look: Floyd Dixon - Time Brings About a Change... - High John Records, 2006 - BUY

listen:

Caledonia

Rita

So Long

buy:

Recorded live at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix just 55 days before his death at the age of 77, this disc serves as a fitting send off to a giant of R & B piano. Floyd Dixon, who penned such hits at "Call Operator 210" and the oft-covered "Hey Bartender" labored in relative commercial obscurity for a good share of his career but was widely admired by other pianists and bluesmen. That admiration is present here in the form of guest appearances by fellow pianists Henry Gray and Pinetop Perkins who warm up the stage with their takes on blues classics such as "Sweet Home Chicago," "Dust My Broom," "Down in Mississippi" and "Come Back Baby." Also showing the love is the top notch back up band featuring Kid Ramos on Guitar, Kim Wilson on harmonica and a swinging horn section.

The band put in a full day's work before Dixon finally joined the fun more than half way through the disc on the jumping "Hole in the Wall." With an elastic vocal style that recalls Wynonie Harris one moment and Charles Brown the next, Dixon adeptly works his way through nine cuts that showcase his versatility on the piano including late night cocktail jazz, "Time Brings about a Change," low down blues, "Cold, Cold Feeling," jump blues, "Caledonia," and a drastically reworked "Glory of Love." While it was Dixon's day to shine there is no showboating at the expense of the assembled talent. This is truly a terrific release from beginning to end.

(©) 2006, Mark Smith
BluesSource.com

Second Review by Tim Richards:

If history were to pinpoint one person responsible for the revolutionary West Coast Jump Sound, it would have to be Floyd Dixon. With a fifty year career under his belt and such hits as Call Operator 210, Telephone Blues and Hey Bartender, Dixon was enjoying a well deserved career resurgence with a 1997 W.C. Handy Award win for “Comeback Album of the Year” for the release Wake Up and Live.

Assembled here is a star-studded cast consisting of Floyd Dixon (piano, vocals), Pinetop Perkins (piano, vocals), Henry Gray (piano, vocals), Johnny Tucker (vocals), Kid Ramos (guitar), Larry Taylor (bass), Richard Innes (drums), Troy Jennings (baritone sax), Steve Marsh (tenor sax), Joe Banks (trumpet), Fred Kaplan (organ), and Kim Wilson (harp).

Recorded live at The Rhythm Room in Phoenix, the recording quality is second to none and spotlights each and all in the band. From the opening strains of Albert Collins Don’t Lose Your Cool to the final notes of So Long, this CD is as titled, a Floyd Dixon celebration. To me the hardest thing about listening to this CD, is knowing that it was Dixon’s last recording. He passed away a mere 55 days after this was recorded at the age of 77. I envy anybody that was present for this historical recording.

(©) 2006, Tim Richards
BluesSource.com