littleeasy
28 posts
Jan 23, 2011
3:27 PM
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I've been listening to Carey Bell lately and have been wondering why he isent mentioned more frequently as one of the best harmonica players. When I listen to him I hear Rod Piazza and Sugar Blue, does anyone else? Is he not mentioned more because newer players are fresher in our minds or do we as harmonica players feel he is not one of the better players? Just a question. Enlighten me!
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Philippe
66 posts
Jan 23, 2011
3:43 PM
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I really like Carey Bell but I think he mostly plays chromatic. His mentor was Big Walter Horton.
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Joe_L
1004 posts
Jan 23, 2011
8:19 PM
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There could be a lot of reasons why Carey Bell is rarely discussed here.
1. He was a blues player. He played blues exclusively.
2. His name wasn't Walter or Sonny Boy.
There could be a number of other reasons. All kidding aside, Carey Bell was a seriously bad ass player. In Chicago, he was considered a harp player's harp player. When he played, harp players showed up. While he may not have received a lot of recognition, he was highly influential on guys like Billy Branch and Sugar Blue.
He was a student of Little Walter and Big Walter. He lived with Honeyboy Edwards. He played all over the city. In the mid 60's, he recorded a fabulous album for Delmark. He went on tour with Muddy Waters. Later, he toured the world with Willie Dixon.
He was a helluva chromatic player. He had fabulous skills on the diatonic. He played some amazing third position stuff. His style was very melodic and he made some amazing recordings. I probably listen to him more than anyone else.
Why he isn't better known is a mystery to me...
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Xpun3414
174 posts
Jan 23, 2011
9:51 PM
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@ Joe & littleasy WOW.. never heard of him.. but after this thread I'd be a fool not to check him out. Didnt know he played w/ all those great people. Im going to check him out right now. Thanks.
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Sam Pai Kenpo
63 posts
Jan 23, 2011
11:46 PM
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Carey Bell is one of my favorites. Carey's version of Mellow Down Easy and Low Down Dirty Shame are great songs.
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colman
4 posts
Jan 24, 2011
5:34 AM
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he was a in between generation harp player,didn`t hit the scene untill all the big boy`s were well into the chicago thing.i saw him with willie dixon ,early 70`s
and he was fantastic,also buster benton played guitar
and sang ,best voice in blues i`ve heard live...
the all-stars band ...
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 5:36 AM
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groyster1
781 posts
Jan 24, 2011
5:41 AM
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carey bell took a back seat to no one and if you get the cd "harp attack" he is one of the players along with james cotton,jrwells and billy branch-if you dont have this cd I highly recommend it
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NiteCrawler .
101 posts
Jan 24, 2011
6:21 AM
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I also think Carey Bell doesn,t get the recognition thats due to him,although that can be said for alot of other players of his era.I,ll agree also that Harp Attack is definitely one BadAss cd to add to your collection if you havn,t heard it.Its great to sit back and listen to whos,who when they,re soloing.Its been a # of years back when I last saw him and he was at his best although I don,t no if it was a new toy for him at the time but it seemed that he was over doing it on some type of octaver pedal. It was cool on a couple of tunes but it seemed he was overusing it,hence taking away from his true Chi-Town tone.Other than that,it was a real pleasure.
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Joe_L
1008 posts
Jan 24, 2011
9:39 AM
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If you don't have a copy of his Alligator CD called "Deep Down", it's some of his best work.
@NiteCrawler . - I never found his use of the octave pedal annoying. He used it quite a bit, but it seemed to fit what he was playing at the time.
@colman - Buster Benton was a great singer and had a beautiful guitar sound. There are a couple of really nice Buster Benton CD's available. One recording was with Carey Bell. On the second, he was backed by Billy Branch and the Sons Of Blues. Both are excellent albums and are worth owning.
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Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 9:45 AM
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harmonicanick
1069 posts
Jan 24, 2011
3:01 PM
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I like his signature bugle trill on 9 or 10 mid-solo.
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JTThirty
106 posts
Jan 24, 2011
3:02 PM
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Yeah, Cary was the last of a generation of harp players that defined Chicago blues. I met him when he played with Bob Margolin's band at Atlanta's Blind Willies some years back and he impressed as a gentle soul and a gentleman. Don't overlook his Alligator CD with him and Big Walter Horton swapping licks. Also loved the work he did backing Eddie C. Campbell on "King of the Jungle" and all of his Delmark output is superb Chi-town stuff.
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Ricky B
www.bushdogblues.blogspot.com
RIVER BOTTOM BLUES-A crime novel for blues fans due out late 2011
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thunderchicken
3 posts
Jan 24, 2011
3:56 PM
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Hey while you are on that subject look into his son Lurrie Bell got to see Cary Bell Play live in Chicago a time or two.. great player...
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JTThirty
108 posts
Jan 24, 2011
5:33 PM
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Since you brought up Lurrie. I stepped into Buddy Guy's in Chicago for lunch with my wife and son last March and Lurrie was playing an acoustic set with Matthew Skoller on harp. I looked over at the only other person in the club and it turned out to be Eddie C. Campbell, who I invited me to sit in on harp with him in Bryan, Tx over 20 years ago and I hadn't seen him since. I re-introduced myself and he remembered the gig and told me that Lurrie was his Godson. During their break, I had a chat with Lurrie and found him to have the same gentle soul as his dad--and yeah, a helluva guitar player and singer.
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Ricky B
www.bushdogblues.blogspot.com
RIVER BOTTOM BLUES-A crime novel for blues fans due out late 2011
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Joe_L
1009 posts
Jan 24, 2011
6:08 PM
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I've been a fan of Lurries since the first time that I saw him as a member of the Son Of Blues around 1981 or 1982. H was great back then. His music is even deeper and more souful now. He's a little less flashy than he used to be, but his music is deep and honest. I had the opportunity to meet and sit in with Lurrie in 2007. It was an evening tha I'll never forget.
Back to Carey, I remember the first time that I saw him. It was at BLUES on Halsted. A clip of that evening is on YouTube. He was playing through the house PA and sounded absolutely amazing.
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Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 6:19 PM
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jbone
479 posts
Jan 24, 2011
9:29 PM
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it may sound weird but in Carey's playing- which was always to me a cut above a lot of more popular players- i always have sensed a true joy and love in the way he presented whatever he was playing. he was smooth, cool, totally in control- which sort of defies his actual demeanor later in his career. having known a drummer who worked several gigs with him, this drummer told me of many a time Carey was nearly too drunk to stand up- until it was show time. then a change came over him and he would put on an incredible show every time out.
his Mellow Down Easy cd is one of my most treasured cd's ever.
but i think what has truly drawn me to his playing over and over has been that totally recognizable joy he put into his playing.
Carey Bell also showed me via his cd's that chromatic playing could be a total party, that one could lay back and be easy with it and really get it done.
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littleeasy
29 posts
Jan 25, 2011
9:05 AM
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Thanx for all the input. i didnt think my taste in music was different from others or my ears were lying to me.
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Joe_L
1018 posts
Jan 25, 2011
9:38 PM
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Considering only a dozen of us commented on this, I would suggest that people don't get it. Maybe he's too deep for some people.
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OzarkRich
361 posts
Jan 25, 2011
9:58 PM
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In May of 2007 I finally had a chance to see him perform in Missouri, along with James Cotton. He passed away two weeks before the event took place.
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Ozark Rich
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