CD Review
Jimmie Lee Robinson
Chicago Jump
(Random Chance Records - RCD14)
by Dave "Doc" Piltz
Review date: October 2004
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Jimmie Lee Robinson was man of passion and conviction. A mainstay on historic Maxwell Street, Robinson went on a hunger strike as his own one-man protest against the destruction of the neighborhood. Although he was noted as a guitarist for the likes of Little Walter and Willie Mabon, when Jimmie Lee was “re-discovered” in the early 1990's, he made his new reputation as a solo act, releasing his well-received solo recording for Delmark, Lonely Traveler in 1994.
In 1995, Scott Dirks began discussing the project that became Jimmie Lee’s retrospective tribute, Chicago Jump. When the idea of a recording of some of Jimmie Lee’s previous work with a new band, he was cool to the idea. As is turned out, so were the labels approached with the tapes, who thought it was too soon, not new enough, etc. Even though the recordings offered some new energy and new twists, they sat on a shelf and stayed there, two years after Robinson’s untimely passing in 2002.
Newly released in 2004 on Random Chance Records, Jimmie Lee Robinson’s posthumous release of Chicago Jump will bring back fond memories to any one who ever saw Jimmie Lee Robinson perform either with one of his bands or as a solo act. Ably backed by a band that includes Rockin’ Johnny Burgin (guitar), Sho Komiya (bass), Twist Turner (drums) and Scott Dirks (harp), Jimmie Lee works his way through fourteen excellent songs including two original numbers (“Chicago Jump” & “Jimmie’s Jam) and covers of tunes by Willie Mabon, Little Walter and Jimmy Reed, among others.
Listening to Chicago Jump is guaranteed to take you back to another era of the blues, with Jimmie Lee leading the way with his bandmates who have individually worked to keep the feeling of classic Chicago blues alive and well in the clubs in and around Chicago. With Jimmie Lee and Rockin’ Johnny leading the way songs like “Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby” provides much the same feeling as when it was performed by Jimmy Reed. Similarly, with the help of Scott Dirks, the Little Walter tunes, “Tell Me Mama,” “Ah’w Baby, “Last Night,” “and “Confessing The Blues,” has the definite flavor of their original performances by the mercurial Walter Jacobs. Jimmie Lee consistently puts his mark on these songs with his signature guitar style and unique vocals.
As a late arrival, but ardent fan of Jimmie Lee Robinson, I was thrilled to see this album released and happy to find out that it was a quality recording with a great band, great songs and not a bunch of poorly recorded outtakes or live performances that were assembled just to make a quick buck off of the memory of a truly memorable performer and a fine human being. I strongly recommend Chicago Jump to anyone who is a fan or Jimmie Lee Robinson or just a fan of classic Chicago style blues. To find out more about Chicago Jump or other recordings on Random Chance Records, visit their website at www.randomchancerecords.com.
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