Blues Had a Baby
Some blues musicians are known as much for living the bluesman's life as for playing their music;Robert Johnson, for instance, embodies a legend that's only tangentially related to his actual songs. Lurrie Bell is another such musician. Check out the liner notes onBlues Had a Babyto learn exactly why Bell is on his way to becoming a certified Chicago legend. It's not hype nor is it pretension; the music on this CD illustrates exactly why Bellshouldbe known--because he really is that good. His guitar blends so well with the rest of the music that you have to listen very closely indeed to realize just how inventive Bell is, how he can turn anything into a blues lick. Though he works firmly within the Chicago sound, there's nothing standard or stereotypical about this music; it's no exaggeration to say that because of people like Lurrie Bell, the blues is still alive. --Genevieve Williams