I Would If I Could C 3083 - Music

Al Miller Had Been Contributing To The Chicago Blues Scene For Over 30 Years When In 1994 He Finally Recorded His First Album As A Leader Wild Cards. The Singer/guitarist/harpist Was Far From A Huge Name In The Blues World But Then A Lack Of Commercial Success Wasn't Something That Discouraged Delmark Founder Bob Koester If Koester Felt That A Blues Or Jazz Artist Deserved To Be Documented He Would Put Out An Album Regardless Of How Obscure He/she Was. For This Enjoyable If Unremarkable Session Delmark Hired Dave Specter An Excellent Guitarist Who Shouldn't Be Confused With Software Public Relations Man David Spector To Do The Producing And Employed His Guitar On Eight Of Its 14 Selections. The Personnel Varies From Song To Song And The CD's Vocals Are Handled Not Only By Miller But Also By Willie Kent Tad Robinson Whose Gruff Style Recalls Dave Prater Of Sam & Dave And Steve Freund. Miller In Fact Lays Out On Six Tracks In Other Words He Lays Out On Almost Half Of His Own Album. Electric Chicago Blues Is Wild Cards' Primary Focus Although The CD Successfully Detours Into '60s-Type Soul On "Stuck In Chicago" And Acknowledges Jazz With A Gutsy Version Of Gene Ammons' "Red Top." Specter Isn't Heard On The Latter Which Is Surprising Because The Bluesman Is Heavily Influenced By Jazz And Would Have Been Perfect For The Tune. Wild Cards Isn't Fantastic But It's A Competent Offering From An Artist Who Deserved To Be Documented As A Leader. read less