Marshall Reynolds
b. 1921 or 1931 in Albany (Georgia)
d. December 29th, 1993 in Toledo (Ohio)
THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET TO HEAVEN
Third Street Cigar
September 1962 - 1965 / May 1987 / 1989
On ne sait pas grand chose de sa vie et de sa carrière. Influencé par Blind Lemon Jefferson, Fred Mac Dowell et Lightnin' Hopkins principalement, il apprend la guitare en autodidacte. Après avoir servi l'armée pendant la seconde guerre mondiale, il s'installe à Detroit et s'intègre dans la communauté blues de la ville. Il grave quelques simples dans les années 60 pour les labels Mah's ("Made it up in your mind" et son son de percussion), Hi-Q (le puissant "I had a little dog" et l'excitant "You won't treat me right") et Fortune ("Going down slow"). Au milieu des années 70, Jack déménage à Toledo (Ohio) où il continue son activité de musicien. Il fait notamment la connaissance des frères Art & Roman Griswold, des bluesmen locaux avec lesquels il se lie d'amitié. Ce CD - paru en 2019 - reprend la quasi-intégralité de l'oeuvre de cet obscur bluesman.
We do not know much about his life and his career. Influenced by Blind Lemon Jefferson, Fred Mac Dowell and Lightnin' Hopkins mainly, he is self-taught on guitar. After serving the army during the Second World War, he moved to Detroit and integrates into the blues community of the city. He cut a few singles in the 60's for the Mah's ("Made it up in your mind" and his percussion sound), Hi-Q (the powerful "I had a little dog" and the exciting "You won't treat me right") and Fortune ("Going down slow") labels. In the mid-1970's, Jack moved to Toledo (Ohio) where he continued his musician activity. In particular, he meets the brothers Art & Roman Griswold, local bluesmen with whom he befriends. This CD - released in 2019 - compiles almost all the work of this obscure bluesman.
HOT AS YOU GOT
Blue Suit
May 1987
Cet album est partagé entre Big Jack Reynolds et Art & Roman Griswold en compagnie du groupe The Fabulous Haircuts (Larry Gold, John Henry Newmark, Marcus Gray) pour le label local Blue Suit (basé à Toledo). Big Jack joue sur 5 morceaux de pur blues brut.
This album is shared between Big Jack Reynolds and Art & Roman Griswold with The Fabulous Haircuts (Larry Gold, John Henry Newmark, Marcus Gray) for local label Blue Suit (based in Toledo). Big Jack plays on 5 tracks of pure raw blues.
BROKE AND DISGUSTED
Highball (only on cassette)
THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET TO HEAVEN
Third Street Cigar
1989
Cassette enregistrée sous la supervision de Larry Gold. Jack chante, joue de la guitare et de l'harmonica. Derrière lui, un petit combo électrique efficace composé de Larry Gold (guitare), John Henry Newmark (basse), Chad Smith (piano), "Slim" Tim Gahagan (batterie). Blues terrien direct et sans fioriture pas nécessairement original mais vraiment efficace ("You better leave that woman alone", "Shame shame shame", "Mean old people"). Il a fallu attendre la parution de "That's a good way to get to heaven" en 2019 pour que ses faces soient disponibles en CD.
Cassette recorded under the supervision of Larry Gold. Jack sings, plays guitar and harmonica. Behind him, a small and effective electric combo composed of Larry Gold (guitar), John Henry Newmark (bass), Chad Smith (piano), "Slim" Tim Gahagan (drums). Down-home blues with no frills not necessarily original but really effective ("You better leave that woman alone", "Shame shame shame", "Mean old people"). It was not until the release of "That's a good way to get to heaven" in 2019 that those sides are available on CD.