Willie Kent – Ain’t It Nice – Delmark DD-653 

Recently I found myself recollecting upon the authority, strength, and resoluteness of Willie Kent’s vocals in performance when I saw him in Chicago, especially in the first site of Blue Chicago, and then when the club relocated south to the 500 block on N. Clark St.  When an enthusiastic audience is up close to a commanding singer like Kent, not only experiencing his vocals so intimately, but also watching the sweat trickle from his face as he offered all he had to the show, there was no uncertainty as to his devotion to his selected musical trade.  A more poignant blues singer than Kent cannot be acknowledged, even when considering pre-war blues titans like Son House and Charley Patton, and post-war giants such as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.  Kent enjoyed an authoritative instrument via his vocal aptitude, and when joined with his strapping, steadfast bass outlines, his proficiencies as a stable bandleader, and his drive to assist hopeful bluesmen and blueswomen, a more completely accomplished modern blues musician of similar thirst is difficult to analogize.  Kent’s methodology was a return to a time when blues lyrics were strewn with an impassioned assault.  Kent always flourished in distributing his blues tales.  It was, and is still, very exceptional for a bass player to front a blues band, but Kent’s capability to surround himself with specific of the ultimate Chicago blues bandmates allowed him international, national, and local audiences that witnessed him and his bands as acts meaningful and worthy of high acclaim.  Kent’s standing and strength was always based upon his band’s subtleties, and this manner of system always permitted each band member to come frontward and confirm their skills.  Here, Kent’s bass playing is convincing and prolific, and when paired with his dramatic, substantial vocal workouts, let him and his group pose the blues with a passion harkening rearward four decades before this collection’s 1991 release.  It was commonly voiced that there was never an unsatisfactory Willie Kent performance or recording.  Well, this CD confirms that, with its overall solid musicianship and vocals plentifully on display.  So much so, that at least for this commentator, this blues account is highly recommended for a deeper consideration of modern-day Chicago blues.

Below is the running track order of this vital modern blues assemblage.  Highly recommended, indeed!  Darn near essential!

Song Titles

• Memory Of You
• Check It Out
• Worry Worry
• One More Mile
• Ain’t It Nice
• What You Doin’ To Me
• I’m Good
• Ma Bea’s
• Come Home
• Feel So Good
• Stranded