Nov 21

Nov 21 Selenium Derivatization Blues

Blues, Chicago, Jazz, Musicians, Performance, Things to Do in Chicago

“Play Your Harmonica, Son”

— Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention, Trouble Coming Every Day, from Freak Out! (1966)

Only at the University of Chicago would you find one of the students who work the sound, lighting, and video boards during concerts reading an article entitled Selenium Derivatization of Nuclear Acids for Crystallography during a Blues concert. I didn’t see anyone actually reading it, but the article was sitting next to the mixing board, so presumably someone read a page or two during the concert. That never happened back in the days when Little Walter and James Cotton were playing in Chicago’s Westside and Southside Blues clubs. But as legend has it, the U. of C. is where fun goes to die, except when Chicago-Blues harp master, Billy Branch, is in the house.

Tonight, Branch and the Logan Center offered Branch’s many devoted fans a free concert in what was a record release party for Branch’s latest album entitled The Blues is My Biography. The house was packed at what turned out to be a standing-room-only concert. Branch was primed, with members of his family and other important figures in his life packing the front rows so that they could cheer him on.

I’ve seen Branch perform many times. He works in a variety of configurations. Tonight he brought a large cast of supporting players to celebrate a career that spans at least five decades. The core group included Sumito Ariyoshi (electric piano), Giles Corey (guitar), Ari Seder (bass), and Dionte Skinner (drums). Everyone added vocals to the mix.

Flanking Branch on stage right were the ‘sweeteners’ who included Mae Koen, Diane Madison, and Dan Porter. Each vocalist has extensive experience. Koen and Madison both did two-decade-long stints with Aretha Franklin. Porter is the man behind the Spaniels Forever, a band that pays tribute to his father’s legendary Doo-Wop group, the Spaniels.

Bill McFarland and the Chicago Fire Horns sat on the other side of the stage, with McFarland on trombone, Hank Ford on saxophone and Kenny Anderson on trumpet. As a photographer, all the music stands and mics drove me nuts, but as a music fan I knew we were in for a treat.

Branch and company did not disappoint. Choosing to play many the numbers from his new album. Branch obviously has been working on them for some time because I was familiar with several, including Hole in Your Soul, which was the opener. On the album, Bobby Rush handles the vocals. Despite tonight being a live performance, the mix and separation between instruments was excellent.

As an opener, Hole in Your Soul was perfect. Up tempo and rollicking, with swing. Add to that all the name checks in the lyrics. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and J. Lo, but at the end of day Ella, Count, and Duke could really swing, “so if you love your momma, you gotta love the Blues.” Among the young Blues guitar phenom Kingfish was among the other names checked.

I didn’t catch the name of the second song, but the third one was Branch’s take on the Lou Rawls classic, Dead End Street. Many have covered this classic, but nobody has yet topped Rawls. I give Branch credit for modifying the opening rap to incorporate his own journey, but for me, the tempo was too upbeat and the instrumentation should have been much lower in volume. My criticisms demonstrate why tampering with perfection is always risky.

But have no fears. Branch offered juke, slow, sexy, rocking, and soulful Blues during the remainder of his excellent set. For the fourth number he offered up The Blues is My Biography, a classic slow and slippery, almost spoken Blues.

Branch followed that with another slow number, imitating the sound of a distant train whistle with his harp. The song—I Am the Harmonica Man—was another take on his own story. As the song progressed, I found myself joining in with the backing vocalists, whispering “I am the harmonica man, yes I am” under my breadth. Branch has seen me dance. I didn’t want him to hear me sing, which is even worse.

As a bluesman, Branch is required to address failed love. Tonight, he satisfied his obligation with a song entitled, Toxic Love. Just to make sure that the audience got the message about pain, Branch also sang Real Good Friends, which served as a warning. In Branch’s case, his good friend came to Branch’s house everyday to check on Branch’s wife, but he turned out to be the archetypal Back Door Man. At least that’s what the lyrics reveal. Are they fact or fiction? Does it matter?

Like many musicians, Branch is subtle when it comes to Donald J. Trump, who seems to unfortunately lurk over everything these days. Not once did Branch mention the Orange One, but I couldn’t help believing that Trump and his disastrous policies have been on Branch’s mind as of late. Among the songs that Branch performed were the Ballad of the Million Men, which paid homage to the October 16, 1995 gathering of African-American men in Washington, D.C. Particularly notable was the reggae beat, which was a welcome twist.

Just after the middle point in the concert, Branch brought out guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks, who was on fire. Branch and Brooks did battle during a song that was likely entitled, I’m Ready for You; I Hope You’re Ready for Me. Clearly, each was ready for the other.

A little later, Branch turned the mic and stage over to his sister, Mae Koen, who daringly chose to take on the Etta James classic, At Last. Koen did a very respectable job, demonstrating with her sonorous voice that she deserves more time front and center.

To finish the concert, Branch brought out Howard Sandifer's Chicago West Community Music Youth Choir for Begging for Change, another song with a message suitable for the Age of Trump. Branch sang,

There’s some bad dudes on the corner hustling the beat Sisters and her babies with nothing to eat. The same old game with an invisible rope Hanging from hope hooked on dope

Surprisingly, Branch did not do an encore, possibly because his voice was under the weather. He said something about receiving a steroid treatment. To his credit, until he mentioned it, I had no sense that he wasn’t firing on all cylinders.

I will continue to look for Branch and company on the bill. He is always a joy to see and hear.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]