Memphis Slim

Bd blues

2 CD + 1 bande dessinée

Memphis slim

Le chanteur et pianiste Memphis Slim fut, de son vivant, une immense vedette, en particulier à Paris où il a vécu de 1962 jusqu'à sa mort en 1988. Sa haute silhouette, sa mèche blanche, ses longs doigts « recourbés » sur le clavier, sa présence, étaient devenus familiers à un large public qui partout le reconnaissait, sa célébrité dépassant largement le milieu du blues et du jazz. On peut dire qu'il fut le musicien afro-américain le plus populaire après Sidney Bechet. Memphis Slim était aussi, et surtout, outre un homme fin et intelligent, un très grand artiste, excellent pianiste de blues et de boogie-woogie, superbe chanteur à la voix chaude, haute et forte. Il avait commencé sa carrière dans le ghetto de Chicago durant les années 40, puis obtenu de gros succès commerciaux dans le rhythm and blues auprès de sa communauté, avant de devenir, pour le monde entier, « L'Ambassadeur du Blues ». C'est largement grâce à lui que cette musique rayonne à présent partout.

Pianist/singer Memphis Slim was an immense star (also in the physical sense) during his own lifetime, especially in France, where he lived from 1962 until his death in 1988. His (exceptional) tallness - and the amazing white streak in his hair - gave him an extraordinary presence when he hunched over his piano, curling his long fingers around the keys. His fame went way beyond blues'and jazz circles, and he was probably the most popular Afro-American musician in France since Bechet. He was smart, refined, and a very great artist ; an excellent blues and boogie pianist, he was also a superb singer with a strong, high, warm voice. From the ghetto of Chicago to the concert-halls of Europe and beyond, Memphis Slim spread his kind of music to the farthest corners of the globe. He was a true Ambassador of the Blues.

CD1 Memphis Slim 1940/1952

1 Beer drinking woman 3'31

2 Diggin' my potatoes n° 2 2'52

3 Grinder man blues 3'10

4 Whiskey and gin blues 2'45

5 Lend me your love 3'15

6 Rockin' the house 2'46

7 (Sometimes i feel like a) motherless child 2'53

8 Harlem bound 2'42

9 Messin' around 2'53

10 Blue and lonesome 2'43

11 Nobody loves me (everyday i have the blues) 2'53

12 If you live that life 2'05

13 Slim's boogie 2'45

14 Having fun 2'25

15 Mother earth 2'44

16 Trouble trouble (misery) 2'44

17 My baby (left me) 3'07

18 The question 2'55

19 Train is comin' 2'47

20 Drivin' me mad 2'45

21 No mail blues 2'47

22 Blue evening 2'29

23 Tia juana 2'53

24 Living the life i love 2'47

Durée totale 68'25

CD2 Memphis Slim 1953/1960

1 The come back 2'45

2 Wish me well 3'00

3 Memphis Slim U.S.A. 2'56

4 Treat me like i treat you 2'41

5 What's the matter 2'26

6 The saddest song (rollin' and tumblin') 3'17

7 How long 4'07

8 Gotta find my baby 2'23

9 Slim's blues 3'12

10 Sassy mae 2'49

11 My gal keeps me crying 2'42

12 Stewball 3'36

13 Slim's thing 3'24

14 The lord have mercy on me 2'52

15 In the evening 3'09

16 Raining the blues 3'48

17 Rack 'em back jack 2'33

18 We're just two of the same old kind 2'55

19 El capitan 2'35

20 This is a good time to write a song 3'42

21 True love 2'44

22 Angel Child 3'09

23 The I.C. blues 2'53

24 You're gonna need my help one day 3'16

Durée totale 73'37