Various Artists – Dig These Blues – Ace Records CDCHD 334

Here is a 22-track selection that grips its listeners from cut one and holds them in musical curiosity all the way until the final note sounds at the end of tune number 21!  The roster here?  It is a wide-ranging affair including fulfilling efforts from Al Simmons With Slim Green & The Cats From Fresno, Sailor Boy, Sidney Maiden With Slim Green & The Cats From Fresno, Hozay, Moose John, T W Sams, Jimmy Nolen, Roy “Happy” Easter With Preston Love & His Orchestra,           Slim Green & The Cats From Fresno, Abe Moore And Orchestra, Little Billy Robbins, Larry Waters, Billy Robbins With Johnny Otis Orchestra, and Sugarcane And His Violin.  Has the obscurity here grabbed your interest?  If it has; great, as there is much here to savor!

The celebrated singer, composer, bandleader, record producer, talent scout, and preacher Johnny Otis founded his Dig label in 1955, at a time when he was touring quite extensively in a review that included such imperial talents as Mel Williams and Little Arthur Matthews.  In actuality, the initial name of the label was Ultra Records, but after the first ten releases, the Dig name came into being. 

While the imprint didn’t realize widespread commercial triumph, the music springing from the label was of high quality, and did achieve a measure of success within the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Mining the Dig vaults for this release, Ace has compiled an inspiring grouping of artists whose work ideally represent the visualization Otis had when undertaking his recording venture.

This is one of those always-interesting collections that appeals because of its outside-the-usual-blues-box assemblage of artisans and tunes.  Simply, it is a refreshing and entirely enjoyable trip.

Highly recommended!