Bailey's Blues

Steve Bailey and the Blueflames

review by James Middlefield

Steve Bailey has provided us with a CD that stays true to its concept from start to finish; a recording that, as Steve puts it on his cover, “...provides a tribute to the early history of electric blues sounds with nasty harp, wicked slide guitar and a solid groove.” From the very first cut called “Used to Be My Happy Home” he combines all those sounds in raw blues. On this cut John Stephan’s nasty slide rings true and Steve’s soulful voice and harp technique takes you back in true blues style.

Next, Bailey serves up a tune about the satisfaction provided when playin’ the blues on “It’s Alright” to which he adds his dedication “for Isaac Scott”. If you look through your collection of classic blues you’ll find many artists who have sung about the joy they find in playing the blues. Steve and his various Blue Flames spark that same joy throughout this CD. Another historic reference to the history of the blues comes with cut three “House Party Bar B Q”. It’s a musical history lesson describing some of the circumstances around the purpose and use for blues music in urban settings like Chicago and New York. This cut takes you back to the days of Louis Jordan and his Saturday Night Fish Fry.

Blues was never lacking for love-lament songs and neither is this CD. Cuts 4,5,6,7,8, 10,11,12 and 13 tell their stories about love’s dedications, infatuations and frustrations. With titles like “Knockin’ At Your Door”, “My Heart Fell Like a Rock” and “Long As My Baby’s There”, you’re covered. Pick one that relates to your situation and turn it up or sing it to your baby. There has always been room for a sense of humor in the blues too (and everywhere else for that matter). So Steve lightens up the CD with his novelty tune about love with Phyllis Diller (cut 9). Maybe a little Zappa esque for some, but just smile and enjoy a laugh with Steve, there’s room for it at any blues party. Incredible skill, tone and his emotive performance on harmonica is what draws many of us to Steve Bailey and cut 14, “Steve’s Acoustic Boogie”, is a prime example you’ll enjoy; just pure Steve.

The CD has 14 cuts, all penned by Steve Bailey and include performances from a wide array of area blues names including Guy Quintino (upright bass), James Clark (bass), John Stephan (guitar), Tim Sherman (guitar), Dan Newton (guitar), Andrew Cloutier (drums), Marty Lockwood (drums), Ric Howell (drums), Lonnie Williams (sax), Sam Newton (trombone) with Charlene Grant and Florence Baker-Wood on background vocals.

One thing I’ve noticed about good blues listening is that if you are going to be lifted up by it you gotta turn it up so it surrounds you with it’s visceral instrumentation and poetry. Don’t put this or other blues music on for background, put it on and turn it up and it will lift you up. Then you’ll be ready for the other things that grind your life and make you lust for more of Bailey’s Blues.