Ressurecting her long and distinguished career after a bout of serious illness, Chicago's undisputed Queen Of The Blues has released her first album in seven years and her tenth for Alligator Records. The Memphis-born sharecropper's daughter who idolised Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie as a youngster has been a mainstay of Chicago blues for over four decades, breaking through initially on Chess Records with her version of Willie Dixon's immortal Wang Dang Doodle. On this electrifying hour-long set Koko Taylor once again asserts her authority over a dozen foot-stomping barn-burners and soul-stirring slow blues.
She brings it all back home in true, tough Windy City southside and westside style backed by three different lineups including her five-piece Blues Machine. Most of the songs however, feature two bands led by ace guitarist Criss Johnson. On one, Johnson has Muddy Waters band vet Bob Margolin also on guitar and slide and the celebrated Billy Branch on harmonica, while on the other renowned tenor sax player Mark Kazanoff replaces Branch. The rhythmic pulse is held down in both combos by Brother John Kattke's house-rocking piano, Willie Hayes' pounding drums and either Kenny Hampton's electric bass or Jimmy Hutton's upright.
Taylor's raw vocal power tackles five new self-penned numbers matching blustery interpretations of Minnie's 'Black Rat', Johnny Thompson's minor-key wailer 'Money Is Still The Name Of The Game', Lefty Dizz's street scene anthem 'Bad Avenue', E.G. Kight's 'Bad Rooster' and the great Magic Sam's 'All Your Love'. Her original mentor Willie Dixon is recognised with ripping renditions of his standards 'Don't Go No Further' and 'Young Fashioned Ways'. Co-produced by herself, Johnson and Alligator chief Bruce Iglauer, Old School heralds Taylor's resurgence as the preeminent blueswoman in the world today. At 79 years of age, Taylor remains on top of her game, her voice still capable of pinning a listener to the back wall.
Al Hensley