Carey was great! He was viewed as a player's player around Chicago. He was pretty influential and highly respected there. When you went to see Carey play in Chicago, you never knew who was going to show up. Harp players turned out. I saw him every chance that I got. I learned a lot from him. I miss him.
He was a fine I mean FINE chrom player. He was well known for it in the Chigago area. When I use to woodshed to chrom players. He was one that stood out. I liked his tone or something. I don't know if you would call it tone. He could make notes stand out. Alot of chromatic blues I've heard sounds like an accordian. I really don't like that sound. Cary Bell played with better note definition. @LSB Aligator Records album name "Harp attack" James Cotton, Cary Bell, Junior Wells and Billy Branch were on this album. Its been a few years so I can't remember the song, but there is one song that he plays a chrom solo and James Cotton plays the chrom in the same song. That is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. James Cotton was a very Blues Chrom player, but Cary Bell made it sound different. If there was only one thing I could say to a person learning chromaticblues. I would say listen to Cary Bell and make it sound like that! @LSB I have his first recording and would suggest buying something after that.
Still being young to the blues, I don't remember hearing Carey Bell before watching this video. As I was watching him play I didn't expect that voice to come out of him. Pretty cool. I also like the lady up there slappin da baaassss! Off to download some Carey Bell. Thanks!
---------- Be safe, keep the faith, and don't let em tearrrrrr ya down.
I remember seeing Cary many times. Not a flashy player but a sincere one wiht flashes of brilliance when he was on! That video has Louisiana Red on guitar. I lived with Red in my late teens. It was great to see him looking so good. Red can play a pretty cool harp, sort of like the wolf in unique sounding. Here is another from that concert. Walter
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
That lady slapping the bass is Queen Sylvia Embry. She was a pretty good singer. The second guitar player was the great Jimmy Rogers who was a huge part of creating the post war Chicago Blues sound of the Muddy Waters Band.
LSB - I also like the DVD out on Delmark. The Taildragger DVD featuring Billy Branch from Verns Friendly Lounge is awesome too. ---------- The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by on Feb 20, 2011 11:41 AM
Carey is by far my most influential blues harp player. He might be the only player I learned solos from note for note all the way through for several songs.
I liked his use of tongue blocking and pension to wail on the 5 draw. Lonesome Stranger and Low Down Dirty Shame are amongst my fav tunes to this day. ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas Updated 2/1/11
