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Corky Siegel's Traveling Chamber Blues Show! *

Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues
1 disc

1. Opus 17.2
2. Five Planets in Harmonica Convergence
3. Manhattan Island
4. Serenade
5. Woofy Girl Stroll, The
6. Train
7. Opus 4 (1/2 of Opus 8)
Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 4901
Credits

Producer Corky Siegel; Ken Goerres; Holly Tucker Siegel
Engineer Mark Sarantakos; Mark Sarantakos
Personnel: Rollo Radford (vocals); Mark Agnor, Randy Sabien (violin); Nell Flanders, Richard Halajian (viola); Frank Donaldson (tabla, percussion); Corky Siegel (vocals, harmonica, piano); Jeff Yang (violin); Jill Kaeding (cello).
Audio Mixer: Ken Goerres.
Recording information: Lenna Hall, Chautauqua, NY; The Calumet Theater, Calumet, MI; The Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN; The Jazz Showcase, Chicago, IL; The Thrasher Opera House, Green Lake, WI; Unity Temple, Oak Park, IL.
Photographer: Paul Natkin.
Chicago blues legend and innovator Corky Siegel took his fine Chamber Blues ensemble on the road throughout the Midwest in 2004, and the result is in this exquisitely recorded, excitingly performed set on Alligator. Despite being recorded in half a dozen locations, precise editing provides the feel of a single live gig. Siegel, accompanied by a string quartet and percussionist Frank Donaldson (a mean tabla player for an American), roars through a series of new and familiar compositions. The live version of "Opus 17.2" is far more playful and fiery than its studio-recorded predecessor. Likewise, the set's closer, "Opus 4" (which really is half of "Opus 8") is a wild and woolly ride through all the labyrinthine twists and turns of the original composition in overdrive. The addition of Rollo Radford on bass and vocals on "Train" brings a certain grittiness to these sophisticated proceedings (sophisticated -- not sterile). Since his mighty contribution with the Siegel-Schwall Band, Siegel has been a blues visionary. There isn't anything remotely precious about his approach to melding the finest elements of blues and classical music together. This outing is thoroughly provocative as well as enjoyable. Solid. ~ Thom Jurek
Critic Reviews

Living Blues (p.49) - "[I]t has the possibility to tear down the walls that keep music fans apart."