Blues jam with John Primer at The Frequency
Scott Gordon
Blues jam host AJ Love (far right) lets guest John Primer have the spotlight.
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Mississippi-born bluesman John Primer’s set with guitarist AJ Love and band Tuesday at The Frequency kicked off Love’s planned run of happy-hour blues jams with venerable guests, and it’ll be a series worth following up on. Drummer Joey B. Banks and bassist Bruce Alford lead into the hour-long set with a swinging Chicago-blues shuffle, playing right into Primer’s easygoing confidence. Primer’s guitar leads—seasoned over the decades in gigs with the likes of Muddy Waters—don’t need to ramble too long to make their point, and even when he’s playing with a slide, each note pops through nice and clean, never rushed or slurred.
Love mostly seemed content to stay out of Primer’s way, taking a few solo runs here and there but mostly hanging back with modest rhythm parts. Harmonica player Joe Nosek (of the Cash Box Kings) honked his way to the front of the mix a little more often, but even that gave Primer a chance to teach a lesson. Primer’s rhythm playing gave Nosek plenty of room, then slid into some bright, graceful fills.
Though thoroughly un-showy in his black hat, button-up shirt, and vest, Primer let the attitude come through in his voice—a little elegance and a fair helping of grit—especially on the slow, steamy “They Call Me John Primer.” Primer closed out a few songs by cheerily telling the crowd, “And you know that’s right!” He paused to look pleased with himself, casually tossing his pick up and catching it the way a bored guy might toss a nickel.
The interplay loosened up a bit when local guitarist Don Rembert took Love’s place on a cheeky rendition of Willie Dixon’s “Built For Comfort.” Rembert just seemed more at ease, letting his leads and fills blend with Primer’s. The set peaked with the minor-key “Don’t Tell Me About Your Troubles.” Alford dropped some extra-low throbs on his five-string bass and Primer and Rembert took urgent, mournful solos, flipping the mood of an otherwise festive hour. It made for a traditional look at Chicago blues, and if this show was any indication, you can expect the series to provide some well-qualified perspective.
The Freqy Hour Open Blues jam continues with guest spots from Joe Nosek and Oscar Wilson (Jan. 20), Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith (Jan 27), and Billy Branch (Feb. 3). An open jam will follow each of the guest sets.
