Big Walter Horton - Big Walter Horton With Carey Bell (1973) {1989, Reissue}

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Big Walter Horton - Big Walter Horton With Carey Bell (1973) {1989, Reissue}

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Big Walter Horton was one of the key architects of modern blues harmonica. Blues legend Willie Dixon referred to him as "the best harmonica player I ever heard." Along with Little Walter Jacobs and Sonny Boy Williamson II, he is considered to be one of the most influential harpists ever. He was capable of both intense power and fragile delicacy, often in the same song. He was endlessly melodically adventurous, and always unpredictable. His only Alligator Records album, - "Big Walter Horton With Carey Bell", came out in 1972. It paired him with his young protégé, who had played under Walter's tutelage since Bell's arrival in Chicago. Walter's long-time partner Eddie Taylor joined them on guitar. It was Alligator's second-ever release, and received widespread critical acclaim, especially for the fiery harp duets that pitted the two harmonica masters against one another.

Big Walter Horton Biography:

Walter Horton was born in Horn Lake, MS on April 6, 1917, but his mother soon moved to Memphis where Walter grew up. A child prodigy, he taught himself how to play the harmonica at the age of five. He later learned more about his instrument by working with pioneering harp players Will Shade of the Memphis Jug Band and Hammie Nixon, who recorded with Delta bluesman Sleepy John Estes.

Horton became one of the most in-demand young harp men in Memphis, playing with future Chicago blues greats like Eddie Taylor, Floyd Jones and Johnny Shines. Shines recalled that Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) used to come to Horton for lessons, though Williamson was the older man. Even the brilliant Little Walter Jacobs acknowledged that he "ran" with Big Walter in Memphis during the 1940s, though he would never admit learning from Horton. Big Walter moved to Chicago in the late 1940s, but often returned home to Memphis.

Big Walter Horton's recording career began in 1951, when he and Memphis guitarist Jimmy DeBerry cut four sides for Modern/RPM Records. Two years later, he cut the superb instrumental Easy for the legendary Sun label. After moving to Chicago, Walter recorded a number of singles, including powerhouse recordings like “Hard Hearted Woman” and “Have A Good Time,” both produced by Willie Dixon. But Walter was never aggressive enough to keep a band together to capitalize on these recordings. In Chicago, a blues bandleader had to not only play the music, but also had to hustle the jobs for his band. For the shy, withdrawn Horton, this was an impossible task. As a result, his next session as a leader was in 1964, when he cut an LP, THE SOUL OF BLUES HARMONICA, for Argo, a Chess Records subsidiary. Although Walter played well, the sessions, again produced by his friend Willie Dixon, never quite jelled. On the other hand, Walter's featured track on the famed Vanguard Records' collection, CHICAGO/THE BLUES/TODAY!, caught him in a relaxed bandstand-style jam with his young student Charlie Musselwhite.

So, during the 1950s and 1960s, Horton worked mostly as a sideman. He cut with Muddy Waters on classics like “Blow Wind Blow” and the original “I'm Ready.” He was heard behind Johnny Shines on “Evening Sun,” with Otis Rush on the original “I Can't Quit You Baby” and his solo on Jimmy Rogers' “Walking By Myself” is considered a masterpiece. His harp sparked sessions with Willie Dixon on Columbia and BASF, with J.B. Hutto, Eddie Taylor, Floyd Jones and Johnny Shines on their Testament LPs, and with Johnny Young and Big Mama Thornton on Arhoolie, as well as appearing on Johnny Winter's first album on Columbia.

His only Alligator Records album, BIG WALTER HORTON WITH CAREY BELL, came out in 1972. It paired him with his young protégé, who had played under Walter's tutelage since Bell's arrival in Chicago. Walter's long-time partner Eddie Taylor joined them on guitar. It was Alligator's second-ever release, and received widespread critical acclaim, especially for the fiery harp duets that pitted the two harmonica masters against one another.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Walter toured with Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All Stars, crisscrossing the U.S. and Europe. He appeared on albums with Fleetwood Mac and members of Savoy Brown, and on virtually every record Willie Dixon produced during those years. After the release of his Alligator album, Walter left Dixon to perform on his own. He appeared at many festivals, including the Ann Arbor and Miami Blues Festivals, the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife. When at home, he played with old friends like Floyd Jones and Playboy Vinson, primarily at B.L.U.E.S., the well-known Chicago club.

Big Walter Horton continued to perform and record for a variety of labels until his death in Chicago on December 8, 1981.

Carey Bell Biography:

Blues harmonica legend Carey Bell was one of the very few players today who didn't learn his craft by listening to old records, but by studying directly under the masters. "Little Walter, he showed me a lot of things," said Bell, "but Big Walter, he was crazy. He did all kinds of shit other harp players couldn't do." And like his teachers Big Walter Horton, Little Walter Jacobs and Sonny Boy Williamson II – each with a sound of his own – Bell was inspired to forge his own style. It didn't take long for Bell to develop his signature "chopped" harmonica phrasing and deep-blues vocal attack. A veteran of both Muddy Waters' and Willie Dixon's bands as well as a searing solo artist with chops to burn, Bell's classic yet contemporary, funky yet subtle and deeply soulful blues placed him firmly on the short list of blues harmonica superstars.

Bell's final solo album, GOOD LUCK MAN (AL 4854), picked up right where his critically acclaimed release, DEEP DOWN (AL 4828), left off. Along with his friend and musical partner, guitarist Steve Jacobs, GOOD LUCK MAN is a non-stop ride through 14 tough blues, ranging from inspired readings of Muddy's "My Love Strikes Like Lightning," Willie Dixon's "I'm A Business Man" (a song made famous by Little Walter) and Big Walter Horton's "Hard Hearted Woman" to six Bell originals including "Going Back To Mississippi," "Teardrops" and the smoking instrumental "Bell Hop." Recorded in Chicago and produced by Bell, guitarist Steve Jacobs, Alligator president Bruce Iglauer and dj/harp player Scott Dirks, GOOD LUCK MAN finds Bell's big tone and gritty vocals leading two distinctly different bands. On half the album, Bell's road-tested touring band fuels the proceedings with classic blues grooves. The other half finds Bell in a more contemporary setting, adding the funky rhythms of his old friends, including bassist Johnny B. Gayden (Albert Collins) and drummer Willie Hayes (Luther Allison). Put together, these two bands make GOOD LUCK MAN one great CD.

Carey Bell Harrington was born in Macon, Mississippi on November 14, 1936. A fan of Louis Jordan, Bell originally wanted a saxophone. Economic realities forced his grandfather to buy him a harmonica instead. He taught himself to play harmonica by the time he was eight, and began playing professionally with his godfather, pianist Lovie Lee, when he was 13. In 1956, Lee convinced Carey that Chicago was the place to be for aspiring bluesmen, and on September 12, 1956 they arrived. Almost immediately, Bell went to see Little Walter perform at the Club Zanzibar at 14th and Ashland. The two became friends and Walter delighted in showing the youngster some of his tricks. Carey went on to meet and learn from Sonny Boy Williamson II, but it was Big Walter Horton who really bowled him over. "I liked that big tone he had," recalls Bell, "didn't nobody else have that." Big Walter became Bell's close friend and musical mentor.

Carey learned his lessons well but by the late 1950s and early 1960s the gigs were drying up for harp players as the electric guitar began to take over as the predominant instrument of Chicago blues. Bell decided to increase his worth by becoming a bass player (learning the ropes from Hound Dog Taylor). He quickly mastered the instrument and began getting gigs as a bassist with Honeyboy Edwards, Johnny Young, Eddie Taylor, Earl Hooker and Big Walter. While playing bass in Big Walter's band, Bell studied every harp trick in the book first-hand from one of the all-time great harmonica players.

Bell, back on harp full-time, recorded behind Earl Hooker in 1968 for Arhoolie. His friend Charlie Musselwhite brought him over to Bob Koester at Delmark Records in 1969, who promptly signed Bell and recorded Carey Bell's Blues Harp. Bell spent 1970-1971 traveling and recording with Muddy Waters (he can be heard on Muddy's THE LONDON SESSIONS and UNK IN FUNK albums on Chess). Willie Dixon chose Bell for the featured role in his Chicago Blues All-Stars, with whom Bell worked regularly throughout the 1970s, both touring and recording.

Even though Dixon kept Carey busy, Bell still found time for his own projects. In 1972 he teamed up with his friend Big Walter and recorded what was to be Alligator Records' second-ever release, BIG WALTER HORTON WITH CAREY BELL (AL 4702). In 1973 he made a solo album for ABC Bluesway and was featured in 1978 on Alligator's Grammy-nominated LIVING CHICAGO BLUES series (both with his own band and playing behind Lovie Lee).

By the 1980s Bell was already an established giant among blues harmonica players. He recorded albums as a leader and as a sideman for a variety of labels both in the United States and Europe, and was constantly playing live. In 1990 Bell, along with fellow harpslingers Junior Wells, James Cotton and Billy Branch, got together and recorded the Blues Music Award-winning Alligator album, HARP ATTACK (AL 4790). Bell's hot playing and deep blues vocals helped make the recording a modern blues classic. And the record has become one of Alligator's best-sellers.

In 1995, Bell's very first full length solo album on Alligator, DEEP DOWN, secured his reputation as a monster harpist. The Village Voice called Bell, "a master of the double reed harmonica." Option said, "Bell's harp solos are huge … full of life on the road and classic blues themes … sung with conviction." Bell's wailing harmonica and pleading vocals give every song on the album a deep soulfulness and classic blues feel while adding urgent, funky grooves to keep things contemporary. 1997's GOOD LUCK MAN kept Bell’s blues fire burning red hot as he continued to tour around the country. 2004's SECOND NATURE featured Bell, joined by his son, guitarist Lurrie Bell, in an all-acoustic setting. All Music Guide called SECOND NATURE "Timeless, deep Delta blues…a quiet gem.”

Bell died of heart failure on May 6, 2007.

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Big Walter Horton - Big Walter Horton With Carey Bell (1973) {1989, Reissue}

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Big Walter Horton - Big Walter Horton With Carey Bell (1973) {1989, Reissue}

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