Various Artists –Mojo Buford’s Chicago Blues Summit – P-Vine Records PCD 1850

1979 saw an astounding lineup of Chicago blues talent enter Custom Studios and lay down some of the most authentic, tough, and reverential modern Chicago blues ever captured on a recording.  Led by Mojo Buford, a blues harmonica giant known primarily for his tenure with Muddy Waters, this set included the astonishing guitar prowess of Sammy Lawhorn, who also had stints with Waters, along with many other of Chicago’s top-tier blues artists.  Also, Pee Wee Madison brough his considerable guitar competencies to the studio, having likewise played with Waters, and also being a member of Little Walter’s band.  Plus, the guitar aptitudes of Little Smokey Smothers were brought into the mix, with Smothers having played in The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Elvin Bishop, along with so many other blues talents.  Additionally, the superb Sonny Rogers (aka Rodgers) provided his considerable guitar skills to the proceeding.  Ernest Johnson plays bass throughout except on one cut where Smothers takes over, and the legendary Sam Lay handles all drumming duties.  Buford handles all harmonica chores on this collection.

Simply, the deferential interplay among all participants is illuminating and refined.  This set provides 14 selections where various of the headlining guitar contributors take turns on guitar soloing, rhythm work, and vocals, to an extent that the results allow this assemblage to have the feel of four bluesmen who fully appreciate the others’ broad skill sets, and as such, never get in the way of one another.  Buford’s chromatic harmonica work throughout is a joy, and his vocals are potent. 

What is stupefying is that the five main artists here remained for the most part relatively unknown outside of Chicago, and to have their work collected here is a treasure.  Whatever the reasons for their relative blues obscurity, and certainly each had their own path within the Chicago blues world, having Lawhorn, Madison, Rogers, Buford, and Smothers demonstrate that the amalgam of their separate and collective blues abilities could yield Chicago style blues of the grandest categorization makes the true blues fan wonder what could’ve been for each of the bluesmen had luck, circumstances, and choices been different.

Originally released on the Mr. Blues label in 1979, then on the Rooster Blues Records label in 1982, and on the P-Vine label in 1992 and 2012, this exceptional work should not be missed.  It comes as close as possible to being an essential blues recording that should have a space in any worthy blues music collection.

This is a Chicago blues CD that is highly-recommended, and is again proof of the depth of Chicago blues ability outside of the more celebrated and known names from that great city.

Pick this one up!