[Blues] Superharps - [1999] James Cotton, Billy Branch, Charlie

Superharps - [1999] James Cotton, Billy Branch, Charlie Musselwhite, and Sugar Ray Norcia (FLAC)
Release Date: October 26, 1999


Review by Scott Yanow:
Four great blues harmonica players (James Cotton, Billy Branch, Charlie Musselwhite, and Sugar Ray Norcia) are featured in various combinations on this spirited disc, backed by a four-piece rhythm section (with guitarist Kid Bangham and pianist Anthony Geraci). Cotton and Norcia have solo pieces, seven numbers feature two harmonicas, and the lengthy low-down blues "Harp to Harp" has all four of the harmonica players taking turns soloing. Much of the material is jazz-oriented, including "The Hucklebuck," "TD's Boogie Woogie," and "Route 66," and the majority of the selections are instrumentals. Each of the harmonica players sounds inspired and the results are consistently exciting and swinging.


Tracklist:
1. I Put My Baby Out (Norcia, Branch 2nd solo prior to vocal)
2. The Hucklebuck (James Cotton)
3. Blues, Why Do You Worry Me? (Musselwhite, Norcia 2nd solo)
4. Life Will Be Better (Norcia, Musselwhite backup)
5. Mean Little Mama (Branch, Norcia 5th and 6th solo chorus)
6. T.D.'s Boogie Woogie (Cotton, Branch 2nd solo and call and response with Cotton)
7. If I Should Have Bad Luck (Musselwhite, Cotton electric harp backup and 2nd solo)
8. I'm Gonna Steal Your Baby (Norcia)
9. Route 66 (Branch, Norcia 1st solo and backup)
10. You're So Fine (Branch, Musselwhite backup)
11. Harp to Harp (Musselwhite, Norcia, Branch, Cotton and again Musselwhite)


Additional Personnel:
Kid Bangham - Electric and acoustic guitars
Anthony Geraci - Piano
David Maxwell - Piano
Michael "Mudcat" Ward - Acoustic bass
Per Hanson - Drums