Alabama Jr. Pettis & The Teardrops With Magic Slim (and) John Primer – Chicago Blues Session Vol. 4 – Nora Lee – Wolf Records 120.850 CD

Released on the Austrian Wolf Records label, this 11-cut CD recorded over two days in February, 1987 is chocked-full of the tough, unrelenting modern definitive Chicago blues sound that soaked the city’s south and west sides for so many years.  Born Coleman Pettis, Jr., and enjoying various performing nicknames including Alabama Jr., Daddy Rabbit, and simply Junior, Pettis was a long-time (1973-1983) fixture in Magic Slim’s great Teardrops band, one that dominated the Chicago scene with its brand of rough-hewn “in your face” blues.  Pettis’ guitar work behind Slim was an integral component of the group’s tight sound.  Pettis was also a more-than-capable vocalist and songwriter.

Here, Pettis is out front on guitar and vocals, with Teardrops Slim and Primer on guitar, bassist Nick Holt, and drummer Timothy Taylor supplemented by Christian Dozzler and Daniel Gugolz on piano.  “Subtlety” is not the watchword across this collection; this is blues akin to the sort one would’ve enjoyed at those Sunday afternoon shows of yesteryear at Florence’s Lounge on Chicago’s south side.

Pettis provides strikingly confident, booming vocals throughout, and his guitar playing is buoyant and driving.  This is a Chicago blues party the likes of which are difficult to find nowadays.

This is truly one of those blues documents that is best served loud so one can close their eyes and see Magic Slim & The Teardrops on a tiny cramped stage, the blue haze of cigarette smoke choking the scene, with the omnipresent threat of violence all about, such as it was on the band’s home turf and in its venues.  This is modern Chicago blues without peer.

This is a highly recommended blues document, and one I believe that you’d turn to again and again!