put together 15 traditional blues songs featuring some of his friends that were recorded between the years of 1989 and 2009.

While Corritore is firmly rooted in his Chicago blues style of music he isn’t afraid to also mix in several other styles with the impressive list of blues vocalist that are found on ‘Harmonica Blues.’

My favorite tracks include the instrumental, “1815 West Roosevelt” that takes its name from a blues club located at that address in Chicago, that’s owned by Eddie Shaw who performs some wonderful sax work in the song. The song also highlights Corritore splendid harp work.

Other highlight tracks include, “Tell Me ‘Bout It” (ft. Louisiana Red), “Big Fat Mama” (ft. Pinetop Perkins), and “I Need to Be Be’d Wit” (ft. Carol Fran).

Bob Corritore and Friends release, ‘Harmonica Blues’, features over one full hour of very well done diverse blues music.

- C.W. Ross

The Blues Report - Blues Underground Network (August 2010)

There are Blues Albums out their that are absolutely essential to have in one's collection, and Bob Corritore And Friends "Harmonica Blues" is certainly one of them.

Bob Corritore is a extremely well known Harmonica player who has played with many blues legends over the last 40 years. Bob Corritore's story, however, doesn't start and stop with that fact, far from it. Bob Corritore is also a tireless advocate for the blues, taking on many roles such as Band Leader, Club Owner, Record Producer, and Radio Show Host. He also finds a little time to keep us all informed about blues via his newsletter, the Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter, which I look forward to receiving each week.

As mentioned earlier, Corritore has been playing Harmonica for 40 years and to celebrate that milestone, Bob Corritore And Friends "Harmonica Blues" was created.

"Harmonica Blues" consists of 15 gems featuring live performances with Bob and what is described on the liners notes as, "a virtual who's who of traditional Blues". From Little Milton ("6 Bits In Your Dollar"), to Koko Taylor ("What Kind of Man Is This?"), from Honeyboy Edwards ("Bumble Bee") to Pinetop Perkins ("Big Fat Mama"), this Album has them all and many many of the greats past and present. In fact I counted well over 20 performers on this incredible homage to the blues. "Harmonica Blues" covers a 20 year span of performances from 1989 to 2009.

The one thing that really stood out for me, on "Harmonica Blues", was the way Corritore' blended in with the rest of the performers, only letting loose when necessary, never stepping on anyones toes. That of course is what Bob Corritore is all about, respect for the blues and the many many artists that have helped him on his amazing 40 year journey.

I give Bob Corritore And Friends "Harmonica Blues", my highest rating of 5*****. It is a rare treasure of an Album and a more than welcome and a very important addition, to the ever growing collection of Blues History.

- John Vermilyea

Juke Joint Soul (September 8, 2010)

It's a rare record to find that the headliner for the CD isn't really the main focus. No, in fact, I've never really heard of it all. If you ask Bob Corritore, this record wasn't and isn't about him. He'll tell you that he's been lucky over the years to play with his heroes. This album is all about those heroes. Corritore just happened to be the lucky guy to have caught it all on tape and get to lay down his usual, tasteful traditional blues harp stylings on the side. It's great to see that Bob has found a major label home for all of his wonderful recordings. It will surely give him and all of his heroes some much needed awareness, praise, and exposure that's definitely not been lacking but sure has been lull over the past few years. Sometimes the blues world takes for granted the masters and the ground layers, the early innovators who truly made this America's music. Corritore has never forgotten them and this is his way of paying tribute. With only one of these tracks seeing light on a disc from almost 10 years ago, all of the material presented is newly released. It's great hearing such legendary (and sadly, departed from us) Koko Taylor, Rober Lockwood Jr., Little Milton and Nappy Brown in these wonderful stripped down settings. If you read the front cover, you'll find the other living legends among us who also got to partake in some of these wonderful recordings (sorry, too many to list). If the collector or traditional blues radar went off when you heard about this album, it serves you right. You won't be disappointed. Corritore now has an even larger stage thanks to Delta Groove to show us that the traditional blues is still alive and well and walking among us.

- Ben Harpman

Dala-Demokraten (Sweden) (Sept 8, 2010)

Bob Corritore and friends ”Harmonica blues” (Delta groove/Soundcarrier) är mumma för oss som älskar munspelare som Pelle Lindström. Fast Bob har ”bara” spelat munspel i 40 år och sjunger inte. Å andra sidan har han lirat med flertalet storheter i USA. Bland 15 inspelningar från 1989-2009 är, utöver instrumentella ”1815 West Roosevelt”, Louisiana Red i ”Tell me ‘bout it” och Eddy Clearwatar i ”That’s my baby” två toppar. HANS BLOOM Bob Corritore and friends ”Harmonica blues” (Delta groove/Soundcarrier) är mumma för oss som älskar munspelare som Pelle Lindström. Fast Bob har ”bara” spelat munspel i 40 år och sjunger inte. Å andra sidan har han lirat med flertalet storheter i USA. Bland 15 inspelningar från 1989-2009 är, utöver instrumentella ”1815 West Roosevelt”, Louisiana Red i ”Tell me ‘bout it” och Eddy Clearwatar i ”That’s my baby” två toppar.

- Hans Bloom

Zookeeper Online (August 10, 2010)

A powerful collection of different blues legends being accompanied by Arizona blues harpist. All Strong performances.

-The Bird Of Paradise

Blues Blast Magazine (September 3, 2010)

The folks in Phoenix Arizona really ought to have a Bob Corritore day to celebrate the life and works of a man in their city who has done more for the blues in recent years than any one man could reasonably be expected to do!

As a harmonica player Bob has supported and practically every top class or blues musician and that you can think of. He has a back catalogue that anybody could be proud of and not surprisingly he wants to show it off. This CD is a selection of 16 tracks featuring his work with people like Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Louisiana Red, Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, and, as they say, of many, many more.

You could write a good deal about every track on this CD but I shall have to be selective. For me, the outstanding track is Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes, the old Smokey Hogg number, if only because of the wonderful bass baritone voice of Nappy Brown on vocals! Another outstanding tracks include a terrific version of Bumble Bee, the Memphis Minnie a song in the with Chris James on guitar and Patrick Rynn on bass, say nothing of the piano and vocal work Pinetop Perkins (also with James and Rynn) on that wonderful old stalwart Big Fat Mama.

Frankly, there’s not a track on this CD that is not worth listening to and many of them are outstanding. Corritore is always an impressive player with a control and a fire that is often second to none. If you are interested in harmonica blues this is an essential purchase, and for those that are just lovers of the blues, this one should not be missed either. Go for it!

- Ian McKenzie

Audiophile Audition (September 9, 2010)

A blues artist is a combination of preservationist, historian, collaborator and fervent disciple. Bob Corritore has earned this distinction. In a classic blues narrative, he was mesmerized by a Muddy Waters record at age twelve, and a lifelong passion for the American musical genre began. He would pay his dues, learning from harmonica greats like Big Walter Horton, Junior Welles, Willie Anderson, Lester Davenport and Little Mack Simmons, among many others. He has become a bastion of the modern blues movement, respectful of the past, committed to the present.

Corritore has built a career as a recording artist, sideman and band leader. He has recorded or produced over forty albums. After moving to Arizona, he teamed up with Big Pete Pearson, began a long radio career (playing blues music, of course), and opened his own club. He would utilize the club as a vehicle to attract the greatest blues performers to Arizona. His debut CD, All-Star Blues Sessions received critical acclaim, and established a reputation as a standard bearer for authenticity. He would continue to perform live, record, and become involved with blues festivals around the world.

Harmonica Blues is a compilation spanning twenty years. It is a testament to Corritore’s stature as an artist and blues historian. Fifteen tracks of impeccable music are what you get. As expected, there is a plethora of guest vocalists. On the opening track, Koko Taylor shines on “What Kind of Man Is This?” with a snarling take on love gone wrong. Louisiana Red, a longtime colleague gives a traditional treatment on “Tell Me ‘Bout It”, propelled by Corritore’s raw harp play. A smoky atmospheric “Tin Pan Alley” becomes transformative, as Big Pete Pearson howls in front of another spirited harmonica solo, and smooth piano runs by Clay Swafford. Piano blues flourishes elevate the Boogie Woogie romp, “Big Fat Mama”, as Pinetop Perkins trades solos with guitarist, Chris James. Henry Gray brings a soulful Chicago sound on “Things Have Changed”, exhibiting a looser piano coloration, complementing the intense vocals and deftly executed wailing of Corritore.

The Delta-based sound finds Honeyboy Edwards laying down a sultry rhythm, accompanied by hoarse vocals, in a deft musical arrangement of “Bumble Bee”. A lone instrumental, “1815 West Roosevelt” is an inspired jam with a piercing saxophone (Eddie Shaw), sustained, harmonica leads, and tight rhythm section (James and Patrick Rynn are stellar throughout the album.). Baritone voicing by Nappy Brown denotes a touch of humor in “Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes”, while the inimitable Little Milton tells an amusing blues history lesson on the final cut, “6 Bits in Your Dollar”.

Bob Corritire’s dedication, generosity and commitment make Harmonica Blues a rousing success.

- Robbie Gerson

Blues Road (Germany)(September/October 2010)

Bob Corritore trifft mit seiner Neuveröffentlichung "Harmonika Blues" mitten ins Herz eines jeden Liebhaber des traditionellen Blues.Bob Corritore and Friends heißt die Scheibe, doch diese "Friends haben es in sich !! Ihre Namen klingen wie das "Who is Who" des Blues und treiben jedem Bluesliebhaber die Freudentränen in die Augen.

Und wie es sich liest, so hört es sich auch an! Bob hält sich mit seiner Harp meisterhaft zurück ohne an Brillanz zu verlieren und gibt seinen legendären "Friends den Raum der ihnen zusteht um ihre Genialität auszudrücken. Viele der Stücke sind oft gehörte Klassiker des Blues, aber mit Corritore an der Bluesharp gewinnen sie eine Eigenständigkeit und eine Emotionalität die einen in seinen Bann zieht.

Ich mag Bob Corritore sehr, weil er viel für den Blues auch neben der Bühne tut. Ob als Radio DJ einer der bekanntesten Bluessendungen in den Staaten oder als Verfasser seines Newsletter der regelmäßig das aktuelle Geschehen der Bluesszene beleuchtet. Hier beweist er dass er zu der Riege der ganz Großen des Blues gehört. Fantastisch gemacht Mr. Corritore !! Bitte mehr davon !!

- Shenandoe

Blues in the Northwest (September 2010)

Bob Corritore celebrates 40 years here since he first picked up a harmonica with a collection of tracks recorded from 1989 to 2009, featuring many legendary names, in a variety of blues styles. The Chicago-born Corritore honed his skills in his home city's scene in the 70s, before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona in 1981 where he has played, produced, ran a radio show and his own live venue in the shape of The Rhythm Room.

A generous 15 tracks feature the likes of giants such as Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Pinetop Perkins, Robert Lockwood Jr., and more, as well as some of his Rhythm Room regulars – his fine harmonica playing is obviously the centrepiece of the album, but it also features some great vocal performances – none better than the opening “What Kind Of Man Is This?”, sung by the late Koko Taylor, a great Chicago blues driven by the guitars of Bob Margolin and Little Frank Krakowski and Corritore's tough harmonica.

Louisiana Red features on the very Muddy Waters-sounding “Tell Me 'Bout It”, which sees the much in demand David Maxwell on piano and the fast-rising duo of Chris James and Patrick Rynn, on guitar and bass respectively. Corritore's recent duo partner Dave Riley, with whom he has recorded two albums, takes a vocal on the rocking Frank Frost tune, “Things You Do”, with more sweet harmonica.

The instrumental “1815 West Roosevelt” is a standout, highlighting guest Eddie Shaw's saxophone and sparkling guitar solo from Buddy Reed – it's the oldest cut here, from way back in 1989; Jimmy Rogers classic “That's All Right” sees the late Robert Lockwood Jr. on guitar and vocals, with fellow legends Henry Gray on piano and Chico Chism on drums.

The slow blues of “Tin Pan Alley” sees Bob Corritore on really nice chromatic harmonica, behind the soulful vocal of Big Pete Pearson, the following “Sundown San Diego” is a nice shuffle, sung by its writer Tomcat Courtney, with Eddy Clearwater taking vocals and playing guitar on his own “That's My Baby”, another sprightly shuffle – both tracks again featuring nice, understated harmonica from Corritore.

Elsewhere a couple of piano veterans take vocal turns on their own songs – Henry Gray on “Things Have Changed”, and the legendary Pinetop Perkins on a joyous, rollicking “Big Fat Mama”; the pace is taken down for Minnie McCoy's “Bumble Bee”, with vocal by the evergreen Honeyboy Edwards. This fine collection ends on a high note with the late Little Milton on vocals and guitar on the lengthy “6 Bits In Your Dollar” . . . one of the blues greatest vocalists and sadly missed.

For those not aware of Bob Corritore's playing this serves as a perfect introduction, with his varied harmonica on all tracks . . . never overplaying, but as part of the ensemble . . . . and also with some superb vocal performances from blues legends, many sadly no longer with us.

- Grahame Rhodes

Sound Guardian (Croatia) (September 2010)

Bob Corritore - Harmonica BluesVeć već više od dva mjeseca znam za ovaj album i sa velikim sam nestrpljenjem očekivao da konačno osvane u mojim rukama i da Vam ga predstavim. Službeno je objavljen od strane Delta Groove Music Inc. 17. kolovoza 2010. godine. Štovani posjetitelji Blues Cornera pred Vama je album Harmonica Blues fantastičnog harpista Boba Corritorea, koji ovim albumom proslavlja 40 godina od kako je počeo svirati usnu harmoniku.

Zahvaljujući Franku Roszaku inače odanom prijatelju kako ovog glazbenog portala i rubrike Blues Cornera, kao njegovog integralnog dijela, tako i radijske emisije BLUES ZA VAS imate prigodu saznati o čemu se radi. Album Harmonica Blues Bob Corritore And Friends ciljano nam pokazuje koliko je blues glazba jedinstvena u svojoj težnji da spaja glazbenike različite životne dobi. No, ako je ugođaj i težnja za izražajnom prezentacijom zajednički prisutna i tako determinirana ništa nije problem, ništa nije nemoguće. Naime, ovdje se radi o materijalima, koji u svakom svom segmentu traže svekoliku pozornost i usmjerenost ka ogromnom i raznolikom bogatstvu blues glazbe. Sve te vrijednosti valja percipirati i shvatiti, kao nešto što će svakako pomaknuti Vaše poimanje idioma tradicionalnog bluesa. I stoga, zapravo i nije čudo da ovaj album u svakom svom segmentu prezentira blues sa izuzetnim 'feelingom' i ugođajem toliko bitnim kada je u pitanju blues.

Bobova proslava, odnosno prezenatcija bluesa tijekom karijere jasno je određena njegovim uzorima, pravim i stvarnim majstorima bluesa poput: Louis Myersa, Eddie Taylora, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Little Willie Andersona, Big Leon Brooksa, Lester Davenporta, Big Smokey Smothersa, Little Mack Simmonsa i drugih. Od sjajne blues scene Chicaga tijekom sedamdesetih, preko prevrtljivih osamdesetih pa do ustaljenih devedesetih godina prošlog stoljeća Bob Corritore snažno je određivao svoje mjesto na blues sceni, ali i svoju glazbenu određenost ka tradicionalnom blues izričaju.

S druge pak strane,od albuma All-Star Blues Sessions te njegove suradnje sa briljantnim Daveom Rileyjem te izdanjem njihova dva albuma: Travelin’ The Dirt Road i Lucky To Be Living, Bob je stekao zavidnu reputaciju i na europskoj blues sceni.

Bob Corritore
(Klikni na fotografiju za uvećani prikaz)

Snimke na albumu Harmonica Blues datiraju iz razdoblja od 1989. godine do 24. lipnja 2009. godine. U tih 20 godina Bob je snimao zaista sa impozantnim blues glazbenicima, od kojih su nažalost, danas neki već umrli. Evo pregleda koga sve možemo čuti na albumu

Chicago Blues Guide (September 2010)

2010 will be remembered as the year when some of the best blues CDs of the millennium were released. Bob Corritore’s Harmonica Blues is one of them. Having learned from blues greats like Robert Lockwood, Jr., Big Smokey Smothers and Little Mack Simmons, Bob Corritore has developed his own style of playing harmonica and has incorporated his 40 years of performing experience into creating a remarkable CD. Harmonica Blues is historical, spanning twenty years, from 1989-2009 featuring blues legends past and present. This CD touts blues heavyweights such as the late Queen of the Blues, Chicago's own Koko Taylor, and also features Eddie Shaw, Pinetop Perkins, Nappy Brown, Little Milton, Honeyboy Edwards and Louisiana Red just to name a few of the 22 different featured performers. Not only are the artists who recorded with Bob Corritore legendary, but the style of blues throughout the CD is steeped in the tradition for which Bob is known.

Corritore's musicianship is impeccable as he consistently performs as a part of the whole, allowing each featured recording artist and instrument to shine. His timing and creativity is the epitome of how a blues harp should be played. He harmonizes and plays along vocal lines yet remains a gentleman to his guest artists, thanks to each song’s arrangement. Many times he is in the background as an integral part of the band so as not to play over the singer or instrument featured. He then steps up with precision on his solos, varying his styles, which are never boring and never the same.

Playing Hohner harmonicas exclusively, Corritore demonstrates the many sounds and moods of this instrument. From shuffles to Gospel influenced loops, where the music repeats itself, Bob expertly plays the fills or harmonizes. His harmonica is full bodied with a bluesy distortion as in “1815 W. Roosevelt” with Eddie Shaw. Bob is also melodic on the first track “What Kind of Man is This” with the late Koko Taylor. In “Tell Me About It” with Louisiana Red, Bob performs with precision, as a counterpoint to the guitar, with easy fills in between the lyrics and then gives a raw solo, adding to the gritty mix of the song. On “Tin Pan Alley” Bob’s harp is soulful, with a gentle vibrato complementary to the piano and guitar.

What makes this CD stand out is not only Bob's talent and style, but how this was mixed. Bob's producing skills have been honed over the years; his credits include producing 1999’s the All Star Blues Sessions, in 2001 the Rhythm Room Anthology, 2008’s Traveling The Dirt Road and last year’s Lucky To Be Living CDs as well. The producer hat can be worn proudly as he worked on this current CD, Harmonica Blues, with Randy Chertkoff of Delta Groove Records and Clarke Rigsby of Tempest Recording, who engineered and mixed every track (except for Koko Taylor's which was done in Chicago, IL). Bob’s producing talent in this aspect is evident as the effects of masterfully mixing these recordings have created a harmonica blues CD that is brilliant and very enjoyable to listen to. This shows how Bob is a team player, thus creating a CD that is a work of art.

A former Chicagoan, Corritore, owns the renowned Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Arizona which features blues musicians both famous and local. He hosts a radio program, “Those Lowdown Blues,” which airs on Sundays 6-11 p.m., mountain time, 91.5FM in Phoenix, KJZZ and is streamed on the web. You can find out more about Bob on his website: www.bobcorritore.com.

- Dawn O’Keefe Williams

Blues (Poland) (September 2010)

Wytwórnia Delta Groove Productions dobrze kojarzy się miłośnikom bluesa. Niedawno przygotowała dla nich kolejną nie lada atrakcję. Jest nią sygnowana nazwiskiem Boba Corritore płyta „Harmonica Blues” – piętnaście utworów nagranych na kilku sesjach, od roku 1989, aż po lipiec 2009 roku, w sumie ponad 60 minut mocnego Chicago-bluesa. Elementem łączącym wszystkie kompozycje jest Pan Corritore, bo skład zespołu zmienia się w każdym numerze. Muzycy biorący udział w nagraniach to bardzo liczne i szacowne grono – te nazwiska są gwarancją wysokiej jakości muzyki: Koko Taylor, Bob Margonin, Willie „Big Eyes” Smith, Louisiana Red, Dave Riley, Henry Gray, Eddie Taylor Jr., Eddie „The Chief” Clearwater, Pinetop Perkins, Kid Ramos, David Honeyboy Edwards, perkusista Chico Chism i wielu innych.

Główną rolę gra oczywiście potężnie brzmiąca harmonijka Boba, czy to traktowana akustycznie w otwierającej album kompozycji, czy nagłośniona lampowym wzmacniaczem w pozostałych numerach. Bob pokazuje się jako doskonały muzyk akompaniujący, świetnie zgrywa się z zespołem i szanuje ciszę. Klasyczne chicagowskie frazy od razu skłaniają słuchacza do rytmicznego przytupywania. Podczas solówek uwalnia z siebie potwora i pokazuje, kto jest tu najważniejszy. Jego harmonijka krzyczy i płacze wywołując u odbiory dreszcz podniecenia. Dźwięk instrumentu jest pełny i mięsisty, tak jak w tej stylistyce być powinno. Czasem gra bardzo saksofonowo, jak choćby w „1815 West Roosevelt”, gdzie harmonijka i właśnie saksofon przejmują dowodzenie i wymieniają się z elektryczną gitarą pełnymi emocji solówkami. Corritore z wyczuciem uzupełnia frazy wokalistów, wypełniając przerwy między zdaniami i podkreślając nastrój utworów. Fanów harmonijki chromatycznej zainteresują z pewnością „Tin Pan Alley” i „That’s My Baby” przywodzące na myśl wyczyny George’a Smitha i Carey’a Bella.

Mimo, że poza solówkami harmonijkowymi nie ma zbyt wiele miejsca na popisy innych instrumentalistów to jednak te, które są, mogą się podobać. Granie jest smakowite i pełne pasji. Gitara, pianino i saksofon kilkukrotnie podejmują wiodącą rolę i częstują słuchacza pięknymi dźwiękami, ale przy takim doborze muzyków nie powinno to wcale dziwić.

„Harmonica Blues” to pozycja obowiązkowa w płytotece każdego miłośnika chicagowskiego brzmienia harmonijki, jednak i inni sympatycy bluesa znajdą na niej wiele dobrego. To udane podsumowanie i przekrój przez imponującą drogę zawodową jaką może się poszczycić Bob Corritore.

- Maciej Draheim

Blues (Finland) (September 17, 2010)

Bob Corritore on taatusti yksi Yhdysvaltain
aktiivisimmista blues-vaikuttajista. Mies vetää
kotikaupungissaan Phoenixissä klubia, Rhythm
Roomia, toimii tuottajana ja ehtii vielä
isännöimään radio-ohjelmiakin. Hänen
sähköinen uutiskirjeensä on aina ajan
hermolla, verrattoman informatiivinen ja se
tavoittaa tuhansia bluesin ystäviä.

Siinä sivussa hän on soittanut ammattimaisesti huuliharppua 40 vuotta!

Chicagolaissyntyisen Corritoren yhteistyökumppanit levyillä ja lavoilla ovat varsinainen bluesin ABC. Bob ei ole soittanut vähemmän kuin esimerkiksi Koko Taylorin, Bo Diddleyn, Jimmy Rogersin, R.L. Burnsiden, Robert Jr. Lockwoodin, Bob Margolinin ja Pinetop Perkinsin harpistina.

Varsinaiset omat albumit ovat kuitenkin Corritorelle harvinaisuus. Uutuuslevy "Harmonica Blues" on vihdoin kunnollinen merkkipaalu uran neljää vuosikymmentä juhlistamaan. Hankkeen mahdollisti Bobin värväytyminen kalifornialaisen Delta Groove Musicin riveihin.

"Harmonica Blues" sisältää 15 kappaletta. Osa vedoista on tuoreita, toisaalta mukaan mahtuu parikymmentä vuotta vanhojakin levytyksiä. Solistit vaihtuvat läkähdyttävällä vauhdilla – Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Louisiana Red, Nappy Brown, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater vain osana heistä – mutta Corritoren väsymätön harppu on ja pysyy luoden pitkälle kokonaisuudelle läpivievän juonen.

Albumi on perusbluesin juhlaa, vaikka superhittejä ei olekaan tarjolla. Ylijäämämateriaalista ei ole kyse, vaan laadukkaasti toteutetusta musiikista. Corritoren soitossa kuuluvat Chicago Bluesin perinteet: ei ole vaikea uskoa todeksi, että mies alkoi jo koulupoikana imeä synnyinkaupunkinsa blues-vaikutteita suoraan mestareilta. Hänen lapsuudessaan ja nuoruudessaan (Bob on syntynyt vuonna 1956) Muddy Waters ja Howlin' Wolf olivat vielä iskussa. Varsinaisia harppuoppeja hän sai Carey Bellin ja Big Walter Hortonin kaltaisilta legendoilta.

Oppi ei ole valunut hukkaan. Corritore osaa puhaltaa tulisesti mutta tarpeen vaatiessa myös herkullisen hienovaraisesti: "Harmonica Bluesilla" herkempi tatsi on parhaimmillaan biisillä "Tin Pan Alley", jolla solistina on Big Pete Pearson. Toisessa ääripäässä Bobin harppu tulee iholle esimerkiksi raidalla "Things You Do".

Albumi on koottu Corritoren harpun kunnianosoitukseksi, mutta monet solistit nousevat väistämättä koviin rooleihin. Koko Taylorin kähinä "What Kind of Man Is This?" on vastustamaton, Nappy Brown tunnelmoi upean vähäeleisesti biisin "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes" ja Clearwater pitää kenties levyn kovinta haipakkaa "That's My Baby" -raidalla. Laulaja Carol Fran antaa tulla vetoavasti ja koko keuhkojen voimalla kappaleella "I Need to Be Be'd with".

"Harmonica Blues" niputtaa näyttävästi Bob Corritoren tähänastista uraa. Mukaan on valittu sopivan kirjava joukko biisejä. Levy onkin must-hankinta kaikille hänen faneilleen. Perustavanlaatuisen bluesin ystävä, tunsi Corritorea aikaisemmin tai ei, pitää levystä myös takuuvarmasti.

- Pasi Tuominen

Docteur Blues (France) (September 17, 2010)

Ce cd de Bob Corritore est un florilège de ce qu’il a enregistré en compagnie d’une multitude d’artistes, dont une majorité de grands noms du blues (Koko Taylor, Carol Fran, Little Milton, Robert Lockwood Jr., Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Henry Gray, Louisiana Red, Eddy Clearwater, Big Pete Pearson, Nappy Brown, etc…). Ces titres s’étalent de 1997 à 2009 ; c’est un merveilleux voyage musical auquel nous invite l’harmoniciste à travers différents horizons même si l’ensemble demeure très roots.

Les clous de ce cd sont la reprise de « Tin Pan Alley » par Big Pete Pearson qui crée une atmosphère sombre et tendue, « No More Doggin » par le Chief autrement dit Schabuttie Gilliame, avec une voix rocailleuse, presque étranglée et épaulée de Kid Ramos et Johnny Rapp aux guitares et Chico Chism qui assure une remarquable rythmique aux fûts.

Autre petite merveille, « Bumble Bee » interprété par l’un des rares survivants de la vieille école du blues, Honeyboy Edwards, qui joue ici dans le plus pur esprit de Delta et tire parfaitement son épingle du jeu. Quelle chance de pouvoir entendre Carol Fran sur « I Need to Be Be’d With » enregistré en 2000 avec un chant autoritaire et opiniâtre dans un style rappelant les chanteuses qui évoluaient dans les années 40-50. Le regretté Little Milton chante majestueusement sur « 6 Bits In Your Dollar » au rythme syncopé. Corritore fait une remarquable démonstration de son talent sur « 1815 West Roosevelt » prouvant qu’il figure parmi les meilleurs harmonicistes contemporains.

Parmi les nombreuses légendes présentes sur cet album, n’oublions pas Robert Lockwood avec l’incontournable « That’s All Right ». Seul « Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes » me paraît un ton en dessous, Nappy Brown généralement superbe chanteur a semble t-il du mal à allumer la flamme. Pour résumer, Bob Corritore a souvent fait de bons choix de répertoires et sait s’entourer d’artistes de talent et mettre le sien au service de ceux-ci.

Voici donc un bel ouvrage qui s’écoute agréablement, passant d’un contexte à un autre sans heurt et qui rend hommage à certaines anciennes gloires du blues. Chaudement recommandé.

- Henri Mayoux

Rocktimes (Germany) (September 19, 2010)

Lust auf Chicago Blues? Lust auf ein Album mit ganz vielen großen Namen der Szene?
Seit vierzig Jahren spielt Bob Corritore den Blues auf seinen Harps. Knapp über zehn Jahre war er jung, als die Musik von Muddy Waters bei ihm einschlug wie eine Bombe. Er trat in zahlreichen Clubs der Windy City auf und wurde mit vielen Musikern bekannt. Corritore gründete sein eigenes Label Blues Over Blues und dort erschienen damals sogar Platten von Pinetop Perkins. Nicht nur als Musiker machte er sich einen Namen, sondern auch als Produzent. So arbeitete er in dieser Rolle zum Beispiel mit Louisiana Red, Mojo Buford, Robert Lockwood Jr., Floyd Dixon oder R.L. Burnside zusammen.

Die Aufnahmen der fünfzehn hier präsentierten Songs umfassen eine Zeitspanne von 1989 bis 2009. Zwei Dekaden bilden ein vielseitiges Bild unter dem Dach des so prägenden Chicago Blues und das schlicht "Harmonic Blues" betitelte Album entwickelt sich zu einem Monument dieser Stilrichtung. Unter den fünfzehn Liedern befindet sich nur eine Corritore-Komposition. Viele der Tracks wurden von den Leuten geschrieben, die sich im langen Line-up der CD befinden. Die Album-Besetzung liest sich wie ein Who's who des Bluesbusiness: Unter anderem sind Koko Taylor, Louisiana Red, Nappy Brown, Eddie Shaw, Bob Margolin, Robert Lookwood Jr., Henry Gray, Big Pete Pearson, Eddy Clearwater, Pinetop Perkins und Little Milton mit von der Partie.

Durch die unterschiedlichen Sängerinnen und Sänger beziehungsweise Musiker erhält die Platte eine vielschichtige Färbung. Jedes Stück ist individuell geprägt und das Verbindungsglied in der Perlenkette ist Bob Corritore. Hat man sich die Nummern am Stück angehört, wirkt der Sound des gesamten Albums wie aus einem Guss. Ob "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes" (1998) mit dem unvergleichlichen Sänger Nappy Brown, das Instrumental "1815 West Roosevelt" (1989) bei dem Eddie Shaw das Saxofon bläst oder "That's My Baby" von und mit Eddie Clearwater ... hier haben John Wroble und Jeff Harris bei der Nachproduktion ganze Arbeit geleistet.

Wenn man von einem Album Authentizität verlangt, ist der Hörer bei "Harmonic Blues" bestens aufgehoben. Auf der Zielgeraden gibt es auch noch ein Wiederhören mit der Legende David 'Honeyboy' Edwards. In "Bumble Bee" hat die Stimme des inzwischen fünfundneunzigjährigen Blues-Urgesteins eine umwerfende Frische. Dazu serviert er eine bodenständige Gitarrenarbeit. Zweimal ist 'ladies sing the Blues'-Zeit. Einerseits hören wir die große Koko Taylor im von ihr geschriebenen Opener "What Kind Of Man Is This?" und andererseits Carol Fran mit "I Need To Be Be'd With". Über Taylors Stimme brauchen die Fans des Blues keine weiteren Informationen. Bei Carol Fran swingt ein wenig mehr Soul in der Stimme mit.

Unter den verschiedenen Rhythmusfraktionen befinden sich auch Willie 'Big Eye' Smith sowie Bob Stroger. Corritore belässt es nicht ausschließlich bei der diatonischen Harp, sondern bringt zum Beispiel in "That's My Baby" das chromatische Mississippi-Saxofon zum Einsatz. Großartig! Auch wenn der Mundharmonikaspieler ein Mann des eher klaren Tons ist, kann er dennoch mit so einigen Klangschmanckerln aufwarten.

Die vielen Anhänger des Blues werden Bob Corritores Werk "Harmonica Blues" in ihr Herz schließen und der Platte einen besonderen Platz in der Sammlung einräumen. Sozusagen, immer griffbereit! Das Album ist eine herausragende CD des Chicago Blues, bei der ganz viele Berühmtheiten mitgemacht haben, sich aber als eine Familie präsentieren.

- Joachim "Joe" Brookes

Still Singing The Blues (September 20, 2010)

Blues diva Carol Fran, a wondrous performer from Lafayette who is featured prominently in Still Singing the Blues, is spending this weekend in Phoenix, performing at the release party of a rollicking new CD.

The album is Harmonica Blues by Bob Corritore. It features an all-star cast of blues musicians from around the country. Corritore, who is 54, learned blues harmonica in Chicago in the 1970s—Muddy Waters played in his high-school gym—and became both a musician and a record producer in that blues-crazy city. He moved to Phoenix in 1981. Now, in addition to playing, he DJs at the public-radio station KJZZ and runs a blues-and-roots club called The Rhythm Room.

Carol Fran—a gutsy vocalist and pianist who has been been performing blues and R&B for more than 60 years—sang her hit I Need to Be Be’d With on Corritore’s CD. Henry Gray—an 85-year-old pianist and vocalist from Baton Rouge and the winner of a National Heritage Fellowship Award by the National Endowment of the Arts—appears on the song 6 Bits in Your Dollar and two others. Both Louisianans will perform at the CD release party this coming Sunday, Sept. 5, at 8 p.m. at The Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road in Phoenix.

The next day, Carol Fran will go back into the recording studio. We can’t wait to hear what she releases next.

- Barry

Soul Bag (France) (September 2010)

Né en 1956 à Chicago, s’intéressant à tout ce qui touche sa musique (IL EST l’auteur d’une lettre d’information pertinente et complète sur l’actualité du blues), Bob Corritore EST également animateur radio, propiétaire de club et producteur. Mais Le public connaît surtout Le musicien qui figure parmi les harmonicistes les plus demandés du circuit. Dès lors, ce genre d’artiste qui joue un peu avec tout Le monde n’a guère Le temps d’enregistrer sous son nom, ou alors Des anthologies rassemblant ses collaborations. Ce n’est d’ailleurs pas sans risque: IL s’agit de titres déjà sortis, et même s’ils sont bons, la sélection doit privilégier la variété pour conserver tout son attrait. Mais comme IL s’adapte aux différents registres de ses compagnons tout en ayant assimilé de nombreuses facettes de son instrument, Corritore s’en sort très bien avec ces 15 titres couvrant la période 1989-2009. Son harmonica EST tantôt nuancé et bien placé (What kind of man is this?, Baby don’t you tear my clothes, That’s all right, Sundown San Diego, Big fat Mama), roots et intense (Tell me ’bout it, 1815 West Roosevelt, Things have changed), ou encore inspiré et sous influences (Things you do fait penser à James Cotton, Tin Pan Alley et I need to be’d with à Little Walter)... En outre, IL fait preuve du meilleur goût dans Le choix de chanteurs qui l’accompagnent, et IL faut insister ici sur la Grande qualité Des interventions Des vocalistes. Que ce soit Koko Taylor, Louisiana Red, Dave Riley, Nappy Brown, Big Pete Pearson, Henry Gray, Chief Schabuttie Gilliame, Carol Fran ou Little Milton, tous sont dans une excellente forme. Même les “papys“ octogénaires (voire nonagénaires) Robert Lockwood, Pinetop Perkins et HoneyBoy Edwards s’en tirent correctement.... Un disque exemplaire de blues moderne.

Excellent, un disque sans déchet. Ou presque... (Four Stars)

Blues Revue (September/October 2010 issue)

What to do if you're a veteran blues harmonica player who doesn't sing but wants to cut a solo disc? How about surrounding yourself with some of your friends and heroes. That's the recipe Bob Corritore has used a few times in the past, and it serves him well on this new set of traditional Chicago Blues.

You have to appreciate Corritore's journey to assemble this 15-song set recorded between 1989 and 2009, jam-packed with performances by some of the best in the blues. There's a bittersweet side to this collection, too, since some of the players are no longer with us.

The album kicks off with Koko Taylor singing her self-penned "What Kind Of Man Is This?" featuring Bob Margolin on guitar and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on drums. Corritore plays just a beat behind Taylor's vocal, punctuating her big, brassy voice with powerful but restrained wails and moans. He gets to punch up the volume a bit for the solo, of course.

Other late icons appearing include Nappy Brown ("Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes"), Little Milton ("6 Bits In Your Dollar"), Robert Lockwood Jr. ("That's All Right"), and Howlin' Wolf drummer Chico Chism (who plays on several tracks). They're nestled along songs featuring such still-active players as Eddie Clearwater ("That's My Baby"), and Pinetop Perkins ("Big Fat Mama"). Guitarist/singer Louisiana Red's spoken word intro to "Tell Me 'Bout It" lends it and instant down-home charm.

Corritore, long-time owner of the Rhythm Room club in Phoenix, includes performances from some of his blues friends who also relocated to Phoenix. Guitarist/singer Dave Riley - with whom Corritore has recorded two duet albums in recent years - pays tribute to his late mentor band mate Frank Frost.

The oldest track in the bunch is a Corritore-penned instrumental "1815 West Roosevelt", a recording featuring Eddie Shaw on saxophone and Buddy Reed on guitar. Even on this tune, Corritore doesn't overly dominate the arrangement, stepping back to let the other players solo when he's not playing the song's melody line. It's the mark of a consummate professional who always puts the song first.

-Michael Cole

Blues & Rhythm (England)(September 2010)

Bob has of course been an active – extremely active – promoter for the blues over many years, whilst also supplying excellent harmonica playing to many top-notch acts. This release celebrates forty years of Bob playing the blues harp, from his early days in Chicago, learning from the likes of Louis Myers, Little Willie Anderson and Big Leon Brooks (Bob also produced albums by the latter two) and his relocation to Phoenix, Arizona in 1981 to his now international recognition. He made his own debut album in 1999, but this set details his work from 1989 onwards, the common thread being Bob’s playing behind a host of blues artists/friends – Chicago is naturally enough well-represented but other areas are not neglected.

The oldest track here is the meaty instrumental, ‘1815 West Roosevelt’, appropriately enough featuring saxman Eddie Shaw, former owner of the blues club at that address in The Windy City, but the set opens with a very tough Koko Taylor vocal from 2005, before moving into Muddy Waters territory with a first rate Louisiana Red performance recorded four years later. Robert Jr. Lockwood excels on ‘That’s All Right’ (arguably the highlight of the album), with noteworthy piano from Henry Gray, whose own ‘Things Have Changed’ is a blasting mid-tempo Chicago number. Eddy Clearwater’s ‘That’s My Baby’ is up tempo and rockabilly tinged, with suitably Little Walter/Carey Bell flavoured playing from Mr. Corritore, whilst Pinetop Perkins is in his best vocal and boogie form on ‘Big Fat Mama’ (honourable mention too for Patrick Rynn’s driving bass and Chris James’ on-the-money guitar break). ‘Bumble Bee’ harks back to an earlier time, with a fine Honeyboy Edwards vocal (and guitar) backed by Bob, James and Rynn on Memphis Minnie’s song.

On Bob’s local front, big-voiced singer Big Pete Pearson turns in a suitably low-down version of ‘Tin Pan Alley’ (excellent chromatic harmonica from Bob here) and Tomcat Courtney romps away in terrific fashion on ‘Sundown San Diego’. Chief Schabuttie Gilliame comes across very John Lee Hooker-ish on ‘No More Doggin’’, whilst the band achieve the necessary and appropriate groove behind him.

Bob’s recent work with Mississippi’s Dave Riley is referenced by ‘Things You Do’, a rocking, Jimmy Reed-like performance of this Frank Frost number, laid down in 2009, and Nappy Brown turns in a nicely salacious-sounding version of ‘Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes’. Louisiana’s Carol Fran is certainly enthusiastic on the Muddy Waters’ inflected ‘I Needs To Be Be’d With’, before proceedings come to a close with the surprisingly down-home, fifties-Memphis styled ‘6 Bits In Your Dollar’ from none other than Little Milton, sounding like he is really enjoying himself.

Throughout the album, Bob’s playing is to the point, understated and never flashy – he functions as part of the ensemble and only steps into the spotlight when relevant and necessary. The set is a textbook album for harmonica players, but most importantly it presents and represents some of the best blues laid down over the last couple of decades.

- Norman Darwen

Living Blues (September 2010)

If Phoenix, Arizona, had a blues mafia, then Bob Corritore just might be its resident godfather. The longtime radio host, nightclub owner, producer, and blues harpist has been a prominent fixture there since 1981. But “godfather” implies a sense of arrogance and hubris, character traits that are difficult to mesh with the Corritore we see here: a world-class blues harmonica player who avoids the spotlight, instead choosing to let it shine on the 23-plus guests who appear on his Delta Groove debut.

The disc’s title may not be the most creative, but Harmonica Blues holds together very well and boasts a full pool of marquee names headlining each of the 15 tracks, recorded between 1989 and 2009. The late Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Robert Jr. Lockwood, and Nappy Brown make notable appearances, as well as Carol Fran, Honeyboy Edwards, Louisiana Red, Dave Riley, Big Pete Pearson, Tomcat Courtney, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, and Pinetop Perkins, among many others. The veteran Perkins was 94 when he recorded Big Fat Mama with Corritore, yet he plays (and sings) with a dexterity and forcefulness that belies his age. Let’s not forget Corritore! His harmonica playing shines throughout the set, and his approach is all class. He never elbows his invited guests off center stage—not even on the lone harp-driven instrumental 1815 West Roosevelt, which belongs as much to Eddie Shaw as it does Corritore.

Corritore assembled these tracks with love and care. With its wide variety of artists and styles, Harmonica Blues is a solid outing indeed.

- Roger Gatchet

Disco Club (Italy) (October 5, 2010)

Non Conoscevo. Per Chi Ama L'Armonica Blues. Come Da Titolo. Bob Corritore And Friends.

Quando uno pensa a un armonicista blues bianco oggi i primi nomi che ti vengono in mente sono Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza se frughi nella memoria Paul Butterfield e John Mayall ma ce ne sono decine di altri. Ho citato questi non perché siano necessariamente i più bravi ma sicuramente sono i più conosciuti. Viceversa se pensi all’Armonicista per antonomasia il primo nome è sicuramente Little Walter, poi in base a conoscenze e preferenze pensi a Big Walter Horton, Junior Wells, James Cotton, Carey Bell, Howlin’ Wolf, cito a caso i primi che mi vengono in mente, ma sicuramente il nome Bob Corritore non è il primo e forse nemmeno il secondo che pensiamo e invece… Devo dire di non essere mai stato particolarmente attento alla sua vicenda musicale, sì mi è capitato di vedere il suo nome nei credits di molti dischi di blues e quindi l’ho sicuramente sentito ma distrattamente senza prestare una particolare attenzione.

A giudicare da questo album ho sbagliato, c’è sempre da imparare, Bob Corritore è una sorta di eminenza grigia del Blues, un cardinale Richeliu che ordisce le sue oscure trame (visto che non lo conoscono in molti), come musicista, deejay radiofonico, produttore e però si è creato una reputazione di musician’s musician, molto rispettato tra i colleghi Bluesmen che sono pronti ad accorrere al suo richiamo. La sua carriera solista non è molto prolifica, un disco nel 1999, registrato dopo oltre venti anni di carriera per la scomparsa Hightone, anche il quel caso era un summit di amici e poi, in anni più recenti, un paio di dischi con Dave Riley. Ma ha partecipato anche a moltissimi dischi come musicista e produttore ed è anche proprietario di un club dove si suona soprattutto Chicago Blues, città dove è nato nel lontano 1956.

Ho iniziato ad ascoltare distrattamente il CD ma subito la mia attenzione è stata attirata, ma questa la conosco? La voce di Koko Taylor è inconfondibile, What Kind of Man is This ci regala subito dell’ottimo blues con Corritore all’armonica, presenza costante nell’album, ci sono Bob Margolin alla chitarra e Willie “Big Eyes” Smith alla batteria, il brano è registrato nel 2005 (questa è una caratteristica di questo disco che raccoglie materiale registrato in un arco temporale che va dal 1989 al 2009, 20 anni della vita di Corritore che scorrono sotto i vostri occhi). Il classico suono alla Muddy Waters di Tell me ‘bout it ci introduce alla voce e alla chitarra di Louisiana Red registrato giusto lo scorso anno. Non ci sono Grandi Nomi ma nomi che hanno fatto grande il Blues.

Things You Do con l’amico Dave Riley a menare le danze sa un po’ di conflitto di interessi ma è buona musica, quindi perdonato. Nappy Brown registrato nel 1998 con Baby Don’t You Tear my Clothes ha sempre una voce profonda ed espressiva che è un piacere ascoltare, Kid Ramos alla chitarra. 1815 West Rosevelt è il brano più vecchio, quello del 1989, uno strumentale firmato da Bob Corritore che ci permette di gustare le sue qualità tecniche contrapposte al sax di Eddie Shaw e alla chitarra di Buddy Reed anche se non lo inserirei nel novero dei brani straordinari, dell’onesto blues di mestiere. Robert Lockwood Jr. è uno dei grandi Vecchi del Blues e That’s All Right è un perfetto esempio delle classiche 12 battute del blues, Chicago Blues per la precisione, registrato nel 2001 con il piano di Henry Gray che regala qualche emoxione. Tin Pan Alley è un ottimo slow blues dove la combinazione della voce di Big Pete Pearson e l’armonica di Corritore messe assieme stranamente mi hanno riportato alla memoria il John Mayall dei tempi d’oro e le sua atmosfere sonore. Tomcat Courtney non mi è familiare ma questa Sundown San Diego è bella tosta. Eddy Clearwater è ancora in gran forma vocale e That’s My Baby dello scorso anno lo testimonia. Henry Gray è uno degli ultimi grandi pianisti della scena di Chicago e nella sua Things have changed dimostra che nel 1997 aveva ancora anche una grande grinta vocale.

Pinetop Perkins a 97 anni è il decano dei musicisti blues e probabilmente il più vecchio musicista in assoluto in attività attualmente ma le mani volano sulla tastiera come sempre e la voce è ancora pimpante, Big fat mama ne è l’esempio lampante. Chief Schabuttie Gilliame è un incredibile personaggio con una voce alla Howlin’ Wolf che fa ancora un bel “casino” in No More Doggin’! Honeboy Edwards ci regala una onesta Bumble Bee in versione acustica mentre Carol Fran è in grandissima forma vocale in una trascinante e maliziosa I Need To Be Bed’d With, che voce ragazzi. La conclusione è affidata alla voce e alla chitarra di Little Milton in una eccellente e tirata versione di 6 Bits In Your Dollar. Corritore soffia nell’armonica di gusto e coordina le operazioni e alla fine ci lascia soddisfatti, un nome "nuovo", tanto per cambiare

- Bruno Conti

ABS Magazine (France)( September 2010)

Avec son look d’éternel teenager tou droit sorti Des années 50-60, Bob Corritore féte avec ce nouveau cd ses 40 ans d’harmonica. Et oui! Le blues, IL l’apprit en s’immergeant dans la scène de Chicago dès les années 70 avec comme professeurs Louis Myers, Eddie Taylor, Robert Jr Lockwood, Little Mack Simmons, Lester Davenport, mais aussi bien d’autres musiciens dont Big Leon Brooks et Little Willie Anderson qu’il enregistrera plus tard. Il se rend à Phoenix, Arizona, en 1981, initialement pour y rester seulement un an. Il n’en EST jamais reparti et a écrit dans cette ville - en tant que musicien, producteur, animateur radio (depuis 1984) et patron du club renommé Le Rhythm Room - l’une Des plus belles pages de l’Histoire du blues de la seconde moitié du XX siècle et du début du XXI. C’est tout naturellement par son charisme, son amour profond et sincère du blues et sa fidélité en amitié que Bob s’entourera au fil du temps Des plus grands musiciens. Peu de gens donnent un sens aussi profond au mot «Amitié» et Le disque présenté ici EST en tous points Le reflet de ce propos. Les 15 faces choisies, enregistrées entre 1989 et 2009, Ont été mixées par Clarke Rigsby de Tempest Recording et paraissent sur Le label Delta Groove de Randy Chortkoff, deux amis de longue date. Ces 15 titres de blues traditionnel Ont été enregistrés en Arizona, hormis Le titre d’ouverture de Koko Taylor capté à Chicago. Bob y apparait comme harmoniciste et aussi comme producteur et l’on retrouve entre autres - avec un plaisir immense - l’ami de toujours Louisiana Red dans un superbe Tell Me ’Bout It, Dave Riley, Nappy Brown, Robert Jr Lockwood, Henry Gray, Big Pete Pearson, Tomcat Courtney, Eddie Clearwater, Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Carol Fran, Little Milton, Chief Schabuttie Gilliame... Bob pensa toujours aux autres avant de penser à lui-même. C’est ainsi qu’il Aida Louisiana Red dont la carrière n’était pas au mieux (cf article dans ABS n ??), ou qu’il fit venir Le drummer Chico Chism de Chicago en 1986 pour travailler ave lui, mais ce n’est qu’à partir de 1999 qu’il publia son premier cd « All-Star Blues Sessions » (HMG1009) avec un sélection impressionnante de ses sélections et de ses propres enregistrements. Depuis lors, chaque compact de Bob Corritore EST absolument précieux à posséder pour tout amateur de blues qui se respecte; ses enrigistrements radio entre autres contiennent Des pépites absolues publiées nulle part ailleurs. Je pourrais parler Des heures durant de cet homme dont l’intégrité et la générosité égalent Le talent, mais Le rédacteur en chef m’impose un nombre de signes que je dois respecter... Alors, l’honnêteté intellectuelle devant rester Notre moteur, on peut simplement conclure en disant que « Harmonica Blues » EST sans conteste LA compilation blues de la rentrée!

- Marcel Bénédit

BluesForum.nl (Netherlands)(October 2010)

Met deze CD viert Bob Corritore zijn 40 jarig artiestenbestaan. En dat doet hij op een bijzondere manier: 15 nummers, live opgenomen over een periode van 20 jaar, met in elk nummer een bluesveteraan in de hoofdrol. Legendes, waarvan velen inmiddels zijn overleden en anderen op het punt staan te overlijden. De laatste bluesmannen uit de cottonfields. Wat te denken van Koko Tayler, we kennen haar van de schitterende albums uitgebracht op Aligator Records... Robert “The Legend” Lockwood, die op zijn 90e nog steeds jr. achter zijn naam zette... Pinetop Perkins, die ik laatst in een interview hoorde zeggen dat zijn pianospel nu toch wel achteruit gaan... Grammy-winnaar Dave “Honeyboy” Edwards (95) schijnt nog steeds te toeren... Kortom te veel om op te noemen en het is onvermijdelijk dat ik niet iedereen recht doe in deze recensie. Dan heb ik het niet eens over Bob Corritore zelf gehad. Maar dat zal deze ambassadeur van de blues me hopelijk vergeven.

Het openingsnummer “What kind of man is this (I like it this way)” wordt gezongen door the queen of blues Koko Tayler herself. Hoeft geen introductie. Haar zang wordt op deze CD niet meer overtroffen. De bluesharp ondersteunt de zang zonder te overheersen.

Niemand minder dan Louisiana Red zingt het traditionele “Tell me ‘bout it”. Ik krijg geen genoeg van de heerlijke scheurende Little-Walter-style bluesharp. Op “Things you do” (zang: Dave Riley) mag de harp ook scheuren. De inmiddels overleden Napoleon “Nappy” Brown is te horen op “Baby don’t you tear my clothes”.

Het instrumentale “1815 West Roosevelt” is het enige nummer van Bob zelf en verwijst naar het adres van een Chicago bluescafé. Waar in andere nummers de bluesharp ten dienste staat van de vocalen, staat de bluesharp hier centraal. Vlot en melodieus. Aardig in dit nummer is de afwisseling tussen bluesharp en saxofoon.

Robert Lookwood jr. zingt op “That’s all right” een echte Deltablues. Wat een stem; de uithalen laten een leven vol leed, whisky en een verloren gebit horen. Een volgend hoogtepunt: Tin Pan Alley ingetogen gezongen door Big Pete Pearson en even ingetogen gespeeld door Bob Corritore. Een rokerige slowblues, rauw, puur, rillingen over mijn rug. Ik snak naar adem, maar we zijn nog niet eens op de helft van dit album...

We shuffelen door “Sundown San Diego” (Tomcat Courtney) en “Thats my baby” (Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater). Degelijke nummers, maar halen wat mij betreft niet het niveau van de rest van het album. Dan is het tijd voor pianist/zanger Pinetop Perkins op het grappige honkey-tonkey-achtige “Big Fat Mama”. Hij kondigt het nummer zelf af. En hij heeft er plezier in. Zeer smaakvolle harpsolo.

Ook “Things have changed” wordt gespeeld en gezongen door een pianoveteraan: Henry Gray. Is de pensioengerechtigde leeftijd al lang gepasseerd, speelde meer dan 10 jaar in de band van Howlin’ Wolf en treedt nog steeds op in en rond New Orleans. Maar wat een krachtige blues zet hij hier neer. Blues = gevoel = Henry Gray. En daarmee tilt hij zijn medemuzikanten naar een hoger nieveau. Inclusief Bob die op dit nummer een mooie begeleiding neerzet met schitterende uithalen. Geen wonder dat de hele bluesscene uit de vorige eeuw met hem wilde spelen! 1)

Nog een veteraan uit de Delta die past in het rijtje Perkins en Lockwood jr: David Honeyboy Edwards (die zegt nog bevriend te zijn geweest met Robert Johnson) is hier te horen met het traditionele delta-stijl “Bumble Bee”. Met een hypnotiserende harplick van Bob. Weer een juweeltje. Ooit gehoord van Carol Fran, het best bewaarde geheim uit Lafayette? Wow wat een stem, wat een karakter, wat een gevoel legt ze neer in “I need to be be’d with”.

Na Chief Shabuttie Gilliame (“No More Doggin’”) mag Little Milton meer dan 7 minuten acteren in “6 bits in your dollar”. Hij speelt dit nummer relaxt en met veel plezier ala Pinetop Perkins. Deze man heeft alles gezien, hem maak je niet meer gek.

Conclusie: Een spektakel voor iedereen die de geschiedenis van de blues een warm hart toedraagt (als je de biografieën van de artiesten op dit album in een map stopt, heb je een indrukwekkend document over de historie van de blues te pakken).

1) The following is a list of blues artists that Henry has worked and/or recorded with in his career: Robert Lockwood Jr., Billy Boy Arnold, Morris Pejoe, Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, Abe Locke, Hubert Sumlin, Lazy Lester, "Little" Walter Jacobs, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), "Homesick" James, Jimmy Reed (including a Carnegie Hall concert), Jimmy Rogers, Elmore James (with him the night he died), "Snooky" Pryor, Koko Taylor, Otis Rush, "Little" Milton, James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Raful Neal, Kenny Neal, Taj Mahal, BB King, Tabby Thomas, Larry Garner, Moses "Whisperin" Smith, Silas Hogan, Guitar Kelly, Washboard Sam, and Guitar Slim. This list in not complete but it gives one the idea of the prolific and vital history of Henry's accomplishments.

NewsReview.com (October 2010)

Good things come to those who wait, and this collection of songs, recorded over the course of two decades, was worth the waiting. With dates ranging from 1989 to just last year, Harmonica Blues features Bob Corritore backing up some of the best blues vocalists and guitar players the genre has produced, from Koko Taylor on the opening cut, to Louisiana Red, Nappy Brown, Honeyboy Edwards, Pinetop Perkins, Eddy Clearwater and Little Milton. It’s an embarrassment of riches, and Corritore’s harp playing adds more than chump change to the wealth of talent on display here. This is blues with the funk intact. It ain’t derivative, nor is it an homage; it’s the real deal. It’s as humid as the delta on an August night, and as blue as you can get. Check out the instrumental track “1815 West Roosevelt” for sheer soulfulness, or turn up the volume for Edwards’ vocal on “Bumble Bee.” That one was recorded just three years ago, but you’ll think you’re hearing a field recording made in a Mississippi juke joint back in the 1940s. If you care about the blues, this is a CD you’re going to want to own.

- Jaime O'Neill

BCR Magazine (France) (October 2010)

Ce disque devrait connaître un grand succès mérité. Bob Corritore EST Le tenancier à Phoenix en Arizona d’un club nommé The Rhythm Room. Il y programme la crème Des bluesman américains. En Homme d’affaires avisé, IL en profite pour enregistrer avec eux. Excellent harmoniciste inspiré, tous ses CDs sont réussis. Tant IL sait s’entourer.

Qu’on en juge. Ses amis ici sont: Koko Taylor (décédée), Little Milton (décédé), Robert Lockwood Jr (décédé), Nappy Brown (décédé), Pinteop Perkins (bientôt centenaire), Honeyboy Edwards (bientôt centenaire), Henry Gray (IL n’a plus 20 ans, lui non plus), Eddy Clearwater, Lousiana Red, Carol Fran, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, Big Pete Pearson, soyons justes et rendons la politesse au roi, si Tomcat Courtney et Big Pete Pearson sont connus en Europe, c’est grâce à Bob, Willie Big Eyes Smith, Chief Schabuttie Gilliame (Egyptien sans-papiers aux Etats-Unis, Bob prend Des risques), Eddie Shaw, Bob Margolin, Kid Ramos, Chico Chism (décédé mais Bob avait relancé la carrière de ce batteur d’Howlin’ Wolf), Bob Stroger, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, David Maxwell, Johnny Rapp, Eddie Taylor Jr, and more........

Cette énumération n’existe pas dans un but de remplissage ou pour ironiser sur les talents commerciaux de l’ami Bob ou pour queique ironie que se soit. Elle se justifie afin d’affirmer que Corritore EST un producteur avisé et hors pair. Qui d’autre que lui pourrait se vanter d’étaler une telle brochette de talents illustres? Par ailleurs, Le producteur excéutif de cet album n’est autre que Randy Chortkoff, harmoniciste itou, et au-delà producteur cinématographique à Hollywood, Le blues NE nourissant pas pas son homme.

Il faut, c’est impératif, acheter ce CD. C’est un chef-d’oeuvre. Tous les morceaux sont plus qu’excellents. Il y a même en bonus une pépite instrumentale enregistrée en 1989 avec Bob Corritore en tant que compositeur et leader. Celui-ci m’a fait Le grend honneur de m’offrir ce CD pendant Le festival de blues de Chicago en juin dernier et de me Le dédicacer. Depuis, IL tourne tous les jours sur ma platine. Il NE s’agit pas de copinage. Le disque EST génial. S’il était mauvals, je Le dirais.

BCR Magazine/September 2010

—Claude Dannic

TWOJ Blues (Poland)(September/October 2010 issue)

Bob Corritore to prawdziwy artysta Renesansu: harmonijkarz, radiowy I prasowy dziennikarz, wiaściciel klubu w swoim rodzinnym Phoenix w Arizone, organizator koncertów, przyjaciel muzyków I promotor muzyki. Swój klub Rhythm Room prowadzi OD 26 lat, a grali w nim chyba wszyscy licząct się bluesmani. Przy tej okazji kaźcy z nich byl też gościem cotygodniowej audycji Boba, jaką prowadzi w lokalnym radio. Ponieważ wszystkie koncerty I audycje są pieczolowicie rejestrowane, w tej chwili Bob jest posiadaczem jednego z największych koncertowych archiwów bluesa. Co parę lat wydaje plytę z co smakowitszymi „kąskami”, tak klubowymi jak I radiowymi. Tą plytą Bob Corritore chcial uczcić 40-roczincę swej dzialaloności jako harmonijkarza. Plyta zawiera piętnaście utworów nagranych w ciągu ostatnich dwudziestu kilku lat, w których ze swą harmonijką towarzyszyl wielu znakomitościom, ze wspomnę tylko takie nazwiska, jak: Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Robert Lockwood Jr., Honeyboy Edwards, Henry Gray, Eddy Clearwater, Kid Ramos, Louisiana Red czy Pinetop Perkins. Niektóre z nagrań stanowią prawdziwe perelki, wykonane przez gwiazdorskie zespoly, jak na przyklad przez team towarzyszący Koko Taylor w What Kind of Man is This? (Bob Margolin, Little Frank Krakowski, Bob Stroger, WIllie Big Eye Smith), Little Miltonowi w 6 Bits To Your Dollar (Chico Chism, Henry Gray, Johnny Rapp), czy też Tomcat Courtney z Eddiem Taylorem, Chrisem Jamesem I Patrickiem Rynnem, albo Nappy Brown z Kidem Ramosem, Johnem Rappem I Chico Chismem

Każdy z harmonijkarzy świata może tylko pozazdrościć Bobowi tych wszystkich okazji do pogrania z takimi frontmanami I ich zespolami. Przez 40 lat poświęconych popularyzacji bluesa (I to jakże skutocznej), kto jak kto, ale Bob Corritore na pewno zaslużyl na swoją pozycję w muzycznym świecje. Każdy zaś, kto wejdzie w posiadanie tej plyty, na pewno będzie chętnie do niej wracal.

- Andrzej Matysik

Amazon.com - Editorial Review (October 2010)

Blues impresario Bob Corritore is widely recognized for his dedication to promoting the blues art form and his many roles he's actively taken on in the blues community. From band leader to club owner, to record producer and radio show host, Corritore's boundless enthusiasm for the blues never ceases to impress. Harmonica Blues finds Corritore taking center stage as he celebrates his 40th anniversary of harmonica playing with a brilliant set of performances featuring Koko Taylor, Robert Lockwood Jr., Little Milton, Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Henry Gray, Nappy Brown, Eddy Clearwater, Louisiana Red, Carol Fran, Bob Margolin, Kid Ramos, Eddie Taylor Jr. and a whole lot more!

ABSCDJ - The Association of Beach & Shag Club DJs (October 2010)

Bob Corritore is one of the most active and highly regarded Blues harmonica players around the country and beyond. His playing is on over 35 releases of various artists on a number of labels. It was inevitable that one day he would take a collection of the best of the best and have an album released. And that is exactly what Delta Groove Productions did by releasing Bob Corritore And Friends: Harmonica Blues. On the album, Bob, with his harmonica, joins such notables as Louisiana Red, the late Nappy Brown, Kid Ramos, Bob Margolin, Eddie Shaw, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Henry Gray, Big Pete Pearson, Eddy Clearwater, Pinetop Perkins, Chief Schabuttie Gillame, Carol Fran, Honeyboy Edwards, David Maxwell, Bob Stroger and the late Little Milton, as well as The Rhythm Room All-Stars, in an array of recordings and performances over the last two decades. In 2005, he joined the Koko Taylor to record What Kind Of Man Is This, which is included in this compilation of great music. Willie "Big Eyes" Smith adds to the song with his drum performance. Check out Things You Do when Bob pairs with Dave Riley for the song recording. You will also want to take in Sundown San Diego when he joins Tomcat Courtney on lead vocals, Eddie Taylor, Jr. on guitar, Chris James on guitar and Pat-rick Rynn on bass. Born in Chicago in 1956, Bob Corritore first heard Muddy Waters on the radio at the age of 12. This changed his life forever. Within a year, he was playing harmonica and collecting Blues albums. When he was old enough to sneak into the Blues clubs, he eventually was able to sit in with some of the greats such as Little Mack Simmons, Junior Wells and Caery Bell. In 1981, he ventured Southwest to live in Phoenix, Arizona, later hooking up with his Chicago area friend Louisiana Red, and they played together for about a year. Afterwards, Bob quickly joined up with Big Pete Person, who reigned as King of Arizona Blues. In 1988, former Howlin' Wolf drummer Chico Chism moved to Phoenix at Bob's invitation to start a 20-year partnership that lasted until Chico's death in 2007. After years of playing and recording with other artists, Bob released his first album in 1999. This led to various return trips in Europe to participate in various festivals and shows, giving him an ever-growing world-wide fan base. One of the highlights of this award-winning harmonica players came in 2007 when the Mayor of Phoenix officially proclaimed September 27, 2007 to be "Bob Corritore Day". You do not want to overlook this release. Bob Corritore And Friends" Harmonica Blues from Delta Groove Productions is destined to be a classic.

Evolution Music (Italy) (October 2010)

"Harmonica Blues" celebra i quarant'anni di carriera dell'armonicista Bob Corritore. Dopo essersi formato nella scena blues di Chicago degli anni '70 - al fianco di maestri come Louis Myers, Eddie Taylor, Robert Lockwood Jr., Little Willie Anderson, Big Leon Brooks, Lester Davenport, Big Smokey Smothers, Little Mack Simmons e altri - Bob decise di trasferirsi a Phoenix nel 1981. Lì ha continuato la sua attività di musicista, produttore e speaker radiofonico, oltre che gestore del rinomato club Rhythm Room. Il talento e la vita straordinaria di Bob Corritore si riversano in questo album che, attraverso quindici variegate tracce registrate tra il 1989 e il 2009, ci offre non solo il ritratto di questo eccezionale artista, ma anche un panoramica dei migliori interpreti del blues tradizionale. Uno su tutti Lockwood che, con l'interpretazione del classico blues "That's All Right", ci regala una straordinaria testimonianza storica e musicale. Tra i grandi nomi presenti troviamo anche altri protagonisti della scena blues di Chicago come Koko Taylor, Eddie Shaw, Eddy Clearwater, Henry Gray, Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards e Little Milton, mentre Eddie Taylor Jr., Bob Stroger, Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith, Chico Chism, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, Bob Riedy e Jon Hiller contribuiscono come sidemen. A loro si aggiungono poi Louisiana Red, Dave Riley, Nappy Brown, Big Pete Pearson, Tomcat Courtney, Chief Schiabutte Gilliame, Carol Fran, Bob Margolin, Kid Ramos, Buddy Reed, David Maxwell e altri ancora. una .incredibile schiera di musicisti che solo Bob Corritore poteva riunire intorno a sé per la gioia di tutti gli appassionati di blues

Blues Van (Hungary) Oct 2009

Aligha ünnepelhetné szebben zenei pályája kezdetének 40 éves jubileumát Bob Corritore, mint egy új lemezzel. Tovább emeli a hanghordozó fényét az a tény, hogy az amerikai szájharmonikásnak ritkán jelenik meg saját neve alatt korongja.
Bob Corritore zenei karrierjét szülővárosában, Chicagóban kezdte, de névjegyét igazán Phoenix-be költözve tette le. Eddigi pályafutása során világsztárok sokaságával játszott együtt, amire ékes bizonyíték a Harmonica Blues címmel megjelent, az 1989 és 2009 között Corritore vendégszereplésével készült felvételekből összeállított figyelemreméltó válogatás.
A lemez összképe a számtalan, többnyire tradicionális bluest játszó zenésznek, formációnak (Koko Taylor, Lousiana Red, Nappy Brown, Robert Lockwood jr., Eddy Clearwater, Henry Gray, Carol Fran, stb.) köszönhetően meglehetősen színesre sikeredett. A számok közt éppúgy találhatunk népszerű szerzeményeket (That’s All Right, Big Fat Mama, Bumble Bee), mint alig ismert, de nem kevésbé értékes, élvezetes darabokat (1815 West Roosevelt, Sundown San Diego, Things Have Changed).
A klasszis szájharmonikás a hagyományos chicagói soundot képviseli játékával, és tökéletesen ráérzett arra, hogy mire van szükség: nem „fújja” szét a dalokat, csak annyira kerül a reflektorfénybe, amennyire muszáj.
A folyamatosan jobbnál jobb hanganyagokat megjelentető lemezkiadó közelmúltban piacra dobott kiadványa maradandó élményt nyújt mindenki számára.

I Tunes (October 2010)

Over two-plus decades, Bob Corritore has become one of the most reliable sidemen as a talented blues harmonica player, popular with younger musicians and veterans. This compilation features Corritore in a variety of settings over that 20-year period, with all-star bluesmen galore. Each track singles out his exploits with such notable blues legends as Koko Taylor, Louisiana Red, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Eddy Clearwater, Henry Gray, Pinetop Perkins, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, and Little Milton among countless others. There's no way to pick the best songs (they're all great) unless you favor certain types of blues from boogie, choogling struts, or rough-edged, down-and-dirty Southside Chicago shouts. The funniest track is Nappy Brown's feature "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes," sung in a deep, ribald manner. In an ultimately classic style, vocalist Lockwood and pianist Gray team up on "That's All Right," while Clearwater takes the cake on an upbeat and joyous "That's My Baby." The lesser known Chief Schabuttie Gilliame cops Howlin' Wolf during "No More Doggin'" and "Tell Me 'Bout It" whiles Louisiana Red comes closest to the immortal style of Muddy Waters. Throughout is Corritore's biting, literate, clean harmonica playing that fortifies, glues together, and inspires these-well known artists. Nothing less than a fantastic collection of authentic American music, Harmonica Blues is a must-have item for any fan of this music.

-Michael G. Nastos

Rootsville (Belgium) Aug 24, 2010

Bob Corritore nog voorstellen in het blueswereldje is niet meer nodig want deze ‘habitant’ van Chicago is een van de bekendste harmonicaspelers die de Chicago blues is trouw gebleven. Hij was amper 12 toen hij de microbe dank zij legende Muddy Waters te pakken kreeg. Later verhuisde Bob richting Arizona waar hij de hort op ging met Louisiana Red.
Sindsdien heeft hij zowat met iedereen die wat naam heeft in de blueswereld opgetreden en in 1991 opende hij ‘The Rhythm Room’ een blues & Roots club waar het een komen en gaan werd van alle groten. Bij Delta Groove is nu zijn nieuwste album op de markt gekomen en het is een verzamelaar van 15 beauty’s die vanaf 2000 door de jaren heen zijn opgenomen met zijn ‘friends’. Dit album kreeg dan ook de toepasselijke titel ‘Bob Corritore and friends’ mee en het is een schoolvoorbeeld van harmonica blues.
Opener is ‘What Kind Of Man Is This’ en werd in 2005 ingeblikt met Koko Taylor (1929-2009) die we spijtig genoeg een paar jaar later moesten afstaan. Op dit nummer, een klassieker van Koko klinkt deze madam evenwel nog fris en monter en haar ruigere stem was haar kenmerk.
Na jaren te hebben samengewerkt met Louisiana Red kon ook hij niet ontbreken en op deze ‘Tell Me’Bout It’ spelen ook Chris James en Patrick Rynn mee, het duo dat Bob Corritore met regelmaat begeleid op de bluesharp. ‘Dave Riley, Nappy Brown en Big Pete Parson zijn ook enkele namen die opduiken op dit album en met Honeyboy Edwards is er zelfs één van de oudste nog levende blueslegendes te horen op ‘Bumble Bee’.
Iemand die nog een paar jaartjes ouder is dan Honeyboy is met 97 ‘lentes’ Pinetop Perkins en van hem krijgen we ‘Big Fat Mama’. Nog vermeldingen met Carol Fran en Little Milton en je weet dan dat de huidige ‘créme’ van de Chicago blues op dit album te horen is. Een aanrader voor de liefhebbers!
-Freddie Celis

San Luis Obispo Blues Society (November 2010)

The 15 selections on Harmonica Blues (Delta Groove, 2010) were recorded between 1998 and 2009. All the cuts feature harp player Bob Corritore playing with different vocalists, many of whom are performing originals; thus, Koko Taylor performs “What Kind of Man Is This?” and Eddy Clearwater does “That’s My Baby.” The band personnel vary as well. Chris James (guitar), Patrick Rynn (bass), and Chico Chism (drums) alternate with guitarists such as Bob Margolin and Kid Ramos and pianists Pinetop Perkins, David Maxwell, and Henry Gray. Highlights include Nappy Brown performing an ultra-cool version of “Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes,” the mournful voice and guitar of Robert Lockwood, Jr. on “That’s All Right,” and an instrumental that pairs Corritore with Eddie Shaw on saxophone.

Washington Blues Society (November 2010)

The debut Delta Groove Music release for Bob Corritore, Harmonica Blues, marks the fortieth anniversary of his picking up the harmonica and is a star studded 15 track extravaganza featuring many of the blues world’s finest artists each performing vocals with backing bands the envy of any producer. The recordings range from an instrumental “1815 West Roosevelt” with Eddie Shaw on sax laid down in 1989 to three recorded just last year one each featuring Louisiana Red, Dave Riley and Eddy Clearwater on guitar and vocals. The supporters include Patrick Rynn-bass and Chris James-guitar on half dozen cuts as is Chico Chism on drums. Kid Ramos adds guitar to a pair and Henry Gray adds piano to three, singing as well on “Things Have Changed.” Koko Taylor sings “What Kind of Man is This” supported by Bob Margolin, Little Frank Krakowski, Bob Stroger and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. Another stand out track, “Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes,” features Nappy Brown on vocals. Carol Fran gets saucy on “I Need To Be Be’d With” Also featured with a song each are Pinetop Perkins, Tom Courtney, Honeyboy Edwards, Chief Schabuttie and Little Milton. Robert Lockwood Jr’s take on Jimmy Rogers’ classic “That’s All Right” is my favorite of the project; but Big Pete Pearson singing “Tin Pan Alley” is pretty tasty too. Throughout the entire project is Corritore’s often understated harp work. The man has some serious chops; but as with his Rhythm Room recordings and his two highly acclaimed CD’s with Dave Riley Travelin’ the Dirt Road and Lucky To Be Living, both on his Blue Witch label, Bob always puts the focus of attention on his friends and he does that here as well. This time around though, the spot light is shinning on Bob some too. Harmonica Blues would be an excellent album to add to your collection for the rare performances of these blues icons alone; but rest assured Bob’s gifted harp playing is also worth the price of admission. Highly recommended.

- Malcolm Kennedy

Roots and Rhythm (September 2010)

Great artists don't have to call attention to their greatness. They have no need to show off, to upstage the other musicians, to go to excess. On this compilation, blues harmonica master Bob Corritore takes his place along side some of the best bluesmen of the last 20 years and shines by serving the song instead of trying to take it over-not that he couldn't. The album features tracks recorded between 1989 and 2009, and features dozens of incredible blues talents, including Koko Taylor, Honeyboy Edwards, Eddy Clearwater, Louisiana Red, Nappy Brown, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Big Pete Pearson, Carol Fran, Henry Gray, Pinetop Perkins, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Tomcat Courtney, and on and on. Perhaps the finest moment belongs to Little Milton on the wonderfully titled 6 Bits In Your Dollar. Throughout Corritore adapts to the various blues settings and styles as effortlessly as you please, makes it sound easy. Worth it for the Little Milton track alone, and of course it's far from alone. (JC)

Musiczine (France) (November 17, 2010)

Bob Corritore est un harmoniciste talentueux, mais peu notoire auprès du public qui apprécie le blues. Sa passion pour la musique à bouche, il la répercute également à travers son club, le Rhythm Room à Phoenix, en Arizona, un club particulièrement prisé par les bluesmen. Sans oublier l’émission qu’il présente sur KJZZ, ‘Those Lowdown Blues’, sa propre ‘newsletter’ et ses implications dans le domaine du blues, loin d’être exhaustives.

Il a publié son premier elpee en 1999 : "All Star Blues sessions". Chez Hightone. Un disque pour lequel il avait bénéficié du concours de nombreux invités : Bo Diddley, Jimmy Rogers, Pinetop Perkins, Robert Lockwood, Henry Gray, Kid Ramos, Bob Margolin, et j’en passe. Il signe plusieurs opus pour ce label, dont "Rhythm Room Bluers", en 2001. Il a également enregistré deux long playings en compagnie du guitariste noir, issu du Mississippi, Dave Riley : "Travelin' the dirt road" en 2007 et "Lucky to be living" en 2009, mais chez Blue Witch.

Delta Groove, le label blues dont la production est la plus conséquente au cours de ces dernières années, a décidé de rendre hommage à cet harmoniciste prestigieux. Comment ? En passant en revue ses 20 années passées au service de l’harmonica. Sur cet album partagé en quinze plages. Je serais incapable de vous répertorier l’intégralité de sa discographie. Elle est bien trop riche. Mais la sélection proposée ici a vraiment de quoi enthousiasmer. A l’harmo, Corritore flirte avec le plus grand art. L’artiste a assimilé tous ses maîtres : Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, James Cotton, Junior Wells, …

"What kind of man is this?" ouvre les hostilités. Dans toute sa splendeur, la diva, Koko Taylor, libère toute sa puissance vocale. Impressionnant. Louisiana Red est un grand ami de Bob. Ils ont partagé si souvent les mêmes planches. Il apporte son concours à "Tell me 'bout it", une compo qui transpire le Chicago Southside, au cours de laquelle Bob souffle divinement. Elle remonte à juillet 2009. Robert Lockwood Jr chante passionnément le "That's all right" de Jimmy Rogers. Pour la circonstance, Henry Gray est préposé au piano. "Tin pan alley" constitue certainement la meilleure plage de cet opus. Un morceau très lent et mélancolique magnifié par la voix désespérée de Big Pete Pearson, un résident du Rhythm Room. On retrouve Gray pour l’interprétation de son "Things have changed", un titre au cours duquel il épanche toute sa sensibilité. Eddy Clearwater est particulièrement tonique pour attaquer son "That's my baby". Corritore s’y révèle sous son meilleur jour ! Little Milton chante "6 bits in your dollar", un boogie royal de plus de 7' qui clôt l’elpee. On épinglera encore la participation de deux des plus vieilles légendes encore vivantes du blues. Tout d’abord Pinetop Perkins, 97 ans, pour "Big fat Mama". Puis Honeyboy Edwards, 95 balais, sur "Bulble bee". Deux plages immortalisées en 2007. Un superbe album auquel j’attribuerai 5 étoiles !

- Jean-Claude Mondo

Blues Source (November 23, 2010)

Time & time again Bob Corritore seems to summon up some of the best compilations in the blues business. With his imagination and dtrive he has accounted for a vast release of great blues throughout the years that all have the quality to be on record shelves. This new Cd of his is no exception. Here he signs with Delta Groove and brings with him 15 tracks of recordings already made, and again manages to lay out one killer set of blues. His thought was to make a recording of all the great blues performers he’s had the pleasure of sitting in with through the years.

One must remember that Bob is the proprietor of the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Arizona which is one of the countries top blues clubs for bookings and promotion. Bob has easily gotten the chance to jam and record with great performers just by hanging around his own place of business. The list of professional blues performers included here is large, but most notable are tracks featuring legends like KoKo Taylor, Little Milton, Robert Lockwood Jr., Honeyboy Edwards, Eddy Clearwater, Nappy Brown, Henry Grey, Carol Fran and of course Pinetop Perkins.

He also features his Rhythm Room all stars along with tunes including Big Pete Pearson, Louisiana Red, Chico Chism, Bob Margolin and Kid Ramos. There are more, but you’ll have to take a look and see for yourself. Bob plays a great harmonica with all of these fine performers. It’s unfortunate, but many of these folks have left this life within the last few years. Much like the material Bob usually lays on the table, this Cd has merit, and is genuine, and one of a kind. Mr. Corritore always seems to come out with a great “stocking stuffer” this time of year.

- Dirk Wissbaum

Blues News (Norway) (December 2010)

Bob Corritore er en bluespurisit i ordets beste forstand.

Han har siden 70-tallet fungert som en sorrelse blant

munnspilltradisjonalister l Chicago-gata, og siden l98O-tallet drevet bade enge radioprogrammer for a promotere musikkformen ogg ikke minst den legendariske bluesklubben The Rhythm Room i Phoenix. Som munnspiller er Corritore en ekstremt smakfull minimalist med en stoor tone og en egen evne til a giore subtile vrier pa kjent temaer. Pa platen Harmonica Blues har han samlet opp innspillinger gjort med kremen avbluesmusikere igjennom de siste om lag 20 arene. Pa samtlige kutt finner du legender som Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Robert Lockwood Jr., Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Nappy Brown og Eddy Clearwater i toppform og med fantastiske backingband!

Hoydepunktene er vanskelig a plukke ut siden alt pa skiva er gull, men jeg er saerlig svak for Corritores kromatiske spill pa Eddy Clearwaters "That's My Baby", tredjeposisjonsleveringen pa Henry Grays "Things Have Changed" og boogaloo-instrumentalen "1815 West Roosevelt" med Eddie Shaw pa saksofon. Dertil viser plata klart hvordan munnspillet kan fungere som et integrert ensembleinstrument som naturlig er med pa underbygge latene, framforbare a brukes til a stjele showet gjennom "uendelige" flamboyante soloer. Arets bluesskive!

- Richard Gjems

La Hora Del Blues (Spain) (December 2010)

Bob es un hombre que ha hecho prácticamente todo por el blues. Lleva más de cuarenta años embarcado en la gran aventura de su vida y esa aventura es, sin ninguna duda, vivir el blues minuto a minuto, día a día y paso a paso.

Este álbum es una recopilación de los muchos nombres y artistas con los que ha trabajado a lo largo de su dilatada carrera, ya sea porque le han invitado a tocar, o bien porque han tocado para él en su club, o en su programa de radio, o en cualquier otro tipo de concierto.

En este formidable álbum encontramos a Bob soplando la armónica, tan inspirado como siempre, junto a grandes e históricos nombres del blues como Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Robert Lockwood Jr., Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Henry Gray, Nappy Brown, Eddy Clearwater, Louisiana Red, Carol Fran, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, Kid Ramos, Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger, Chico Chism, Eddie Taylor Jr., Eddie Shaw, Big Eyes Smith, David Maxwell, Bob Riedy, Big Pete Pearson (que está inmenso y sublime en el tema “Tin Pan Alley”) y algunos músicos más.

Como podéis observar, el disco no tiene desperdicio, la calidad de todos los que intervienen está fuera de dudas, la producción y la coordinación del álbum son inmejorables y os puedo asegurar que si adquiris una copia, dejará una huella imborrable e imperecedera en vuestra memoria. Después de escuchar este álbum estoy seguro de que ya no podreis salir vivos del blues!!. Sólo puedo decir, te quiero Bob, sigue siempre como hasta ahora. IMPRESCINDIBLE.

English:

Bob is a man who has practically done everything for the blues. For more than forty years he has been involved with the mission of living and spreading blues minute by minute, day by day and step by step.

This album is a compilation of many names and artists he has worked with throughout his long career, either because he has been invited to play, or because they have played for him at his club, or on his radio show, or on any other blues venue.

In this superb album you will find an inspired Bob blowing harp, together with legendary historic blues names, such as as Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Robert Lockwood Jr., Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Henry Gray, Nappy Brown, Eddy Clearwater, Louisiana Red, Carol Fran, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, Kid Ramos, Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger, Chico Chism, Eddie Taylor Jr., Eddie Shaw, Big Eyes Smith, David Maxwell, Bob Riedy or Big Pete Pearson (sublime in "Tin Pan Alley") among other musicians.

One will immediately realize the cd has not a bad track on it, the quality of everyone involved is exceptional, production and album displaying are superb, so I can definitely tell you that if you get a cd copy, it will leave on you an indelible mark, and you will not get out from these blues alive!! The only thing I can say is “I love you Bob so, please, follow on doing such a great good work!!”. ESSENTIAL.

- Vicente Zumel

Sopa de Blues (Brazil)(Jan 18, 2011)

Downbeat (February 2011)

Impresario Corritore collects 15 tracks that he recorded in the studio the past few decades with veterans gigging at his Rhythm Room club in Phoenix. Big Pete Pearson dredges up true grit singing "Tin Pan Alley," Eddy Clearwater cuts a swath of fun through "That's My Baby" and Little Milton, on vocals and guitar, takes the listeners to school with his "Six Bits In Your Dollar," a bad-feeling-this-morning lesson. These guys along with Nappy Brown, Koko Taylor, Pinetop Perkins and the rest may be past their prime but they're blessed with unconquerable spirit. They're also comfortable with the house band helmed by Corritore, a damn good harmonica player with a lively sense of history (3 and a half stars)

- Frank-John Hadley

Jazz 'n' More (Switzerland)(January 2011)

Bob Corritore, vor Energie strotzender Bluesharper, Produzent, Bluesclub-Besitzer, Newsletter-Schreiberling, Seele der Phoenix-Bluesszene und noch vieles mehr, öffnet sein immenses Archiv und macht uns fünfzehn Aufnahmen zugänglich, die ER zwischen 1989 und 2009 mit den verschiedensten Koryphäen aus der Welt Des traditionellen Blues mitgeschnitten hat. Die Liste der Mitwirkenden ist eindrücklich, und die Tatsache, dass viele dieser Künstler mittlerweile verstorben sind, macht dieses Album zu einem schönen Zeitdokument. Gleichzeitig aber ist diese CD mehr als blosse Nostalgie. Denn grossen Wert hat Corritore auf die klangliche Aufbereitung gelegt, nie tönt die Schiebe altmodisch oder gar langweilig. I'm Gegenteil, all die partizipierenden. Künstler scheinen ihr Mittun hörbar zu geniessen und liefern inspirierte Versionen ihrer Songs AB. Keine Downs auf diesem Album - und von den Ups zu erwähnen sind etwa Big Pete Pearson schöne Interpretation von “Tin Pan Alley“, das Harmonica/Sax-Duell von Bob mit Eddie Shaw auf “1815 West Roosevelt“ oder das absolut urchige “No More Doggin’“ mit Chief Schabuttie Gilliame.

- Marco Piazzalonga

Cascade Blues Society (February 2011)

Imagine you’re a well-respected musician traveling across the country and your agent books you into a club where they tell you the owner is going to sit in with you and record the set for a potential CD. Most likely you wouldn’t be too thrilled with the idea. That is of course unless the venue is Phoenix’ famed Rhythm Room and that person who wants to sit in and record is Bob Corritore.
Bob Corritore grew up and cut his teeth playing with blues greats in Chicago. He just may well be one of the most under-appreciated harmonica players in the country today. When you talk about the best harpers out there, Bob Corritore’s name should rank right up there alongside the likes of Wilson, Hummel, Musselwhite, Cotton, et al. Later relocating to the Valley of the Sun, he has been running the Rhythm Room, one of the best blues clubs to be found anywhere, for a number of years. Over that time Corritore has recorded a multitude of shows at the club and built up a fine collection of tracks featuring many of the blues’ greatest legends.
Harmonica Blues is Corritore’s second release that showcases him playing with many of the masters (the first was 1999’s All Star Blues Sessions, recorded for the HMG label). The artists that he plays alongside on this disc include many who have since passed, like Robert Lockwood Jr., Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Nappy Brown, Carol Fran and Chico Chism. Other tracks feature the likes of Kid Ramos, Honeyboy Edwards, Pinetop Perkins, Louisiana Red, Henry Gray, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and more.
Every track on this disc is a winner, but of course there are some that stand above others. Carol Fran’s lively “I Need To Be Be’d With” is the oldest selection and finds Fran in outstanding form. Koko Taylor opens the CD with that distinct growling voice on “What Kind Of Man Is This,” with superb backing by Corritore, Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. And Little Milton is exceptional on “6 Bits In Your Dollar.”
Lots of Rhythm Room regulars also need to be noted, such as the late Chico Chism on drums, Corritore’s oft-partner Dave Riley, Big Pete Pearson offers a fine take on the classic “Tin Pan Alley,” guitarist Johnny Rapp, and the San Diego-based duet Chris James & Patrick Rynn who frequently play the venue.
If you’ve never heard Bob Corritore perform, this is a great jumping off point. Or if you just enjoy terrific blues played by some of the finest musicians of the genre ever, Harmonica Blues will fill your thirst either way.

-Greg Johnson

Mojo Blues Club (Russia) (January 2011)

Боб Корриторе (Bob Corritore) это один из самых недооцененных в своем жанре блюз музыкантов, играющих на губной гармошке. Отголоски его музыкальных сопровождений можно услышать в трех дюжинах различных записей, а его мастерство позаимствованно у таких музыкантов, как Louisiana Red, Tomcat Courtney, Henry Grey и др. Его запись с Дейвом Рили (Dave Riley), в альбоме Lucky To Be Living (Счастье что живу), удостоилась высокой оценки и явилась своеобразным трамплином в его карьере. Смотри видео с их живого выступления на Blues Blast Awards 2010.

Истина в том, что Корриторе рожден, чтобы играть блюз. История такова: в 12 лет он услышал Мадди Уотерса по радио и у него появилось то “видение” о котором часто рассказывают исполнители блюза. Он стал покупать блюз альбомы, протискиваться в блюз шоу и подружился с Джоном Генри Дейвисом (John Henry Davis) с Чикаго Максвел Стрит. Впоследствии работая как продюсер и исполнитель с такими исполнителями как Tail Dragger, Big Pete Pearson, R.L. Burnside, Корротире общался и учился у таких мастеров блюз губной гармонии как Big Walter Horton, Louis Myers, Junior Wells, и Carey Bell. С годами Корриторе продолжал заниматься блюзом в различных амплуа -- как радиоведуший, владелец клуба и руководитель группы.

Сборник композиций Harmonica Blues представляет собой 15 трэков от “Боба Корриторе и Друзей” за последние 20 лет. Альбом есть ничто иное, как своеобразная дань уважения традиционному Чикагскому кантри-блюз стилю а также именитым музыкантам, с кем Бобу доводилось работать. В числе “друзей” такие яркие блюз исполнители, как Koko Taylor, Henry Gray, Nappy Brown, Tomcat Courtney, Honeyboy Edwards, Dave Riley, Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin и другие.

Альбом удался на славу – весь талант игры на губной гармонике Боба Корриторе в сочетании с исполнительским мастерством друзей вовлеченных в запись альбома очень выразительно представили слушателям блюз музыку. Если вы любите Блюз, то вам обязательно понравится этот альбом.

Juke Blues (England) Issue #70 (Late 2010)

After a career in Chicago learning his craft on the harmonica, and already dabbling in record production, Bob Corritore moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1981, where he developed his skills as producer, while appearing on radio and running his own club. The celebrated Rhythm Room.

For many years, Corritore has recorded a wide range of visitors to Phoenix, and despite the one instrumental led by Bob himself, all the other tracks here feature those guests in the foreground. Naturally they all highlight Bob's playing, but it is a typical trait of the man that he puts his blues performers up front. All but Koko Taylor's Chicago-recorded rework of "What Kind Of Man Is This?" (no Robert Nighthawk this time) were recorded in Phoenix between 1989 and 2009, and the list includes Louisiana Red, Nappy Brown, Robert Lockwood Jr, Eddy Clearwater, Pinetop Perkins, Henry Gray....shall I go on?? Oh, all right then...Honeyboy Edwards, Carol Fran, Little Milton. Regulars at Bob's club, and with whom he has recorded full albums, included Big Pete Pearson, Chief Schabuttie Gilliame, Tomcat Courtney, and of course, Dave Riley, whose partnership with Bob has proved so fruitful.

There are far too many accompanists to name, but suffice it to say there is major involvement from Corritore regulars Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and the late Chico Chism. Naturally, all players acquit themselves with style and a composure that comes from frequent playing with such illustrious names.

This is a terrifically enjoyable album, and, although his name is above the credits, Bob Corritore is happy to play a supporting role - and that's exactly what he has done over the years: given encouragement and support to many blues musicians, as this CD bears witness.

- Alan Empson

Malbec & Blues (Argentina) March 18, 2011

Bob Corritore & Friends – Harmonica blues. Bob Corritore podría ser elegido como el mejor amigo del blues. A los 12 años escuchó a Muddy Waters por la radio y desde entonces el blues se apropió de su vida. Con el tiempo se convirtió en uno de los coleccionistas de discos más importantes de Chicago y en un interesantísimo armonicista. Durante más de tres décadas, se codeó con los popes del blues, cultivó amistades de lujo, produjo discos de Pinetop Perkins y R.L Burnside y tocó en las bandas de Willie Dixon y Otis Rush. Harmonica blues es un discazo que recopila lo mejor de Corritore. Basta con leer la lista de músicos que lo acompañan: Koko Taylor, Louisiana Red, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Eddy Clearwater, Pinetop Perkins, "Honeyboy" Edwards, Little Milton, Bob Margolin y Kid Ramos. Para ser el único disco solista que tiene editado, no está nada mal ¿no?

-Martín Sassone

Folk World - Issue 44 (March 2011)

This is yet another blues album with an artist playing with a vast array of guest musicians. In this case, Corritore plays harmonica and a pretty mean harmonica at that. The core of the guests are vocalists, with many strapping on a guitar or playing piano as well. A few names are familiar to me such as Koko Taylor and Honeyboy Edwards. This is a fine effort even if I have seemingly heard a lot of it before. The harmonica, vocals and guitar work comes together with enough bite to warrant giving this some attention. Blues fans will certainly enjoy this effort as the production successfully showcases the talent here.

-David Hintz

Back To The Roots Magazine (Belgium) (Fall 2010)

Harmonicavirtuoos Bob Corritore had het geluk het vak te leren in Chicago van oude meesters als Louis Meyers, Lester Davenport en Eddie Taylor. SInds 1981 is zijn uitvalsbasis Phoenix, Arizona. Hij opende ER The Rhythm Room, ondertussen een legendarische bluesclub. Daarnaast heeft hij al bijna even lang een eigen radioshow en is hij een veelgevraagd producer. In de loop der jaren bouwde hij zo een hechte vriendschapsband op met de grootste artiesten uit het vak en kreeg hij tevens de kans met hen op te nemen. ’Harmonica Blues’ is de soundtrack bij zijn verhaal. De opnamen dateren uit de periode 1989-2009. In vijftien nummers begeleidt Bob de coryfeeën uit de blues. Onder hen Koko Taylor, Dave Riley, Nappy Brown, Eddie Shaw, Chico Chism, Pinetop Perkins, Robert Lockwood, Jr. En Honeyboy Edwards. Het is echter vooral Corritore zelf die op elk nummer de show steelt maar telkens met respect voor zijn vrienden-mede-muzikanten. Zowat alle stijlen komen aan bod zodat zelfs diegenen die niet helemaal verknocht zijn aan harmonicablues hier Hun gading vinden. Ofwel hoe boeiend en gevarieerd de blues wel kan klinken met de juiste muzikanten.

-Georges Tonla Briquet

Qingyuan Is Blogs (2011) Japan

I heard of Bob Corritore through a free on-line Blues subscription. Corritore's ability to blow harp is mirrored only some of the greats, Kim Wilson, Sugar Ray Norcia, James Cotton, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Little Walter. The album is put together with some other musician's whose music is both timeless, as it is classic. This CD is a good fit with my collection of blues. If you blow harp, or just enjoy it's raw bluesy sound...this CD is just what your looking for.

Harmonica World (June/July 2011)

This CD marks 40 years since Bob first started playing harmonica. For the first decade he was in Chicago, learning and playing the blues with the greats and the great (virtually) unknowns. Then he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and became a highly-respected frontman/ sideman/ broadcaster/ tireless promoter. He is still doing it, and this CD showcases his work behind internationally-known acts such as Little Milton and Koko Taylor, veterans like Honeyboy Edwards and Pinetop Perkins, and excellent locals musicians including Big Pete Pearson and Chief Schiabuttie Gilliame. The constant factor is Bob’s always appropriate and accomplished harmonica work, making this not just a fine blues harp album, but also one of the finest blues albums of the last few years.

- Norman Darwen

Cinetube (Spain) (7-24-2011)

"Bob Corritorre & Friends - Harmonica Blues" es una colección de más de 20 años de grabaciones del gran armoniquista Bob Corritore. Estas 15 canciones no son más que una mera recopilación, sino que representan más de un homenaje a los artistas con los que Corritore ha tocado y grabado a su lado, así como un guiño a los tradicionales músicos de Chicago y su propio estilo blusero. En cuanto a sus "Friends", no se puede haber armado una lista más impresionante de talentos: Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Robert Lockwood Jr., Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Henry Gray, Nappy Brown, Eddy Clearwater, Louisiana Red, Carol Fran, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, Big Pete Pearson, Willie ?Big Eyes? Smith, Chief Schabuttie Gilliame, Eddie Shaw, Bob Margolin, Kid Ramos, Chicho Chism, David Maxwell, Bob Stroger, Eddie Taylor Jr. Que se puede agregar con este listado de estrellas. Solamente recomendar su escucha y disfrutarlo al máximo. Amigos a gozar del mejor blues del mundo. Abrazos bluseros para todos.-

- Adrian

World of Harmonica (May 10, 2011)

This CD celebrates the 40th year of Bob Corritore's harmonica playing. It is a treasure chest of 15 great blues songs selected from Bob's master tape vaults, and features guest appearances by Bob's favorite blues artists. It also marks the 4th record to bear Bob Corritore's name, and is Bob's debut on the great Delta Groove record label.

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