Jimmy Dawkins: Tell Me Baby
Franck Goldwasser (g)
Rich Kirch (g)
John Suhr (org)
Danny Camarena (b)
Roger Perry (g, b & keyb)
Chris Millar (dr)
"At least on record, Jimmy Dawkins remains one of our most deft, emotionally rich, and satisfying craftsmen, both in terms of his instrumental prowess and his gifts as a songwriter. This is another first-rate offering from him."
John Clarke, www.timesonline.co.uk:
4 of 5 stars - "With his 19th album, Dawkins tries again to register with the blues-buying public. The opening track, Tell Me Baby, sets the standard - tight ensemble playing, driving guitar licks and strong, gritty vocals. The loping Mean o' Blues also brings out the best in man and guitar, as does the confessional-like Tired of Krying. But it's the Westside shuffle of Rompin 'n' Stomping and the intensity of the seven-minute long Hard Life Blues that show Dawkins at his finest - exuberant and cajoling one minute, intense the next. It would be nice to think that this could be the record that launches Dawkins into the mainstream, but I suspect that he is going to remain the best-kept secret of the blues for some time yet."
CrossCut Records, Germany:
"There's no easy access to this album. This album is somewhat uncomfortable at first listening. Dawkins' blues is unwiedly. The 'Guitar King' from Chicago's west side is well-known for his individual vocal and guitar styles. But after repeated listening you'll discover all these little things and tricks that make this album really enjoyable. I.e. listen to the rythmic interplay of the three guitarists. Compared to his latest one, the accompanying guitarists are playing a more prominent role, and Dawkins keeps concentrating on his vocal part. And his vocals soud great! This is raw and wild stuff, extremely exciting!"
Jeff Harris, Baddogblues.com, May 2004:
"Like the previous record, Dawkins sounds lean and mean here with his muscular, ringing big toned guitar work right out front and his impassioned singing cutting right to the bone. The record stumbles at first with the production on "Tell Me Baby" burying Dawkins in the mix but things get better by the second tune and the rest of the record steamrolls along in tough Chicago blues fashion. Dawkins stretches out on the brooding "Falling Tears", tears through the instrumental "Kotten Field Jump" at a blistering clip, while the tough emotionally wracked "Mean Ol' Blues" and the funky backbeat of "Gitar King" with it's incendiary guitar solos recapture the intensity of Dawkins' glory days. Dawkins closes out on a high note with the aptly titled "Rumping 'N' Stomping" a high powered blues boogie and the minor key burner "Hard Life Blues." If you like your blues raw and unadulterated than Fedora has what your looking for. [The record comes] recommended ... which may be one of the year's best."