Severn Records artist: Mud Morganfield & Kim Wilson - For Pops (A Tribute to Muddy Waters) - New Release review

I just received the newest release (August 19, 2014), For Pops (A Tribute to Muddy Waters) by Kim Wilson and Mud Morganfield and it is a super tribute for (Muddy Waters) Morganfield's 100th Birthday. Opening with Gone To Main Street, Mud and Wilson are kicking in right out of the gate. Morganfield, who's vocal style is quite similar to his father's gets things going and Wilson is in top form. Billy Flynn and Rusty Zinn are on guitar and there are some nice riffs on this track. Barrelhouse Chuck holds down the piano line and Robb Stupka holds tight on drums. Steve Gomes on bass lays down a solid bottom on Just To Be With You which is richly adorned by Chucks piano work. Kim Wilson is on top of his game throughout this session. Both on tone and phrasing, his touch is just right. Willie Dixon's I Don't Know Why is the exact feel that comes to mind when you mention Muddy Waters and Wilson, Flynn and Zinn roll it tight! I Want You To Love Me captures Mud at his best with super vocal styling. On Still A Fool, one of my personal favorites, Wilson and Morganfield play a nice hand delivering the richness of the original. On My Dog Can't Bark, Wilson opens the door but Flynn and Zinn step in with some loose flaming slide work reminiscent of Muddy's own work. She's Got It is a powerful Morganfield composition and the band sets a hard stage for Mud and Wilson to do their thing. Very nice! On I Love The Life I Live, I Live The Life I Love; the band delivers a solid cover of the original and both Chuck and Wilson step out with nice highlights. On Waters classic, Blow Wind Blow, you become acutely aware of just how long it's been since Muddy has been with us. His son and the Chicago gang assembled here do a great job of capturing the spirit of Mr Waters. Nineteen Years Old ... now you're stepping into sacred territory and Mud really does a nice job of delivering. Excellent backing by Chuck and Wilson and super guitar soloing by Flynn makes this one of my favorites on this release. Another Willie Dixon composition, I Want To Be Loved has a real feel and Wilson's particular harmonic style on this track is specifically effective. Chuck always delivers in great style and the band is super tight. Trouble No More, another of my favorites on the release, really captures the spirit with Wilson really blowing up a storm. I Just Want To Make Love To You doesn't vary far from the original but Chuck and Wilson do really excellent job instrumentally. Wrapping the release is She Moves Me and Flynn is back on slide. This track has all of the feel of the balance of the release wrapped up into one and is a super capper for a very nice tribute to one of the absolute kings of the blues!

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