Search - Henry Townsend :: Cairo Blues

The last of the giants of the pre-war blues. Indispensable!!

JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 06/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here is an immense country blues record by one of the masters of this music,Henry Townsend, born October 27,1909 in Shelby,Ms,and still alive at 93,in Saint Louis,Missouri.He belongs to the unsurpassed generation of country blues players who created this music,and he's one of the most individual and original players of it.Very gifted as a guitar and piano player,he recorded since 1929,and use to play since Henry Spaulding's great "Cairo blues" (also played by James Son THomas).
To me,Henry will remain as one of the most inventive blues players,with Bukka White,Charley Patton,Fred McDowell,John Hurt,Blind Willie Johnson or ,of course,Robert Johnson.
This record ,made between 1970 and 1974,will let you listen to Henry mostly playing guitar (as he grew older,he mostly played piano),with Mike Stewart on guitar,his wife Vernell Townsend singing on one track,and the great StLouis piano player,Henry Brown on "Deep Morgan stomp".Don't confuse Henry Brown with "Hi" Henry Brown,a guitar player of the same area,who recorded in the thirties.
Henry seems to be familiar to me,more than any other blues player,because my friend Tom Cat Blake,a 40 years old StLouis born white blues guitarist,who lives now near my place,told me often about Henry; Henry taught him how to play the blues,and they still meet when Tom Cat flies to the USA,visiting his parents.
This CD is a perfect introduction to Henry's musical world;you'll discover an incredible guitar style,which combines the traditionnal StLouis style with Mississippi influences.Here,he only plays one tune on piano,and even if he's a very gifted piano player,it's a good thing,because I think his guitar style is miles and miles away from his piano.I mean,he created a way of playing the blues on guitar;but he's not as original on piano;his piano playing looks like Walter Davis,or Peetie Wheatstraw,or even Roosevelt Sykes.
Even if he's not as famous as other blues heroes,Henry Townsend belongs to the best ones."Cairo blues","Biddle street blues","Why do we love each other so","buzz buzz buzz","doing better in life,"don't you remember me" or "now or never" will let you listen to one of the most talented guitar player as well as to one of the most emotionnal voices in the blues history.So,don't miss this opportunity to meet THE LAST LIVING LEGEND of the great pre-war blues."