Little Brother Montgomery, Memphis Slim, Jimmy Cotton & Speckled Red - Dealing With The Devil's Music: Bluesmen In Britain

The popularity of Traditional Jazz and the brief but dramatic Skiffle boom of the 1950s saw an awakening interest in the Blues in it various forms: Country, Chicago, Vaudeville etc. Spurred on by people like Alexis Korner, Cyril Davies and others an audience for Blues styles was building from the late 1950s. Leading Jazz band leader Chris Barber wanted learn from American practicioners and brought Bluesmen over at his own expense to tour with his band one of whom, Jimmy Cotton, is featured on this CD.This collection features three other visitors to Britain who recorded with local musicians including Alexis Korner and Ken Colyer. Three, Little Brother Montgomery, Memphis Slim and Speckled Red are all pianists with very different styles. Jimmy Cotton was the leading Blues harmonica player of his generation. The locals acquit themselves very well and ten of the tracks here are previously unreleased including all the Memphis Slim tracks.