Sleepy John Estes - Sleepy John Estes, 1929-1940 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Throughout the years, CC has appeared on many albums, and he continues to be one of the most in-demand session vocalists in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was honored to perform with world-renowned, multi-platinum guitarist Carlos Santana, providing vocals on two tracks that appeared on Santana IV and on Santana's latest album with the legendary Ron Isley. His experience and professionalism have made him an A-list vocalist for Tarpan Studios, appearing on many tracks with Grammy and Emmy Award winning producer Narada MichaelWalden.

Sleepy John Estes was in many ways the personification of the blues. His pleading vocals were always on the point disintegrating into a cry either of help or of joy. His guitar playing, which could either be used as a thumping rhythm or as a remarkable, strong and precise lead, were a direct line to the life of poverty that he lived and his experiences in the Brownsville, Tennessee where he was born and where he died. This is the first of two volumes covering Sleepy John Estes early and, arguably, his best recordings, which he made between 1929 and 1941 before he slipped into obscurity until being re-discovered during the great blues revival of the 1960s. These recordings show John as an innovator and like Big Joe Williams, Sonny Boy Williamson (John Lee) and Big Bill Broonzy he was willing and able to move on with the times, bringing his music from the country and into the city (Chicago). Like Big Joe Williams, Sleepy John Estes was as comfortable playing with a band as he was playing solo. The recordings on Volume One have the feel of a string band with the ever-present James Yank Rachel on mandolin. Also accompanying Sleepy John Estes on several tracks are Jab Jones playing stomping barrelhouse. Piano and Hammie Nixon on harmonica. Elsewhere, harmonica is provided by the mysterious InchTeeInch. The total sound of these early sides is extraordinary. When Estes and his band hit an up-tempo piece, as on Cow Cow Blues or Wat'cha Doin?, the effect is both precarious and thrilling at the same time. In among the slow blues such as the autobiographical Street Car Blues and Poor John Blues are the stomping Stop That Thing and I Want To Tear It Down. The success of another up-beat number, Drop Down Mamma lead to it's re-issue by public demand on 78 in Britain during the 1940s. This is low down blues and good time music at their best.

This album begins with Sleepy John Este's account of how he came close to drowning when a car he was riding in skidded off a temporary bridge. It's typical of the man, in that it deals with events and people from his immediate experience and in it's constricted, emotional singing, matched by Hammie Nixon's melancholy harmonica. It's typical also in the element of paradox involved; this terrifying experience is recounted to the tune of 'Careless Love' (a tune he later used to sing about the fact that he'd gone 'Stone Blind'!) John Norris of 'Jazz Beat Magazine' once wrote of Sleepy John Estes InchThe emotional impact of his singing is overwhelming and when he really gets wound up in his music he sings with great power.Inch Sleepy John Estes was in many ways the personification of the blues. His pleading vocals were always on the point of disintegrating into a cry, either of help or of joy. His guitar playing, which could either be used as a thumping rhythm or as a remarkable, strong and precise lead, were a direct line to the life of poverty that he lived and his experiences in the Brownsville, Tennessee, where he was born and where he died. Volume Two of his recordings continues to reveal Sleepy John Estes as a significant blues artist of the pre-war blues era. In addition to long time friend and music companion Hammie Nixon, several tracks find Sleepy John in the company Robert Lee McCoy, also known as Robert Nighthawk, Son Bonds and there is the possibility of an appearance of Charlie Pickett. Between them they produce some excellent blues such as Brownsvillle Blues, Hobo Jungle Blues and Special Agent. Drop Down is one of two recordings to feature the lively washboard playing of Ann Sortier, the girlfriend of Robert Lee McCoy. There is the strange, semi-religious blues Time Is Drawing Near. Tell Me How About It has some explicit things to say about 'Mister Tom' and