Search - Various Artists :: New York Blues 1945-1956 Rub a Little Boogie

Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry moved to New York City in 1942. They moved in with Huddie and Martha Ledbetter on East 9th Street. Over the next few years, they became part of the curious alliance between folk music and left-wing politics, as Leadbelly and Josh White did. Both men busied themselves in the recording studio, for both commercial and private interests. There were recordings for the Library of Congress and for Terry regular sessions for Moe Asch, who set up the Folkways label. Brownie also began a long and eventful career as a session guitarist with others who had moved to New York - Jack Dupree, Wilbert Ellis, Dan Burley and Ralph Willis. Then, a mystery. In 1945, three musicians cut ten songs, most of the time calling themselves Sonny Boy & Lonnie, but they also became Sonny Boy and Sam or Shorty Smith & His Rhythm. By the nature of their music, it was thought that the musicians came from the Carolinas or the Midwest.The current consensus is that they are Teddy `Sonny Boy' Smith, vocal and guitar, Lonnie Johnson, piano and Sam Bradley, vocal and guitar. They then vanished, leaving these amazing sides as a memorial. So it went with the other artists her. Some, like Bob Gaddy, Champion Jack Dupree and Edward P Harris achieved success in varying degrees. Others - Alonzo Scales, Wilbert Ellis and Bobby Harris disappeared after brief acquaintance with the studio. What's unmistakeable is the commitment that all these artists bring to the studio. Sometimes astonishing, they're never less than wonderfully listenable. This outstanding young blues guitarist has been knocking audiences dead on the other side of the pond for a couple of years now. He earned a few new fans over here with his last studio album "Equilibrium" (MHR-CD-2024) which came out last year and will look to build on the reputation with this new release. His technique, tone, style and soul are the equal of anyone out there working today. The TOWER SESSIONS is in fact a "Greatest LIVE Hits" album. A collection of 11 songs, that Aynsley has performed on stages throughout the world over the years. Most importantly, the album includes the first ever recording of his fans' favorite track, a truly stellar version of Prince's "Purple Rain". Recorded in January 2010, at The Tower Winchester, totally live, no overdubs or studio trickery, the TOWER SESSIONS is a superb example of Aynsley and his band in their prime: Fresh from the road with that `end of tour tightness' that really brings the songs to life.