Accompanied by Bob Page on keyboards, Chicago Bob Nelson performed two great sets of harp-laced blues. Nelson's performance featured a variety of styles, including Chicago, swamp and even Piedmont blues, for an appreciative audience at The BamBoo Room in downtown Lake Worth, Florida.
Chicago Bob Nelson is a harp player and vocalist, born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, now living in Atlanta, Georgia. Nelson has performed with a number of blues legends including Muddy Waters (who gave him his nickname, "Chicago Bob") and John Lee Hooker, Johnny Shines and Earl Hooker. He also spent a great deal of time working with guitarist Tinsley Ellis as a member of The Heartfixers early in Ellis' career. Nelson has been associated with keyboardist Bob Page since 1986, recently starting to work as a duo for some variety in addition to working with a full band throughout the Southeast, as well as in Europe.
Bob Page opened both sets on Saturday night with some fine vocals and piano, featuring songs from Muddy Waters, Professor Longhair, Jay McShann and W.C. Handy. In the past year, Page released his own CD entitled, "Cash Is A Problem," on Jump and Shout Records. Fans of jazzier sounding blues and Dixieland would be particularly interested in Page's CD.
When Chicago Bob came on stage, he performed two sets featuring original tunes and songs by Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson I and II and Jimmy Reed, as well as several original tunes. Chicago Bob has a definite "blues" voice with a low, nasal quality that helps to define his sound. With his harp stylings, influenced by John Lee Williamson (Sonny Boy I), Jimmy Reed, Lazy Lester and Slim Harpo, Nelson and Page offered up a raw, sparse sound like one might hear in a Mississippi juke joint. His renditions of "Good Morning Little School Girl," "19 Years Old," and "99" were very well done and quite entertaining. I was definitely surprised (pleasantly) when he injected a very cool Piedmont blues number into his second set ("Which Way Does That Blood Red River Run?") that added a nice change of pace to the show. He also performed some great original tunes too, including "Leave The Young Girls Alone" and "Bogalusa Boogie." It was clear that Nelson and Page have worked together for a long time, as they continually played off of each other, intermixing harp and keyboard solos through each song and filling in nicely throughout.
Chicago Bob informed me that he plans to make it up to the Twin Cities area sometime in the near future. If this comes to pass, make an effort to get out to see him, it will be worth it!
This review is copyright © 1999 by Dave "Doc" Piltz, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
