James Cotton – Giant

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James Cotton

Giant

Alligator Records

BluesWax Rating: 9

Truly A Giant

Blues veteran James Cotton recently re-signed with Alligator Records. Label head Bruce Iglauer’s rationale for this record was to bring James Cotton’s touring band into the studio and record them. Credit has to be given to the band, which consists of Slam Allen (vocals and guitar), Tom Holland (guitar (and a great vocal on “Sad, Sad Day”)), Noel Neal (bass), and Kenny Neal, Jr on drums. Cotton, aka Mr. Superharp, still mesmerizes. The result is Cotton’s best album in a decade.

Opening with Nick Gravenites’ “Buried Alive in The Blues,” the listener is treated to songs from Cotton’s sixty-year career, including three from Muddy Waters. Slam Allen co-wrote two of the songs with Cotton and turns in a great performance, especially on Ivory Joe Hunter’s “Since I Met You, Baby.” Cotton closes with an instrumental tribute to the “Queen of the Blues,” Koko Taylor.

James Cotton began his career playing with Howlin’ Wolf. By 1955 he had become Little Walter’s replacement in The Muddy Waters Band. In 1965 Cotton left Muddy and soon formed the James Cotton Blues Band. Within a year Cotton had the most exciting band on the blues circuit. While I was a student at the University of Cincinnati I saw Cotton many times. At The Black Dome and, later, at The Ludlow Garage, Cotton ended his sets with a somersault and split while still playing his harp. That’s how agile he was.

My own favorite Cotton albums include the very first one in 1966 on Vanguard Records, Live & On The Move, on the Buddah label; and Living The Blues (1994) and 1996’s Deep in The Blues, both on Verve. Later Cotton developed throat cancer and his last vocal recording was in 2000. He continued to record on Telarc utilizing guest vocalists. As stated above, he recently re-signed with Alligator Records.

During this time Cotton continued to tour. Cotton’s bands never disappointed and I began to witness a younger generation of accomplished sidemen.

I imagine finding a title for this album was an easy task. James Cotton is a giant.

Richard Ludmerer is a contributing editor to BluesWax. He’d be interested in reading your comments below.