Pressure Cooker

First I'd like to thank the Europeans, in general, and second France in particular. It was in Paris and Toulouse, France that this collection of Gatemouth Brown songs were recorded. Clarence Gatemouth Brown was just about a forgotten blues-ish musician for a handful of years in his very own country, and it was in France that he (and some other american compatriots it turns out) found a place to be appreciated, tour and record. In July and August 1973 the Pressure Cooker recordings were made and compiled for this exhilarating 1985 issue. There are (quick approximation) 14 musicians on this CD no more than 8 (once, "Just Lippin") play on same song. If you are looking for Gate to add his trademark violin to the mix on a song or three, don't fret that he Does Not on this,still, nothing-short-of thrilling 9 song selection. It will not take long to thoroughly enjoy these jazzy-blues song concoctions highlighted (could depend on listener as far as a 'highlight' - there are many) by the title "Pressure Cooker". This instrumental is nothing less than a reincarnation of something a Charlie Parker Quintet may have done in their Hey Day (with addition of Gatemouth's jazz guitar of course)! Trust me when I say it is done very fresh! And very well! Jazz-blues rolled into one! That is quickly followed by "Ain't That Just Like a Woman" where I (at risk of over complimenting) stopped my car at the curb to ask aloud: "Who is the saxophone player?" Arnett Cobb (from Texas) is about as good as it sounds (tenor sax, to be exact) as Gatemouth Brown never failed showcase the great musicians around him. Add in the piano play by Jay McShann (Kansas City) and organist Milt Buckner the latter cutting-up the organ on another wonderful instrumental "Cold Strings" while the former does his keys many compliments on "Deep, Deep Water" a 6:42 second Gatemouth penned bluesy gem. And Gate always writes plenty of his own. 6 of 9 he had a hand in or wrote himself on Pressure... You might be interested or curious to know Gate re-did an acoustic 3 minute version off Deep, Deep Water on 1995 Long Way Home album. Version on Pressure Cooker seems like the better one (with lyrics). But, then, it all sounds real, real good coming from this Pressure Cooker. And I have to mention "Ain't Nobody here but Us Chickens" a redo of a humorous 40's song first made (reasonably) popular by Louis Jordan. Brown always does a good job of infusing some humor and when Gate's guitar starts "clucking" you will instantly know it and, well, probably chuckle. Appropriately tenor sax man (Cobb, again) gets to follow suit with some well placed chicken sounds of his own. This album is a must especially if already a Clarence Gatemouth Brown fan.

I never heard this guy before and seven years ago my wife bought me a DVD of Carlos Santana at Montreal Blues Fest with Buddy Guy Clarence Brown Bobby Parker I've always been a Buddy Guy fan but I never heard of the other guys ever since then I've been in the process of trying to find everything DVD mp3 that I can find can't believe I never heard of them. I'm sure glad my wife bought me that dvd these guys are great I don't know what else to say except buy it and anything else you can find!!!!!!!!!!!also buy the DVD Carlos Santana at Montreal Blues Fest with those guys very very good

I am enjoying the music Thanks

An example of a talented journeyman musician with an overload of soul earned the hard way. Your collection of blues is not complete without Gatemouth.

Great music.

This is one hell of a CD! This is my favorite Gatemouth CD. I just got a tab book for the guitar of this album and there no way he can play that fast. Anyway this is a great jazzy (swing) bluesy record and is a lot clearer and simpler than the peacock recordings.

Classic blues from a fine artist - rapid delivery