Sunday, December 05, 1999
Local blues legend gets new hearing
BY LARRY NAGER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When Albert Washington died on Oct. 23, 1998, it had been a long time since he had been active in the Cincinnati blues community. Sidelined by health problems, he was unable to take part in the '90s blues revival that saw such Washington proteges as Sweet Alice Hoskins regularly touring Europe.
His importance to the local blues scene easily could have been forgotten, particularly because his recorded output was sporadic at best.
But this new CD from the British Ace label sets that situation to right, collecting 25 songs from his earliest, most fertile recording period with the local Fraternity and Jewel labels.
He's remembered as a bluesman, but his soulful side gets most of the spotlight here. Beginning with his first Fraternity session 32 years ago this month, Dec. 11, 1967, the recordings showcase his high-pitched, yearning, gospel-inflected voice.
It was the day after his idol Otis Redding died in a plane crash, and Mr. Washington pays tribute, covering his “These Arms of Mine.”
He shows his lighter, pop side on “A Woman is a Funny Thing.” He gets into funky rhythms on “Bring It On Up” and “Hold Me Baby,” seemingly inspired by James Brown, then recording at King Records in Evanston. The latter features an extended guitar solo by his fellow Fraternity artist Lonnie Mack.
His gospel side shines on “He's Got the Whole World (in His Hands)” and “Lonely Mountain.”
But the song he's best known for is a pure blues. Credited to Fraternity's owner Harry Carlson, “Turn on the Bright Lights” features more of Mr. Mack's trademark lead guitar. With Mr. Washington in full, crying blues mode and Mr. Mack matching his passion in blistering, bent notes, it's easy to see how this powerful performance drew the attention of the young Jerry Garcia, who covered it on his 1974 Garcia CD.
He needn't have bothered. The definitive version was cut for Fraternity. It's a perfect memorial to one of Cincinnati music's all-time greats.
Blues & Soul Man is an exemplary retrospective, with affectionate liner notes by former Cincinnatian Steve Tracy and lots of vintage photos.
Unfortunately, the import CD may be hard to find, a final grim irony in the life of this underappreciated blues and soul man. (If your local store doesn't have it, you can find it online at amazon.com and towerrecords.com.)
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