"September 2004 Cd Reviews"

All Cd reviews are rated 1 to 7 Harps ! Steve"Big Daddy BluzHarp"Harvell

(Blues Guitar and Harmonica) Reverend Raven Featuring Madison Slim "Live At The Blues On Grand" Reverend Raven Website

This cd is by far the best one that I have listened to so far this year and August 2004 is going by fast.Reverend Raven has another cd out before this one done with another harp player named Cadillac Pete and he is one of the best out there.It was a very well produced cd that got my highest rating but there is something about this new cd,"Live At The Blues On Grand" ,that is a couple of notches better.This new one was recorded live and Madison Slim (on harmonica ) just brings out something primeval about the Reverend Raven and His Chain Smoking Alter Boys.

Madison Slim is now my FAVORITE harmonica player walking the planet earth and the nearest two solar systems.Really,Madison Slim has got the best chops and TONE of any living or dead harp player anywhere!!!!!!I have not been able to find a website for him but below is some info that I was able to find out about him.

Madison Slim is a world renowned harmonica player and singer who has been shaking the shack since the early days at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln, NE with the Heart Murmurs. He went on to perform with and record four albums with the Muddy Water's Legendary Blues Band, featuring Willie Big Eyes Smith, Smokey Smothers, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones and Billy Flynn. He got the call from Jimmy Rogers and spent over eight years touring around the world with Jimmy. He opened the show and warmed up the crowd for Jimmy and has performed with all the greats in the blues world. He's appeared on the Conan O'Brien Show and the David Letterman Show. He can be currently heard on Honeyboy Edwards two recent CDs.

Please go to Reverend Raven's Website

and click onto "Listen to Tracks" and check out both of his cds but especially the new one,"Live At Blues On Grand",and check out these cuts. The Reverend and Madison Slim are absolutely getting down and dirty digging in the dirt.In my opinion Madison Slim can blow the socks off of Kim Wilson,enuff said damn it!It has been many a moon since I have heard of a harp player that just really grabed me by the throat and demanded my attention and admiration.

This is as a good of a combination as Muddy Waters and Little Walter,the Reverend and Madison Slim bring out the best in each other and I apologize to the Reverend for writing so much about the Madison Slim because it is the Reverend that makes Madison what he is on here.For comparison I will use the Beatles,together they were the best here,seperately good but not the same.I feel that this could be the case with the Reverend and Madison Slim,we NEED to here more of these two together along with the Chain Smoking Alter Boys.

I give this cd , Reverend Raven Featuring Madison Slim "Live At The Blues On Grand" Reverend Raven Website,my highest rating of (7) harps and is my favorite cd so far this year.I give The Reverend Raven my "Muddy Waters Torch Carrier Award" and to Madison Slim my coveted "Nasty harp Award " for being so NASTY SOUNDING,oh yeah!!

One reason this is the best cd so far this year is because every tune is a keeper and worth listening to over and over and over............!The Reverend Raven is playing the best guitar of his life and the same can be said for Madison Slim,they are at the pinnacle of their craft but are ready to jump into the abyss and take us to another dimension altogether.I do hope they make more music for us,please go to Reverend Raven's Website and order these two cds and you will become one with the Bluz Side as recommended by the Intergalactic BluzHarp Council of The Universe.



Return to Main Page