Original Chicago Blues All Stars - Gold (2018)

The Chicago Blues All Stars is a re-united group of musicians who nearly forty years ago played in the touring band of Willie Dixon. In 2016 Drummer Jimmy Tillman, bassist Freddie Dixon Willie s oldest son, and guitarist John Watkins got back together, based on a shared vision of mentoring young musicians in the history, playing styles, high level of musicianship and professionalism of their own mentors. Individually, Jimmy, Freddie and John had played with Otis Rush, Jimmy Reed, KoKo Taylor, Bobby King and numerous other musicians during the 1960s and early 1970s, before joining Willie Dixon band.

This cd, aptly titles GOLD, is a re-mastered, expanded version of their previously released CD, Chicago Blues All Stars, Inc., starring Jimmy Tillman, Freddie Dixon, Butch Dixon and John Watkins of a 1984 concert recording in Portland, Oregon. This new album is a double cd containing 22 classic blues and soul songs from the concert plus the band's late 2017 new single Black Bags, featuring 23 year old Michael Damani on lead vocal and guitar. Michael is a student who came to the band s weekly jam in Chicago and after sitting in a few times, joined the band in 2017 in the place of John Watkins, who was facing some health challenges. Jimmy Tillman wrote the song as a response to all the gun violence in the Black community. Michael was the perfect choice to deliver the song with fire and passion. Now on tour dates, both John and Michael play guitar.