Ralph Bassinger is a blues & boogie woogie pianoplayer from Oregon, who's
been playing for almost 30 years. Although he plays that long, this is his
first solo recording. Before now he only did sessionwork and was a pianist
in a few bands. On this debut "Waiting For My Train", which was encouraged
byJimmy D.Lane, the superb guitarplayer, which insiders will know as Jimmy
Rogers' son, he plays and sings "live" in the studio without any overdubs,
some boogie woogie numbers and slower blues piano songs. All own
material,except two:"That's Allright" by Jimmy Rogers, mentioned above, and
"Reconsider Baby" by Lowell Fullsom. Why Ralph waited that long to record
his first cd is what we ask ourselves, because this pianoplayer sure knows
how to play those keys, that's for sure After 30 years of playing he should
know how,O.K., but there's more, this man has "it". the same thing Pinetop
Perkins, Otis Spann en Jimmy Yancey also had: the perfecte emotion, the
perfect timing, that "feeling" for those keys, something only a few
pianoplayers had, an incredible example of that is: "Red Knows". I was a big
fan of Otis Spann and his unique style of playing, and therefore I was very
happy to be able to talk to Paul Osher this week , who played together with
Otis in Muddy Waters band, and they both lived in Muddy's house for four
years, but since Otis died I seldom or better said: never, heard that
pianosound again. Until now, because this is the man, who, just like Otis
Spann, knows how it should be done: Those subtile high notes, wonderful!.
"Red Knows" is a song I listened to twice in a row, something which never
happened to me ever before. That Ralph seems to be a fan of Otis Spann too,
is proved by his opening track, the boogie woogie "Tribute to Otis". Another
example of splendid barrelhouse is the titlesong "Waiting for my train".The
guitar work of Jimmy D. Lane on the track his father, Jimmy Rogers wrote is
perfect for this cd. Different from his own style, it's subtile and laid
back, and leaves lots of space for Bassinger's piano. "Thinking Of Elmore"
is of course a tribute to the king of slide, again it's a great boogie. The
slow: "Learning How To Love The Blues" once again reminds me of Otis Spann.
The changing between boogie woogie en slower pianoblues keeps this cd
interesting. "Salina's Shuffle", " Mississippi Mind" en "Circle Boogie", is
almost complete rock and roll, interacting with "Reconsider Baby" en "Taking
Jimmy Home", with the wonderful guitar of Jimmy D. Lane, who take the tempo
down for a while. To end...2 swinging barrelhouse tracks "Barrel By The
Door" en "Angela Marie", stirring things up one more time. Ralph Bassinger,
a bluespianoplayer who, playing live and by himself,captivates your
attention from beginning to end. On some of the songs when guitarplayer
Jimmy.D lends a helping hand, things get even better.Few will do better.
Hats off to Ralph (en Jimmy D.)
Ron
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