The consummate sideman, Willie Kent steps out front on his second solo Delmark release, Long Way to Ol' Miss . A longtime veteran of the Chicago blues scene, Kent is a perennial Handy Award nominee for best bass player. He picked up the award in 1995, and Long Way to Ol' Miss may well bring him his second Handy next spring.
Banks shines throughout, but ironically is absent on two of the best songs.
But that's not surprising, considering Kent's background. He spent years booking, promoting and playing for other people. He became a bass player after a couple of bands he booked were saddled with bassists too drunk to play. It is that team spirit that makes any project Kent works on special. He's willing to let everyone else shine while he simply slams away on his beat-up bass and adds soulful vocals.