CD Review: Heritage Blues Orchestra “still I rise”

Submitted by blue barry – smoky mtn. blues society

January, 2012

WOW! Are you kidding me? This is a debut CD? Really? The Heritage Blues Orchestra’s new CD “ and still I rise,” is going to create some problems. Where are they going to store all of the awards they will win from it? I have had the extreme good fortune to listen to “and still I rise,” about 20 times now, and it is something else. The Heritage Blues Orchestra is basically Bill Sims, Jr., Chaney Sims, his daughter, Bruno Wilhelm, and Junior Mack. Add in Vincent Bucher on harp, Matt Skoller on harp and horn players Kenny Rampton Steve Wiseman and Clark Gayton and you have a monster band. Oh yes, and Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith on percussion and drums. In fact you have an orchestra.

From the opening notes of “Clarksdale Moan” you know you are in for a treat. Bucher is fabulous with his fine harp work, Junior nails the vocals, the guitar, drums, every thing falls into place. Then the horns come in and bowl you over. That’s the first cut. Cheney slides right into “C-Line Woman” with hypnotic “purr like a cat” vocals and great percussion. The quality of the CD is striking as well. Even on a not so good system, it tells the truth. On a great sound system it will no doubt bring sweat from your pores. But I digress.

“Big-Legged Woman,” and “Catfish Blues”, and old Robert Petway classic dig your feet right down in the Mississippi mud. Matt Skoller blows some fine harp on “Big-Legged Woman” as well. “Go Down Hannah” calms way down with sultry horns, field hollers, and Chaney’s perfect voice. Don’t know how it sounded in 1910, but it sounds good now. “Get Right Church” slides you right into the delta gospel stronghold of the great South with some fine, heart-felt harmonies. This is a great CD! Slide work here compliments the voices, and the steady drum beat takes you to the front pew.

There are the first six cuts with twelve in all, and no weak spots. “Goin’ Uptown” is another fine, full orchestra masterpiece. How do they do this? I mean you can hear every instrument clear as a bell, and the vocals just lull you into the song. Some more fine slide work here to tease you with as well.

“Hard Times” is the last cut. It also the longest, and I think the most intense, with several sections, each building up on the next. There are a few more beautiful tunes, so just get a copy and listen to it! This is a phenomenal CD with something for every blues lover. I don’t care what kind of blues you like, you play, you listen to, or you thought you have heard before, this one is new and refreshing, and has something for you.

Check out www.heritagebluesorchestra.com for more, and there is plenty more to check out! Enjoy, my beautiful friends. One love. Blue Barry – smoky mtn. blues society.