Jazz Me Blues - The 70s

This CD release coincides with the publication of Chris Barber's autobiography, also entitled "Jazz Me Blues". LAKE Records has the largest number of CD's by legendary British Jazz band leader Chris Barber on any label anywhere. One era missing in the release programme is the 1970's. In many ways the 70's saw the biggest changes in the Barber band: it added "And Blues Band" to its name and, although Chris Barber had added a Blues guitarist in the late 1960's, in the 70's he added a second reed player. The selection here shows the band still keeping its roots in the Traditional Jazz it had always played, but was also beginning to push the boundaries by experimenting with the complex rhythms of Balkan music. These previously unreleased, well recorded concert tracks from Germany also include 4 tracks by the Blues singer, Jimmy Witherspoon, and two bonus tracks of Chris Barber playing with THe Muddy Waters' Band.