Out of the
Louis Jordan
/
Wynonie Harris
Joe Williams
schools of blues and jazz singing, Clarksdale, MS-born
Brother John Sellers
was unfortunately no more than a footnote in American roots music up until his death in 1999.
Sackville Records
has unearthed two of his albums (
Brother John' Sellers
, and
Sings Blues & Folk Songs
) done originally for the French division of
Columbia Records
in 1957, showcasing what a vibrant, exciting, deeply soulful performer
Sellers
was. With tenor saxophonist
Guy Lafitte
, pianist
Georges Arvanites
, drummer
Kenny Clarke
, trumpeter
Bill Coleman
, and bassist
Pierre Michelot
among the famous names backing
, the singer struts and swings through some classic material that he manages to make all his own. From the boogie-woogie of
"Lucy Mae Blues"
or the choogling, lighthearted, gospel-like
"He Came All the Way Down,"
to the straight-ahead, upbeat swinger
"I Cried for You,"
it's clear
is on his game and doing his very best.
Lafitte'
s Texas-style blues sax, coming through and out of
Lester Young
or
Arnett Cobb
, is deliciously rendered on many levels, where
Arvanites
can do any style of music well, and
Coleman
's formidable trumpet is heard in generous portions, especially during the easy swinger
"You've Been Gone Five Years."
The most unusual arrangement during
"Hands Off"
combines a zany
Raymond Scott
chart from the horns with deep blues from
, off-putting until you hear it a second or third time. The love for
Williams
comes out in the end of the album, as
covers classics the singer did with the
Count Basie Orchestra
, with barely a trace of being a copycat. As there are only a handful of recordings from
available, this is a precious issue, showing the vocalist could match up with anyone, and he was inspired by
s band to the base of his being. It's highly recommended, not just for fans of jazz or blues singers, but for anyone in general who appreciates good music. ~ Michael G. Nastos