CD Reviews

The Big Payback

Big James And The Chicago Playboys

Blind Pig Records

Big James Montgomery may have his feet set firmly planted in the Chicago blues scene, but he has definitely been dangling his toes in the Mississippi River getting a nice drenching of Southern soul. In fact, he may be delivering the most funkified, soulful blues sounds in the Windy City since the passing of Junior Wells. And the best format to hear Big James And The Chicago Playboys is obviously on stage where he brings forth a commanding presence from behind his trombone. That is why we should stand and shout in celebration that Blind Pig has blessed us with The Big Payback, a live recording of the band performing at Paris’ Lionel Hampton Jazz club from 2009. Full of the funk and sass that makes a Big James’ show so dynamic, this disc will get your heart pumping quickly.

Not typical of blues bands, Big James And The Chicago Playboys use their horn delivery as the forefront of the outfit. It doesn’t matter if they’re covering James Brown or George Clinton numbers where you’d expect just that. But they’re also using that horn lead on the deepest of Chicago blues numbers as found on the two covers of Magic Sam in their performance. Yes, guitarist Mike “Money” Wheeler can singe his strings with the best of them, but there is a reason why this band has been named five times by Living Blues magazine for best horns. And it is clearly shown throughout the disc. They get especially funky on the Johnnie Taylor classic “Jody Got Your Girl And Gone” and the soulful R&B just explodes with the reading of Otis Clay’s “Trying To Live My Life Without You.”

Along with such superb takes on all of the cover songs, Big James throws in three fantastic originals that speak out for themselves. The opening track “The Blues Will Never Die” sets the show’s pace with the pulsating horns punctuating Big James’ voice and proves to be his own personal statement on why he sings the blues. “Coldest Man I Ever Knew” takes on life’s lessons as being delivered by a father who tells him he will not be around forever and how he should act around others. And the third of the original numbers, “Low Down Dirty Blues,” is just that, a slow dirty blues that may bring thoughts of Luther Allison’s gritty vocal and burning guitar approach. But once again, throw in the horns and you know this pot of blues stew is about to boil over.

To show how much fun the band is having while they play, the closing track is a quirky cover of Deep Purple’s anthem “Smoke On The Water.” The crowd erupts to the onset of the number, recognizing those familiar riffs right off. But the band takes it on as a punchy instrumental, blending the keyboards, guitar and horns as only Big James And The Chicago Playboys can carry it in their own tradition. A nice playful way to close out a superb disc.

So if you think Chicago blues is all about the guitar, dispel that thought and pick up The Big Payback. This one’s going to get your funky groove moving and convince you that the horns belong in the blues in a big way! Check out Big James And The Chicago Playboys and see just what I’m driving at ya!

Total Time: 48:01

The Blues Will Never Die / Big Payback / Coldest Man I Ever Knew / All Your Love / Jody’s Got Your Girl And Gone / That’s Why I’m Crying / Trying To Live My Life Without You / I’ll Stay / Low Down Dirty Blues / Smoke On The Water