Raw Sugar

I've been waiting for a live album from Sugar ever since he played at my 50th birthday party at Rosa's Lounge in Chicago. Since then I've spun his studio discs but longed to recapture the energy of his live sets again. Well the wait has paid off in spades with a double live offering of some of the best contemporary blues harp work available.I don't understand why Sugar hasn't shot up higher among the who's who of the blues harmonica greats. With a great blues/rock sensibility, an uncanny ability to deliver long clear phrases in the high register and massive tone, this guy is undoubtedly one of the best amplified blues harpists I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Totally unique yet totally rooted in the blues with some generous sprinklings of soul/R&B.Check out his blistering runs on his interpretations of "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Messin with the Kid", and his update of his own contribution to the perrenial "Miss You".Rolling Stone has rightly called Sugar one of the foremost harmonica players of our time. With a great list of studio credits behind him including his signature harp work on Some Girl's "Miss You", I'm hoping this ablum will bring Sugar his proper recognition among the blues greats past and present. Tone, phrasing, right-on timing and a smoking band to back him. IMHO Sugar is (once again) just hitting his prime, and this electrifying live album captures him right in his element.True blues fans, or even dabblers, do not hesitate to snap this up. I look forward to more goods to come from Sugar!

amazing live CD with Grammy winner Sugar Blue-- he packs every harp solo with amazing runs-- who know a harmonica could sound this great !

This is a GREAT live blues album. It has instantly risen to near the top of my list of all time great live blues records. Sugar Blue's Harp work is amazing. This is the harp player who recorded Miss You with the Stones. He reprises that here, and it is GREAT! The version of Hootchie Coochie Man is arrestingly good. Nothing disappointing on this record.

Awesome live session! The only thing better would have been to be there in person. On of my favs in the car!

It is amazing what Sugar Blue can do with a harp! Caution, listening to this music while driving a car could lead to recurring speeding tickets. Buy and enjoy!

A PLUS

If you like harp, you'll love Blue

Not as good as some earlier albums. I kept hearing the same licks he played on other songs. Seems he has run out of original song ideas.

Du bon BLUES authentique, varié et spontané. Des originaux et des reprises parfaitement maitrisés par Sugar Blue. La magie du "live" transparait bien dans ce double CD de très bonne qualité