T-Bone WalkerGood Feelin'Sunnyside CD

Clifton ChenierFrenchin' the BoogieSunnyside CD

Clarence GatemouthBrownGate's on the HeatSunnyside CDMemphis SlimSouths ide Reun ionSunnyside CD

Eddie Barclay was many things-pianist, film score composer, night-club owner, lavish party host, pur-veyor of French song. But above allelse, as Patrick O'Connor said in his2005 obituary for Barclay in theNation, he was "the doyen of Frenchrecord producers". He startedDisques Barclay in Paris in 1954,and the company's catalogue wouldcome to include everyone fromJacques Brel and Charles Aznavourto Duke Ellington and Fela Kuti. Andalong the way, he launched thesubsidiary imprint Maison de Bluesbetween 1969 and 1976, which wasdevoted to recordings of Americanblues and roots artists made mostlyin France, using interestingcombinations of European andAmerican support musicians. Thesefour releases on the Sunnyside labelare the latest reissues from thisseries_

The T-Bone Walker album GoodFeelin' was recorded in 1969 andwon a Grammy the following year forBest Ethnic or Traditional Recording.There are a number of noteworthypoints, including the fact that onseveral tracks Walker plays pianorather than guitar. Jazz pianist MichelSardaby, drummer Lucien Dobat andbassist Jeannot Karl can be heardthroughout, and Mane Dibango is

also on the session, playing not onlysax but also some piano and organas well, making this virtually a worldmusic recording well before anyonethought in those terms.

The late Clarence "Gatemouth"Brown, master of the electric violin,released Gate's On The Heat in1973. Bridging country, blues andNew Orleans styles, Brown delivers atour-de-force on these twelve tracks,with backing by the Memphis Hornsand Canned Heat_ One curiosityabout this album is Mickey Baker'sarrangement for an eighteen-piecestring section that can be heard onthe instrumental title track-and itworks!

Clifton Chenier's 1976 LP Frenchin'The Boogie, recorded in Bogalusa,Louisiana, was a big hit in France forthe Zydeco king, with BuckwheatZydeco (Stanley Dural Jr.) playingHammond B3, Paul Senegal on guitarand Robert Peter on drums. Chenierand his band tear through Cajunversions of some rockin bluesstandards, including 'Caldonia,"Letthe Good Times Roll,"Everyday IHave the Blues,' 'Chop Chow Ch'Boogie' and 'Going Down Slow'.

Listening to these recordingsserves as yet one more reminder ofhow important and impressive theEuropean reception of black Americanmusic has been. I mean, just picturethis By 1970 Memphis Slim, who'dbeen dubbed the "BluesEmbassadeur," had been living inParis for eight years, was married tohis French wife, could be seen drivinground the city in his Rolls Royce, andproducer Philippe Rault puts togetheran all-star Chicago blues session atthe legendary Chateau D'HerouvilleStudio There's Slim pounding thepiano, Buddy Guy with his scream--ing guitar, Junior Wells wailing on

his harp, with A. C Reed on tenorand Roosevelt Shaw on drums, layingdown tracks like "When BuddyComes to Town" and Muddy Waters'

"Rollin and Tumblin," and the resultsare then released as the LPSouthside Reunion. These guys are along way from the CheckerboardLounge at 43rd and King Drive onChicago's south side, but the sound isjust right, the rhythm section ischurning and stamping with thatunmistakable south side shuffle, andyou know there were some goodvibes in the studio that night- That'sbasically the feeling that each ofthese seminal Barclay reissuesexudes-hard edged, swinging androckin' blues, alive arid kickin ' inthis alf-shore location- WhileAmerica was succumbing to discosludge and pompous hair bands,Paris was obviously the place toboogie. Alan Waters