Mojo Blues Band - A Chicago Blues Night Live

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:1999
Time:61:44 
Size:143,5 MB 
Label:STYX Records 
Styles:Blues/Chicago Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had - 4:39
 2. If It Ain't Me - 3:42
 3. Take Off Boogie - 3:33
 4. Sunnyland Train - 7:08
 5. Young Fashioned Ways - 3:48
 6. Tend To Your Business (Feat. Taildragger & Siggi Fassl) - 5:02
 7. Long Distance Call (Feat. Taildragger) - 7:34
 8. Just Sittin' Here (Feat. Taildragger) - 5:40
 9. Cold Outdoors (Feat. Taildragger) - 5:34
10. Be Prepared (Feat. Taildragger) - 6:56
11. Highway 57 (Feat. Taildragger) - 8:01

Musicians:
Erik Trauner - vocals, guitar, slide guitar;
Taildragger - vocals(6,7,8,9,10,11);
Markus Toyfl - guitar;
Siggi Fassl - guitar(6);
Christoph Rois - piano;
Dani Gugolz - bass;
Peter Müller - drums.

Vienna, its capital, is crossed by the Danube River and is home to beautiful palaces. Among its famous figures are Mozart, Strauss, Hyden, Schubert, Mahler, and Freud. And the group I recommend now, formed in the mid-seventies, the Mojo Blues Band. By 1977, they were already known for playing in various small clubs in Vienna, one of them being the well-known Jazzland. In that European country, there aren't many musical bands, especially blues bands. Mojo Blues Band appeared and quickly took over the blues scene in Austria and much of Europe, led by pianist Joachim Paldem and guitarist Erick Trauner. At the end of 1977, a boogie woogie competition was held in Vienna, and pianist Joachim Paldem entered the competition, winning the prize of a recording contract. Joachim met with the group and decided on a name. After several suggestions, they decided on the name Mojo Blues Band. This is how they produced their first album, which was released in early 1978 and was a huge success, both in sales and with the public. Some time later, one of its founders, Joachim Paldem, decided to leave the group, and Erick Trauner took over as leader. At that time, this band was the only blues band in Austria, so whenever a blues group or singer performed, they would hire the Mojo Blues Band to accompany them. This allowed the band to learn more about the secrets of the blues, playing alongside musicians such as Johnny Shines, J.B. Hutto, Charlie Musselwhite, Louisiana Red, Champion Jack Dupree, and especially Taildragger Jones. In the early 1990s, their song "Alligator Walk" became a hit on the American blues scene, and following this success, they toured North and South Carolina. In 1989, they visited Chicago, where they played alongside the greats of the blues, and recorded the CD "The Wild Taste of Chicago." Following a highly successful concert together, Taildragger and the Mojo Blues Band toured various European countries, and thus recorded the album I'm recommending to you now. James Yancey Jones, better known as Taildragger, was born on September 30, 1940, in a small town in Arkansas. He was Howlin' Wolf's main disciple. Taildragger followed Wolf from club to club, observing him and receiving advice from the now legendary performer. For over 20 years, Wolf allowed Taildragger to sing his songs while he took a break from weekend shows, and that's how Taildragger began singing in clubs on the West and South Side of Chicago. Little by little, he became known in the 1960s blues scene. Taildragger embodies authentic Chicago Blues at its best, blues with feeling. It was said in those years that, to experience true Chicago blues, you had to listen to this singer. After the death of the legendary Howlin' Wolf, his guitarist Huber Sumlin joined Taildragger to continue dominating the blues clubs of the Chicago West Side ghetto. He was always faithful to his early influences, such as Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, and especially Howlin' Wolf. He once remarked that the first music he liked was blues, and that it would be the last thing he would play. Taildragger died on September 4, 2023, nine days before he had given his last concert. Mojo Blues Band featuring Taildragger A Chicago Blues Night Live: From the start, the band sets the tone for the CD: 100% Chicago blues. And to kick things off, what better way to start than by playing a Muddy Waters song, "You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had." In "If It Ain't Me," the piano is heard in rhythm and is accompanied well by the drums to perform a good Elmore James blues. For "Take Off Boogie," the piano is heard again with the blues, then the rhythm changes, and to the screams of the audience, they give us an instrumental Boogie Woogie... to enjoy and move our feet. "Sunnyland Train," the slide guitar enters, taking us through the old Chicago clubs, amidst the darkness and cigar smoke, we enjoy the blues. The band is well acquainted with the performers of good Chicago blues, and now they masterfully perform a Willie Dixon classic: "Young Fashioned Ways." Then applause begins, and the harmonica ushers in Taildragger's raspy voice, performing one of his songs, "Tend To Your Business." On "Long Distance Call," the opening slide guitar reminds us of Muddy Waters, and Taildragger performs this classic at his best. "Just Sittin' Here," if we listened to the CD without looking at the performer, we'd be wondering which Chicago band was playing; we'd never guess it was an Austrian band playing in a Viennese club.Taildragger indulges in his bluesy groove, "Just Sittin' Here," alongside the Mojo Blues Band. Together, they sound as if they've been together for a long time. On "Just Sittin' Here," the drums and harmonica move us into the blues, and Taildragger's raspy voice blends seamlessly with the entire band. To close the CD, Erik Trauner's slide guitar appears, wonderfully accompanied by Traildragger's bluesy voice, on the track "Highway 57." This CD showcases a terrific band with a long career and excellent musicians. The piano and guitar stand out, and above all, it reminds us of the great blues singer Taildragger Jones.

A Chicago Blues Night Live