Blues pianist Memphis Slim (aka John L. Chatman) was a fixture in the Chicago blues scene in the ’40s and ’50s (supplementing his music income by working as a bootlegger) before relocating to Paris in the early ’60s. He became a major blues figure in France and western Europe, where he tracked numerous albums, many of which were produced by Philippe Rault. This double-CD provides 30 blues and boogie selections recorded between 1962 and 1975; many of them were authored by Slim. He was a fabulous keyboard player, an accomplished composer and a soulful vocalist. Like most adept blues pianists, his range goes beyond basic Chicago blues to boogie, jump blues and R&B flavors. Both discs feature a formidable array of guest artists, including Buddy Guy, Charlie McCoy, Roosevelt Sykes, Willie Dixon, Canned Heat, Peter Green and Freddy King. “Paris Mississippi Blues” should go a long way toward solidifying Memphis Slim’s legacy with U.S. blues fans.—PVV
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