Search - Jimmy Dawkins, Lefty Dizz, Brewer Phillips :: Bad Avenue

Chicago's Finest.

houserockinslim@hotmail.com | Egland | 02/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A 3 CD set essential for Chicago Blues freaks. The Jimmy Dawkins disc is a 1985 recording and his trademark licks ring out true and clean. But this is not his sharpest work due to the typical '80's production. The drumming is too muffled and keyboards too prominent for my taste.Next up it's Lefty Dizz with a tremendous nine song 1989 album. The band (the Bell family) is free and rocking with Dizz's ultra loose slashing guitar cutting through in stark contrast to the tight band. The vocals are the only slight imperfection here, too loud in the mix and rather forced on some tracks. The real jem of this set is the Brewer Phillips CD. WOW, from the first note spat out by his trusty Telecaster my jaw dropped, ears fell off and then my head imploded with the shear intensity of this 'from the gut' guitar abuse. Hound Dog Taylor fans will be familiar with his sound, a supreb, raw, cutting style that destroys all within a five mile radius. And what's more is that Brewer's vocals are on top form with a slurred, relaxed, natural (sometimes unintelligable) sound. Other musicians are Steve Plair, Frank Bandy and fellow Houserocker Ted Harvey. this is a first time on CD album and you also get two previously unissued tracks and, umm, 20-bit remastering(!)."