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| Lil' Ed And The Blues Imperials to Appear on World Cafe Chicago blues legends Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials will be the featured live guests on the nationally-syndicated National Public Radio program World Cafe on Wednesday, September 27. The band will perform tunes from their new CD, RATTLESHAKE. The World Cafe with David Dye can be heard on more than 180 stations nationwide. Fans can find their local station by going toThe World Cafe. On their new Alligator album, Rattleshake, Lil’ Ed’s romping, sizzling guitar and his rough-hewn vocals, his half-brother James “Pookie” Young’s thumping bass, Mike Garrett’s feral rhythm guitar and Kelly Littleton’s unpredictable yet bone-crunching drumming produce a modern blues firestorm steeped in tradition. Produced by Alligator president Bruce Iglauer and Williams, Rattleshake features 13 houserocking songs, and captures all of Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials’ legendary live energy on disc. The variety on the CD, from stomping, houserocking slide workouts, to deep, slow blues, to blues-ified country, makes this the most rewarding and soul-satisfying album the band has ever recorded. Born in Chicago on April 4, 1955, Ed grew up surrounded by the blues. He was playing guitar, then drums and bass, by the time he was 12. Along with his half-brother Pookie, Ed received lessons and support from their famous blues-playing uncle, J.B. Hutto. “J.B. taught me everything I know,” says Ed. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.” Ed and Pookie spent their teen years making music together, and in 1975 formed the first incarnation of The Blues Imperials. They played their first gig at a West Side club called Big Duke’s Blue Flame, splitting the $6 take four ways. Over the next few years, the group played every club in the neighborhood, but they still needed day jobs to pay the bills. Ed worked ten hours a day as a buffer at the Red Carpet Car Wash. Pookie drove a school bus. Night after night they played their roaring brand of blues in tiny clubs, and eventually the word reached Alligator president Bruce Iglauer write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |