Search - Jimmy Witherspoon :: Jimmy Witherspoon - Live at the Mint

The Blues is about emotion and this CD is the Blues

10/14/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Were I to believe all the music reviews that one reads, I for one, would not have as many duds in my collection as I do, and I certainly would not have bought Witherspoons 'Live at the Mint'.I have, and it is one of the best CD's that I have.Witherspoon cut this CD after a bout with throat cancer, his voice has obviously lost its old power, and shows the ravages of that disease.Witherspoon remains great. Whenever his voice weakens (as it does)Fords guitar swoops in like a hawk, and is witness to the great sideman that he can be and the friendship that he shared with Witherspoon.To state that Fords partnership here with 'Spoon is 'noble and commendable' and that the CD is 'great inspite of' Witherspoon, is insensitive, ridiculous and spouts from the lips who do not understand the genre nor true friendship.The blues is not about beautiful voices, the blues is about life, and above all, pain, and the expresion of it. At least Witherspoon did not have to act the Blues, he lived it, and died it.Those who wish to listen to beautiful voices should limit themselves to boys choirs. 'Live at the Mint' is a great Blues CD, but buy it for what it is- a great Jimmy Witherspoon CD."