Of course, to some folks this is heresy but the Blues are either covered these day’s by compilations like the excellent The Rough Guide To The Blues or old hands like Sugar Blue. LeBlanc has 30+ years of experience coming to attention initially as a drummer at Sugarhill Records to currently touring with Mark Stewart (current cover feature on The Wire) & The Mafia (of On-U-Sound). As a remixer, his Malcolm X release of ‘No Sell Out’ was one of first of the sample records where he was years ahead of the times.

Back to the old days, can you make Little Walter’s classic ‘Boom Boom’ any better than the original? No. Can you improve, Jimmy Rogers, ‘Rock This House’? Yes you can as LeBlanc proves here. OK, the original will always be great but this remix version gets some hip-hop sensibilities to the beats and the guitar and vocal cut ups work really well. Another one that can get the head nodders going is Rosco Gordon’s ‘Booted’ with the repetitious cut of “Jack, have you ever been booted”; original also recommended as it surely belongs in Gaz Mayall’s Rockin’ Blues box of 45s. Also, Muddy Waters ‘I’m So Glad Your Mine’ gets into a proper groove and the funked up nyahbingi style of Memphis Slim’s ‘Mother Earth’ is getting to be my favourite.

One’s that ain’t so good are Etta James’ ‘My Dearest Darling’ and I’ve always disliked any version of ‘Jock A Mo’ (Iko Iko)’ whether it be from the original version made popular by The Dixie Cups to the otherwise excellent Zap Mama (as listened to by Karen P). That’s not bad and I’m sure Howlin’ Wolf is looking down and saying, “that’s not a bad version of ‘Killing Floor’ you know”. Especially when you think of those covers British R&B bands of the 60s did all those years ago, this is very respectful.

On the 25th June, LeBlanc teams up with his old Sugarhill pal Little Axe at the Womad festival (see preview HERE) for the Adrian Sherwood night that hopefully includes an appearance by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.

Whether your going to Womad or not, Chess Moves - Chess Remixed is sounder than a theoretical novelty opening and a bit of a grower; future blues - Boom Boom, out goes the lights!

Reviewed: Various - Chess Moves - Chess Remixed (with Keith LeBlanc) (Universal Music) Release date: June 2008
01. Howlin’ Wolf - Moanin’ At Midnight (3:31)
02. Little Walter - Boom, Boom Out Goes The Lights (3:35)
03. Muddy Waters - So Glad I’m Living (4:04)
04. Little Walter - Temperature (3:26)
05. Howlin’ Wolf - Killing Floor (4:09)
06. Memphis Slim - Mother Earth (5:35)
07. Jimmy Rogers - Rock This House (4:58)
08. Eddie Boyd - Third Degree (3:19)
09. Howlin’ Wolf - Goin’ Down Slow (4:36)
10. Rosco Gordon - Booted (3:30)
11. Etta James - My Dearest Darling (4:21)
12. Sugar Boy Crawford - Jock-A-Mo (5:16)

Links
www.keithleblanc.com
www.myspace.com/keithleblanc
www.last.fm/music/Rosco+Gordon “The Rosco Rhythm” places the accent on the off beats, and is widely cited as the foundation of Jamaican ska and reggae music.
www.thewire.co.uk July 2008 #293 On The Cover: Mark Stewart — The former Pop Group and Maffi a godfather talks up his new outernationalist album and warns against being absorbed into a consumerist ‘flatpack reality’
Recommend Mark Stewart + Mafia — Learning To Cope With Cowardice (On-U Sound) and the top track of last year, the Adam Sky vs. Mark Stewart remake of The Pop Group’s ‘We Are All Prostitutes’ (Exploited) with remixes by Crookers and Princess Superstar.
www.blackark.com
The Brook, Southampton 5th December 2005: Lee Scratch Perry, The Mad Professor & The ARIWA Posse 25th Anniversary Tour “I am particularly dissapointed to anounce that this show has been cancelled”.
Iko Iko @ wiki