REVIEW: Nick Gravenites with Pete Sears “Rogue Blues”

Nick Gravenites with Pete Sears – Rogue Blues

I’m pleased yet filled with wonder & pleased to hear legendary South Side of Chicago blues artist Nick Gravenites with an all-star cast of musicians. I’m filled with wonder as to why it clocks in at a mere 27 minutes. This is the first recorded work of Nick in 8 years — he deserves more time.

Produced by Pete Sears & Thomas Yeates the tunes were recorded in CA (2022-2023 with Charlie Musselwhite’s parts recorded in Clarksdale, MS) for the freshly minted Rogue Blues (Dropped April 5/M.C. Records/27:00). Aficionados & purists will find Nick’s set quite engaging & capable 7 decades into his career.

For those unfamiliar Nick was the man who played a big role throughout Janis Joplin’s career including a stint with Big Brother & the Holding Company. He also played with Elvin Bishop & Mike Bloomfield, founded The Electric Flag & wrote songs for Pure Prairie League, Tracy Nelson, Roy Buchanan, Howlin’ Wolf & James Cotton. He wrote scores for films & produced the hit “One Toke Over the Line,” by folk rock duo Brewer & Shipley (covered also by that “hard rock band” the Lawerence Welk Orchestra). Nick wrote “Born in Chicago” (1965) & co-wrote with Bloomfield the classic Paul Butterfield Blues Band instrumental “East-West.” Now that’s a resume.

But this bone features lots of meat (6 originals & 1 cover) & many name artists who stepped up on songs never released until now. It’s a spare trimmed-down affair but therein lies the authenticity Nick has always managed to convey. Nick doesn’t play guitar (due to arthritis & may be the reason Bob Dylan doesn’t play guitar much anymore either) but, his iconic vocals continue to have character, experience & expertise.

The brief set opens with Chester Burnett’s (Howlin’ Wolf)1958 tune “Poor Boy,” which wears its juke joint threads well. A piano strides along a smoky harmonica framing. Then with “Blues Singers,” which is recorded with finesse I thought it could’ve used a scratchy 78 rpm application to age it a tad just at the intro. It needs a little dust, some flypaper stickiness & an ounce of spilled whisky & beer aroma. But, I admit, it’s quite good as is.

Nick’s vocal tonality is blessed with a thornier aged voice of the blues. An approach to the lyric that’s sawdust dry which gives it a genuine fiber, just as Mose Allison. He certainly knows that each song’s recipe’s flavor depends on lard & not margarine.

Highlights – All 7. No doubt.

Musicians – Charlie Musselwhite & Lester Chambers (harmonica), Pete Sears (piano/bass/accordion/bgv), Wally Ingram (drums/percussion), Roy Blumenfeld (drums), Jimmy Vivino (guitar/mandolin/bgv), Willard Dixon (clarinet), Keith Baltz (sousaphone) & Barry Sless (pedal steel guitar/acoustic rhythm).

Color image courtesy of Bob Forrester (2022) / CD @ Amazon + https://mc-records.com/ & https://nickgravenites.com/