Katie Webster – Pussycat Moan

This is a live performance by Katie Webster, also known as the swamp boogie queen, playing the song “Pussycat Moan” live. The performance is from the 1990 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
I haven’t really been able to find any studio recorded versions of this. The only thing I’ve found is a version on the compilation CD “Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Collection”.
It’s a great slow blues song and Katie sings it to perfection, just the right way. Also plays the piano in that way only she can. She’s a great blues artist and more people should know about her.

Enjoy ; )

Stevie Ray Vaughan with Johnny Copeland – Look At Little Sister

This is a live performance by blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan playing the song “Look At Little Sister” live. The performance is from the 1985 performance that Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble gave at the Montreux Jazz Festival that year. Joining them live on stage is another blues guitarist, Johnny Copeland. He also joined in for the songs “Cold Shot” and “Tin Pan Alley” which came prior to this.
The whole concert including Vaughan’s 1982 performance at Montreux is available on DVD and I highly recommend picking it up. Truly a must have if you’re a fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
The lyrics to the song are credited to song writer H. Ballard, so I’m guessing it’s some sort of traditional song or something.
It’s a great performance. The solos done by both guitarists are really good and it’s such an up tempo song that just puts you in a good mood. It’s a great traditional blues song played to perfection.

Enjoy ; )

Joe Bonamassa - High Water Everywhere

This is a live performance by guitarist Joe Bonamassa playing the classic blues song "High Water Everywhere" live. The performance is from the North Sea Jazz Festival.
The song was originally written by blues singer Charley Patton. The theme of the song is the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 which devastated Louisiana. Bob Dylan paid tribute to the song on his 2001 album "Love and Theft" with the song "High Water (For Charley Patton).
The song was initially released by Bonamassa on his 2006 album "You & Me". It is in fact the opening track for that album. Bonamssa has had the number in his live repertoire for quite some time and a live version appeared on the DVD of his concert at The Royal Albert Hall released in 2009.
It's a great song, and Bonamassa does a great job of playing it live.

Enjoy ; )

Taj Mahal - Bright Lights, Big City (Jimmy Reed)

This is a live performance by Taj Mahal and his amazing blues band doing their version of the classic blues song "Bright Lights, Big City". The performance is from the Montreux Jazz Festival, but I don't know what year.
The song was originally written and recorded in 1961 by blues guitarist and harp player Jimmy Reed. The song was one of Reed's most famous and reached #3 on the R&B Charts. (I've embeded the original Reed version beneath, there's no video, but it's some good music!)

I think that Taj Mahal and his band do a really good version. Taj Mahal really plays that blues harmonica in the style of Jimmy Reed, especially in the beginning really reaching and sustaining those high pitched notes on the harmonica. Also guitarist Jimmy D. Lane delivers and amazing guitar solo. Johnnie Johnson is seen in the background, and he does a little solo to. Great stuff, great band!
The song has also been done by "The Animals" and Sonny James, but I'd stick with Taj Mahal or Reed's version though. I really like this song, this is a blues song, no doubt about it, and Reed was one of the best in the field of writing good blues tunes.

Enjoy ; )

Isaac Hayes - Walk On By

This is a live performance by soul musician Isaac Hayes doing his version of "Walk On By" at the 2005 Montreux Jazz Festival.
"Walk On By" was originally composed by Burt Bacharac with lyrics by Hal David. The song was first recorded by Dionne Warwick. It has since been covered by many artists who have made the song a hit. Of course Isaac Hayes, but also The Stranglers, D-Train, Cyndi Lauper and Seal among others.
Isaac Haye's version was released on his 1969 "Hot Buttered Soul" album. On this version the song is transformed into an almost 13 minutes funk jam. This live version is about 9 mintues and 30 seconds. The single version from the album was cut down to about 5 minutes and it got to no. 30 on the US Hot 100 chart.
I really love this live version it's really a jam and the band is feeling it. Especially love the guitar intro by Charles "Skip" Pitts. Hayes also refers to him as Skip under the concert. The funky bass line at the end that just escalated at the end is also very impressive. A very good and funky performance.

Enjoy ; )

Repost: B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone

I posted this once before, but the version I posted was taken down from youtube. I don't mind that however, because this is a better version in my opinion. (Click here to read the text from the old post, and a little background on the song).
This version is from BB's performance at the 1993 Montreux Jazz Festival, and it's just a smokin' version of the song. It starts out a little slower than the first version I posted, with BB playing at a very low volume level, with a lot of emotion. Then towards the end it picks up speed, BB turns up the volume, stands up and gives us the grand finale of his playing, and this concert. It's a great performance and a great show. (Can be purchased at Amazon.com, and is published by Eagle Rock, click here for product information).
It's a great performance, and the whole band is into it. The string section from the original recording is imitated beautifully on a keyboard, and the horn section do a fine job.
This is a great performance, and if not the best, then definitely one of the best versions of this song.

Enjoy ; )