Chris Barber - 2011 - Memories Of My Trip

You will find very few jazz retrospectives more thoroughly, warmly inviting than Memories of My Trip, which celebrates six decades of recording and performing by one of Britain's most enduring traditional jazz musicians—trombonist, bassist and bandleader Chris Barber. Presented across two CDs (one subtitled Blues, Jazz & Gospel and the other subtitled Blues & Jazz), Barber's precious Memories are highlighted by admirers such as Muddy Waters, Keith Emerson, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and others from outside the traditional jazz realm.
Folk-blues legends Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee climb onboard the blues classic "When Things Go Wrong" with British vocalist Ottile Patterson and give it a long slow ride back through music history to that point where blues and jazz merge on the horizon. "Kansas City" captures a rolling and tumbling snapshot of roughly-hewn blues from one of Muddy Waters' greatest bands (featuring pianist Pinetop Perkins), with Barber's trombone solo growling below Bob Margolin's electric blues guitar. Barber's trombone also helps moan and cry the blues shuffle "Weeping Willow," which Eric Clapton impeccably renders on vocals and slide guitar. Disc one also features guitarists Alexis Corner, who blows through James Cotton's howling, cavernous "Love Me or Leave Me," and a rare live Rory Gallagher's recording of "Can't Be Satisfied" released by permission of Gallagher's estate.
This first CD closes with a Van Morrison trilogy that features him thoroughly at home, on vocals and harmonica, in the medium he haunts best—the blues—concluding with the glorious and rollicking "Oh, Didn't He Ramble" from sessions that Barber and Morrison recorded with New Orleans pianist Dr. John for Morrison's landmark A Period of Transition (Warner Bros., 1977).
On the second disc, progressive rock greybeard Keith Emerson lets his funky small combo roots show through Jack McDuff's compact, crunchy instrumental "Rock Candy." Jools Holland rips off "Winin' Boy Blues" like a weathered bluesman surrounded by the joyous Dixieland sound of jazz-blues syncopation, with which he strolls more casually "On the Sunny Side of the Street." "Jack Teagarden Blues" captures a small club date where Barber exchanges trombone blues with Count Basie guitarist, arranger and trombonist Eddie Durham.
Three tunes with guitarist Mark Knopfler help Barber bring the curtain down. Thanks to Vic Pitts' loping bass line and Barber's harmony vocal, "Blues Stay Away From Me" introduces another jazz flavor—country-swing jazz—into Barber's hearty roots stew. After ripping up the "Dallas Rag" (first recorded by Dallas String Band band in the 1920s), Barber and Knopfler and friends bid ya'all a good night " 'Till the Next Time I'm in Town," a perfectly relaxed yet swinging way to close—until next time—Barber's Memories of My Trip. (AllAboutJazz)

Disc 1 Blues, Jazz and Gospel
1. Memories of My Trip
Brownie McGhee
2. When Things Go Wrong
Ottilie Patterson, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee with Dick, Graham, Eddie, Monty, Pat & Chris
3. Do Lord, Do Remember Me
Ottilie Patterson, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee with Dick, Graham, Eddie, Monty, Pat & Chris
4. Weeping Willow
Eric Clapton and Chris Barber with Chris Stainton, Dave Bronze and Henry Spinetti
5. Kansas City
The Muddy Waters Blues Band with Chris Barber
6. Love Me or Leave Me
James Cotton with Alexis Korner, Chris Barber and Keith Scott
7. Can't Be Satisfied
Rory Gallagher with Chris Barber
8. Diggin' My Potatoes
Lonnie Donagan with the Chris Barber Jazz & Blues Band
9. Goin' Up the River
Jeff Healey with his Jazz Wizards with Chris Barber
10. How Long Blues
Van Morrison with the Chris Barber Skiffle Group 
11. Goin' Home
Van Morrison with the Chris Barber Jazz & Blues Band 
12. Oh Didn't He Ramble
Van Morrison with the Chris Barber Jazz & Blues Band and Dr. John
13. Lonesome Road
Ottillie Patterson with Chris Barber’s Jazz Band
14. I'll Be Rested
Paul Jones with the Chris Barber Jazz & Blues Band
15. Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Andy Fairweather Low with the Chris Barber Jazz & Blues Band
16. Couldn't Keep It To Myself
Alex Bradford with Chris Barber’s Jazz Band and Singers
17. Another Sad One
John Slaughters Last Blues

Disc 2 Jazz and Blues
1. St. Louis Blues/Missouri Special/St. Louis Blues
Ottilie Patterson with Chris Barber’s Jazz Band and Edmond Hall
2. High Society
Edmond Hall and Ian Wheeler with Chris Barber’s Jazz Band
3. Rock Candy
Keith Emerson and the T-Bones with Chris Barber
4. Georgia On My Mind
Trummy Young with the Chris Barber Jazz & Blues Band
5. Rose Room
Joe Darensbourg with Pat Halcox and Chris Barber
6. C-Jam Blues
Albert Nicholas with Chris Barber’s Jazz Band
7. Tea Party Blues
Chris Barber at the Boston Tea Party
8. Jack Teagarden Blues
Eddie Durham with the Chris Barber Jazz & Blues Band
9. Tailgate Boogie
Sammy Price, Sandy Brown and Chris Barber with Keith Smith
10. Winin' Boy Blues
Chris Barber’s Six-Piece featuring Jools Holland
11. On the Sunny Side of the Street
Chris Barber’s Six-Piece featuring Jools Holland
12. Blues Stay Away From Me
Mark Knopfler with Chris Barber’s Jazz Band
13. Dallas Rag
Mark Knopfler with Chris Barber’s Jazz Band
14. 'Til the Next Time I'm In Town
Mark Knopfler with Chris Barber’s Jazz Band

Enjoy and share!