Aaron Corthen
b. May 9th, 1926 in Wendell (Missouri)
d. February 24th, 2004 in Chicago (Illinois)
EARLY RECORDINGS
Blue Eye blog (only on mp3)
June 1961 - 1970
Après avoir essayé brièvement plusieurs instruments, il se tourne vers le saxophone dont il devient rapidement un des meilleurs spécialistes. Arrivé à Chicago durant les années 40, il joue aux côtés de Willie Mabon et surtout d'Earl Hooker. Avec ce dernier, dès 1961, il va démarrer une carrière en leader pour le label Age de Mel London avec des morceaux intéressants comme "This little voice", "I wanna be free", "That ain't right", "I stay mad". A.C. Reed propose aussi un excellent simple pour USA ("I'd rather fight than switch" et "I got money to burn") en 1965. L'année suivante, il joue pour les labels Cool ("My baby is fine") et Nike (l'instrumental "Boogaloo tramp"). Il propose encore un simple pour TDS vers 1969-70. Mais, en dépit de cette première et prometteuse oeuvre, A.C. Reed reste encore beaucoup plus un sideman réputé qu'un vrai leader. D'ailleurs, il devient le saxophoniste attitré de Buddy Guy entre 1967 et 1977. Ces titres ont été rassemblés par Gérard Herzhaft sur son blog Blue Eye.
After briefly trying his hand at several instruments, he turned to the saxophone, quickly becoming one of its finest exponents. Upon arriving in Chicago in the 1940's, he played alongside Willie Mabon and, most notably, Earl Hooker. With the latter — beginning in 1961 — he launched a career as a leader for Mel London’s Age label, recording interesting tracks such as "This little voice", "I wanna be free", "That ain't right", "I stay mad". In 1965, A.C. Reed also released an excellent single for the USA label ("I'd rather fight than switch" and "I got money to burn"). The following year, he recorded for the Cool label ("My baby is fine") and the Nike label (the instrumental "Boogaloo tramp"). Around 1969–70, he released another single for TDS. Yet, despite this promising early body of work, A.C. Reed remained far better known as a highly regarded sideman than as a true leader. Indeed, he served as Buddy Guy’s regular saxophonist from 1967 to 1977. These tracks have been compiled by Gérard Herzhaft on his blog, Blue Eye.
AT THE NEW MORNING BLUES FESTIVAL
Cat
March 1979
Alors membre des Icebreakers d'Albert Collins, A.C. Reed chante l'excellent "Going to New York" lors de ce festival suisse.
Then a member of Albert Collins' Icebreakers, A.C. Reed sings the excellent "Going to New York" at this swiss festival.
LIVING CHICAGO BLUES vol.4 (lp) / vol.3 (cd)
Alligator
Sonet
1979
Dans la célèbre série supervisée par Bruce Iglauer pour documenter la scène chicagoane de l'époque co-financée par Alligator et Sonet, A.C. Reed propose quatre superbes titres : "Hard times", "She's fine", "Moving out of the ghetto" et "Going to New York". Pour l'occasion, il est supporté par son nouveau groupe les Spark Plugs (Larry Burton, Phil Guy, Allen Batts, Aron Burton, Casey Jones). La renommée apportée par le succès de cette anthologie permit à A.C. Reed de se lancer dans une excellente mais tardive carrière en solitaire.
In the famous series supervised by Bruce Iglauer to document the Chicago scene co-financed by Alligator and Sonet, A.C. Reed contributes four superb tracks : "Hard times", "She's fine", "Moving out of the ghetto" and "Going to New York". For the occasion, he is backed by his new band, the Spark Plugs (Larry Burton, Phil Guy, Allen Batts, Aron Burton, Casey Jones). The renown gained from the success of this anthology enabled A.C. Reed to embark on an excellent — albeit belated — solo career.
TAKE THESE BLUES AND SHOVE 'EM
Ice Cube
August 1980
Saxophoniste attitré d'Albert Collins et dans une moindre mesure de Son Seals, A.C. Reed propose, ici, son premier album en solo. Il le produit en compagnie de son ami, batteur et producteur, Casey Jones. Un solide album de blues contemporain puissant avec de belles compositions personnelles comme "Things that get me off", "I got the blues", "I am fed up with this music" (qui existe en deux versions), "My baby is fine" sans oublier l'excellente reprise de "Howling for my darling". Ce microsillon n'a jamais été réédité en CD.
As the regular saxophonist for Albert Collins — and, to a lesser extent, Son Seals — A.C. Reed presents his debut solo album here. He produced it alongside his friend, drummer and producer, Casey Jones. It is a solid, powerful contemporary blues record featuring fine original compositions such as "Things that get me off", "I got the blues", "I am fed up with this music" (existing in two versions), "My baby is fine" not to mention an excellent cover of "Howling for my darling". This LP has never been reissued in CD.
I GOT MONEY
Blue Phoenix
Black & Blue
Atlas
November 1985
En 1984, A.C. Reed s'associe avec le guitariste Maurice John Vaughn jouant en sa compagnie sur diverses scènes. Lors de la tournée du Chicago Blues Festival de l'année suivante, les deux hommes trouvent l'opportunité de graver un disque à Paris pour la marque Blue Phoenix. Dans celui-ci, les deux hommes se partagent les parties chantées accompagnés d'une belle section rythmique (Douglas Watson à la basse et Julian Vaughan à la batterie). Le saxophone rapeux de Reed se mariant fort bien à la guitare agile de Maurice sur "Boogie all night", "My buddy buddy friend", "This little voice", "Computer took my job", "Everything I do to be funky".
In 1984, A.C. Reed partners with guitarist Maurice John Vaughn playing with him on various stages. During the Chicago Blues Festival tour the following year, the two men found the opportunity to record a full album in Paris for the Blue Phoenix imprint. They share the vocal parts accompanied by a fine rhythm section (Douglas Watson on bass and Julian Vaughan on drums). Reed's raspy saxophone marrying well with the agile guitar of Maurice on "Boogie all night", "My buddy buddy friend", "This little voice", "Computer took my job", "Everything I do to be funky".
I'M IN THE WRONG BUSINESS
Alligator
Sonet
1987
Pour le label Alligator de Bruce Iglauer, A.C. Reed propose, une fois encore, un album rempli de solides compositions personnelles comme "I'm in the wrong business", "I can't go on this way" (avec Stevie Ray Vaughan), "Fast food Annie", "She's fine" (avec Bonnie Raitt), "Don't drive drunk". En fin de programme, on trouve trois titres provenant de l'anthologie "Living Chicago Blues".
For Bruce Iglauer’s Alligator label, A.C. Reed delivers another album packed with solid original compositions such as "I'm in the wrong business", "I can't go on this way" (featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan), "Fast food Annie", "She's fine" (featuring Bonnie Raitt), "Don't drive drunk". The album concludes with three tracks taken from the "Living Chicago Blues" anthology.
LIVE
Ice Cube
1982 / June 1989
Ce CD live, supervisé par A.C. Reed et son manager Stan Jones, rassemble des titres live capturé en 1982 et 1989 (une retransmission radiophonique du Chicago Blues Festival). Un contenu sympathique malgré quelques longueurs et une qualité sonore satisfaisante.
This live CD, supervised by A.C. Reed and his manager Stan Jones, brings together live tracks captured in 1982 and 1989 (a radio broadcast from the Chicago Blues Festival). It makes for an enjoyable listen, despite a few drawn-out moments, and the sound quality is satisfactory.
CHICAGO BLUES SESSION vol.14
Wolf
October 1989
Dans cette anthologie Wolf, on trouve cinq excellents morceaux chantés par A.C. Reed en particulier "I ain't doin' too bad", "I got the blues" et "I'm a jealous man". L'autre moitié du CD est dévolue à Golden "Big" Wheeler.
This Wolf anthology features five excellent tracks sung by A.C. Reed, most notably "I ain't doin' too bad", "I got the blues" and "I'm a jealous man". The other half of the CD is devoted to Golden "Big" Wheeler.
JUNK FOOD
Ice Cube
Delmark
1981 / 1996
Sorti par le label Ice Cube mais rapidement réédité par Delmark, l'album est produit par A.C. Reed et Stan Jones (son manager). Il a été enregistré entre le Canada et les Etats-Unis. On a exhumé, tout d'abord, deux excellents titres live de 1981 avec la présence d'Albert Collins à la guitare ("Broke music", "I got mad"). Comme à son habitude, A.C. Reed a composé tous les titres (à l'exception d'une sympathique reprise du "Roadhouse blues" des Doors) livrant une belle tranche de Chicago Blues contemporain avec, en particulier, "Junk food", "The president plays", "Florine", "Lonely man", "You're going to miss me", "Fed up".
Released by the Ice Cube label but soon reissued by Delmark, the album was produced by A.C. Reed and his manager Stan Jones. It was recorded in both Canada and the United States. The collection includes two excellent live tracks from 1981 featuring Albert Collins on guitar ("Broke music", "I got mad"). As is his custom, A.C. Reed composed all the songs (with the exception of a nice cover of The Doors' "Roadhouse blues") delivering a fine slice of contemporary Chicago blues, most notably on tracks such as "Junk food", "The president plays", "Florine", "Lonely man", "You're going to miss me", "Fed up".