Search - Otis Spann :: Walking the Blues

The greatest blues piano artist ever!

02/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Otis Spann was the piano player in the famous Muddy Waters blues band in Chicago from 1953 to 1969. On this record we get a chance to listen to Otis Spann singing and playing the piano solo (accompanied by a guitar only). 40 years have passed since this recording was made. Looking back I have to confess that in my judgement Otis Spann was the greater talent of the two. Today, the music of Otis Spann is still fresh, original and timeless in its deep "soulfulness" while in comparison, the music of Muddy Waters sounds to me dated and somewhat artificial in its heavy reliance on the "electrified" sound of the guitar. According to Waters, Spann "is the best blues piano player we have today. There is no one left like him who plays the real, solid, bottom blues" (a quote from an interview given by Waters in the late 1960's). Waters also liked to emphasize that Spann played the piano "with both hands" (refering to the strong and articulate left hand in Spann's piano playing). Otis Spann died rather young at the age of 40 in 1970 appearently as a poor man, while Muddy Waters continued his successful career until his death in 1983 at the age of 68."

Otis Spann - Walking the blues with bonus tracks!

Edward | The Netherlands | 11/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To my surprise I got in Nov. 2007 the "Walking the Blues" (Otis Spann) CD with 7 extra splendid tracks of him, not mentioned in the booklet (picture different from the advertised one). Thank you very much!"

As good as it gets: Otis Spann & Robert Lockwood, Jr

pegasus | San Francisco, CA United States | 01/01/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I hesitated to buy this one as there were no reviews. Jumped in anyway. Both Otis Spann's voice & piano playing on "Walking The Blues" are as good as I've heard. Ditto Robert Lockwood, Jr.; both voice & guitar accompaniment.

James Oden is good but doesn't complete w/ Spann and Lockwood. Still, no complaints; he is good, also. No one could compete w/ Spann & Lockwood on this one.

This recording has great, clear sound w/ voices & instruments complimenting each other wonderfully; no fighting to dominate.

The CD is well worth the money if all I got was Otis Spann on this version of his "Half Ain't Been Told". It's hard to decide on a favorite on this CD but if I had to "Half..." would be it.





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