Jimmy Dawkins at "Chicago Cultural Center", Chicago, USA

Jimmy Dawkins and his band, with special guest Abb Locke, injected soul into a private, black-tie holiday party thrown Saturday by the city's top accounting firms at the Chicago Cultural Center in the heart of the Loop.

After sizing up his audience of accountants and big-wig CEOs, Dawkins decided, initially at least, to temper his normally hard-hitting, no-nonsense blues sound. By the third set of the gala, however, after most of the suits had hit the exit, Dawkins slipped back into his customary deep and heavy blues attack.

Throughout the night, Dawkins, himself nattily-attired, his head now fashionably clean-shaven, worked through standards that he and his legendary colleagues made famous during years of gigging on Chicago's West Side.

Dawkins' anguished vocals and moaning guitar reverberated off the marble walls and high ceiling of the large, ornate Blues Room of the Cultural Center. His interpretations of "Goin' Down" and Magic Sam's "Easy Baby" kept many members of the audience entranced while they sipped champagne and munched hors d'oeuvres.

To Dawkins, this gig's lavish surroundings must have seemed far removed from the run-down ghetto taverns he played for years. Not to mention that Jimmy must have felt light years away from his tiny Tchula, Miss. birthplace.

Throughout the night, Locke's masterful sax playing seemed an inspiration to Dawkins and his young band. "We've known each other forever," Dawkins said affectionately of Locke prior to the show. Grinning frequently, Dawkins seemed to truly enjoy himself throughout the night.

Guitarist Nick Laramie and members of his talented DNA blues/rock band served as Dawkins' backing musicians. Laramie and DNA congealed quickly under the direction of Dawkins, their support vastly improved over a comparatively uncertain Nov. 24 showing with Dawkins at Chicago's House of Blues.

Between sets, Dawkins chatted amicably with businessmen who stopped by his table. And with dignity onstage later, he endured, and tactfully declined, the shouted requests for the music of Stevie Ray Vaughn made by a pair of Jake and Elwood Blues clones.

Dawkins also spent portions of his set breaks Saturday conversing with band members and friends, discussing subjects ranging from the current state of his Leric Music publishing company and the recent death of his long-time friend Fenton Robinson, to his lengthy history in blues and the ill-health of Junior Wells.

These days, Dawkins is in top form as a singer and guitarist, and it is unfortunate, to say the least, that he has been performing only infrequently in recent years. Instead, Dawkins says, he has been focusing his time and energy on music publishing. He is also continuing his crusade as a legal consultant to blues performers who are attempting to obtain long lost royalties for their compositions.

It is also disappointing that, when he does perform live these days, Dawkins rarely delivers any new material from his recent Ichiban Records releases three strong discs. Conspicuously absent, as well, from his current shows are his classic compositions "Welfare Line," and "Luv Somebody."

However, with more than 40 years of stage experience and an already-powerful arsenal of songs, including "Feel So Bad," Dawkins was capable Saturday of presenting music that kept many in his audience mesmerized for the entire evening. And Dawkins was able to prove, once again, that he is one of the blues' deepest and most valuable artists.

Jimmy Dawkins at "Chicago Cultural Center" Chicago, USA - December 6, 1997
written by Steven Sharp
Jimmy Dawkins and his band, with special guest Abb Locke, injected soul into a private, black-tie holiday party thrown Saturday by the city's top accounting firms at the Chicago Cultural Center in the heart of the Loop. After sizing up his audience of accountants and big-wig CEOs, Dawkins decided, initially at least, to temper his normally hard-hitting, no-nonsense blues sound. By the third set of the gala, however, after most of the suits had hit the exit, Dawkins slipped back into his customary deep and heavy blues attack. Throughout the night, Dawkins, himself nattily-attired, his head now fashionably clean-shaven, worked through standards that he and his legendary colleagues made famous during years of gigging on Chicago's West Side. Dawkins' anguished vocals and moaning guitar reverberated off the marble walls and high ceiling of the large, ornate Blues Room of the Cultural Center. His interpretations of "Goin' Down" and Magic Sam's "Easy Baby" kept many members of the audience entranced while they sipped champagne and munched hors d'oeuvres. To Dawkins, this gig's lavish surroundings must have seemed far removed from the run-down ghetto taverns he played for years. Not to mention that Jimmy must have felt light years away from his tiny Tchula, Miss. birthplace. Throughout the night, Locke's masterful sax playing seemed an inspiration to Dawkins and his young band. "We've known each other forever," Dawkins said affectionately of Locke prior to the show. Grinning frequently, Dawkins seemed to truly enjoy himself throughout the night. Guitarist Nick Laramie and members of his talented DNA blues/rock band served as Dawkins' backing musicians. Laramie and DNA congealed quickly under the direction of Dawkins, their support vastly improved over a comparatively uncertain Nov. 24 showing with Dawkins at Chicago's House of Blues. Between sets, Dawkins chatted amicably with businessmen who stopped by his table. And with dignity onstage later, he endured, and tactfully declined, the shouted requests for the music of Stevie Ray Vaughn made by a pair of Jake and Elwood Blues clones. Dawkins also spent portions of his set breaks Saturday conversing with band members and friends, discussing subjects ranging from the current state of his Leric Music publishing company and the recent death of his long-time friend Fenton Robinson, to his lengthy history in blues and the ill-health of Junior Wells. These days, Dawkins is in top form as a singer and guitarist, and it is unfortunate, to say the least, that he has been performing only infrequently in recent years. Instead, Dawkins says, he has been focusing his time and energy on music publishing. He is also continuing his crusade as a legal consultant to blues performers who are attempting to obtain long lost royalties for their compositions. It is also disappointing that, when he does perform live these days, Dawkins rarely delivers any new material from his recent Ichiban Records releases three strong discs. Conspicuously absent, as well, from his current shows are his classic compositions "Welfare Line," and "Luv Somebody." However, with more than 40 years of stage experience and an already-powerful arsenal of songs, including "Feel So Bad," Dawkins was capable Saturday of presenting music that kept many in his audience mesmerized for the entire evening. And Dawkins was able to prove, once again, that he is one of the blues' deepest and most valuable artists.
(c) by Steven Sharp