CHRISTIAN WILLISOHN Blues On The World

enja - blues beacon

Christian Willisohn piano, vocal
Rocky Knauer bass, backup vocal
Rick Hollander drums, backup vocal

Special Guests:

Lillian Boutté vocal
Henry Heggen harp
Manuel Lopez guitar

Recorded 1995


 

A true live performer, German blues pianist and singer Christian Willisohn delights audiences all over the world with his enthusiasm. He played numerous international festivals, among them Montreux, Ascona, Copenhagen, Leverkusen, New Orleans, Chicago, and New York, and was joined on stage by such blues giants as Memphis Slim, Louisiana Red, and Lillian Boutté.

With versatile jazz players beside him, Christian's new recording "Blues On The World" echoes a wider stylistic range than ever before. Canadian bassist Rocky Knauer brings a wealth of experience to the trio's music. He has worked with Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Mal Waldron, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, and Joe Henderson. Rick Hollander hails from Detroit and has shared the stage with such as Woody Shaw, Arnett Cobb, Joe Pass, and Rufus Reid, and has several albums out with his own quartet. Like Rocky, he grew up with these blues tunes and is deeply committed to the trio's work. "During our trio gigs there is so much communication that new doors fly open inside me all the time," says Christian.

Christian is widely known to be inspired by boogie and stride pianists, although he never considered himself a boogie player: "Boogie has to be played for a live audience. Like Zydeco, it is actually fun and dance music, made for parties. Playing the blues is something different. It is pure emotion, the 12-bar beat of my heart."

Titles:

  1. Little Angel (5:03)
  2. Blues On The World (4:51)
  3. Diddlin' (5:08)
  4. Tin Pan Alley (7:13)
  5. See See Rider (3:53)
  6. Sykesism (2:57)
  7. Let Them Talk (6:28)
  8. Mystery Train (3:22)
  9. I'd Rather Go Blind (6:15)
  10. Baby What You Want Me To Do (5:31)
  11. How Long (4:29)