Big Creek Slim & Rodrigo Mantovani – First Born – Chico Blues (no label #)

This 2018 16-track collection made such a profound impression on me that over time I have come to believe that it is an essential blues release due to its overall vivid sound, mesmeric and stunning musicianship, the fascinating layers and textures of tune development, conversely the oh-so-delicious sparseness of certain songs, the directness and strength of the vocals, and the obvious fanatical dedication to present stripped-down blues interpretations while in no way sounding retro for retro’s sake.  There is none of that mere imitation here!

Big Creek Slim (Danish blues guitarist, piano player, dobro practitioner, banjo player, harmonica player, and singer Marc Rune Koldkaer) and Rodrigo Mantovani (acoustic stand-up, electric, and double bass player, plus jug specialist) laid down the astounding blues presented here in San Paulo, Brazil at the country’s Prado Studios, an establishment managed by blues guitar phenom, singer, and sound engineer Igor Prado, who himself enjoys numerous releases on the Chico Blues imprint.

Of the 16 total supreme selections offered across the expanse of this stirring release, there are six passionate originals in the temperament of numerous exalted blues giants situated on equal footing alongside dizzying cover versions of tunes by Roosevelt Sykes, Sonny Boy Williamson I, Bo Carter, and Charlie Patton, among other esteemed blues titans.  Especially haunting is an alarming take on Carter’s “I’ve Got Blood In My Eyes For You.”  It is blues art of the highest distinction!

Big Creek Slim’s voice is a terrific hoarse and solemn instrument, and when coupled with his instrument(s)-of-choice, and Mantovani’s staunch rhythmic propulsions on his low-end apparatuses, shadowy, fiercely blazing blues unfurl.

Mantovani acted as the producer on this astounding outing, and is to be hailed for his efforts in that role.

This is supremely hefty, profound blues seldom made in the modern-day blues arena.

This is unconditionally essential blues as superbly delivered by two modern-day practitioners!  This belongs in your collection!