John Thomas Wrencher

b. February 12th, 1923 in Sunflower (Mississippi)

d. July 15th, 1977 in Clarksdale (Mississippi)

MODERN CHICAGO BLUES

Testament

1964

Originaire du Delta du Mississippi, il apprend l'harmonica en autodidacte encore enfant. Au début des années 40, il devient musicien itinérant à travers les états du sud. John s'installe finalement à Chicago. Il passe aussi par Detroit où il joue avec "Baby Boy" Warren. En 1958, il est victime d'un grave accident de voiture qui le prive de son bras gauche. Devenu un musicien régulier du marché de Maxwell Street à Chicago, il est enregistré par Norman Dayron et Pete Welding et propose le superbe "I'm going to Detroit" accompagné de la mandoline de Johnny Young.

A native of the Mississippi Delta, he taught himself to play the harmonica as a child. In the early 1940's, he became a traveling musician throughout the southern states. John eventually settled in Chicago. He also spent time in Detroit where he played with "Baby Boy" Warren. In 1958, he was involved in a serious car accident that resulted in the loss of his left arm. Becoming a regular musician at the Maxwell Street Market in Chicago, he was recorded by Norman Dayron and Pete Welding and released the superb "I'm going to Detroit" accompanied by Johnny Young on mandolin.

AND THIS IS MAXWELL STREET

P-Vine

Rooster

LIVE ON MAXWELL STREET

Bullseye

September - October 1964

Dans cette superbe anthologie qui capture les bluesmen du marché de Maxwell Street, on peut entendre trois fabuleux morceaux de pur Chicago Blues joués par Big John Wrencher accompagné notamment par Robert Nighthawk : "Can't hold out much longer", "Lucille" et "Love you tonight". On peut entendre un quatrième morceaux dans la version CD de "Live on Maxwell Street" (édité par Bullseye) de Robert Nighthawk.

This superb anthology capturing the bluesmen of Maxwell Street market features three fabulous tracks of pure Chicago blues played by Big John Wrencher accompanied by Robert Nighthawk : "Can't hold out much longer", "Lucille" and "Love you tonight". A fourth track can be heard on the CD version of Robert Nighthawk's "Live on Maxwell Street" (released by Bullseye).

MAXWELL STREET ALLEY BLUES

Barrelhouse

Blue Sting

P-Vine

September 1969

Cet album fut enregistré avec des moyens de fortune par le collectionneur George Paulus et restitue à merveille l'ambiance brute du marché de Maxwell Street. On peut écouter un Chicago Blues, primitif et diablement excitant, intense et prenant, tout au long du disque. Bon chanteur et harmoniciste plein de feeling (malgré son infirmité), Big John Wrencher est accompagné du guitariste "Little" Buddy Thomas et du batteur "Playboy" Vinson. On apprécie notamment dans ce programme inoubliable "Maxwell Street alley blues", "Back porch boogie", "Gonna bring down all my clothes", "Dust my bed", "Ha ha baby", "Conductor took my baby to Tennessee". La réédition CD Blue Sting ajoute trois titres inédits et a renommé certains morceaux. Superbe dessin de pochette de Robert Crumb.

This album was recorded with a shoestring budget by collector George Paulus and perfectly captures the raw atmosphere of the Maxwell Street market. You can listen to a primitive and incredibly exciting Chicago Blues, intense and captivating, throughout the entire record. A good singer and harmonica player full of feeling (despite his disability), Big John Wrencher is accompanied by guitarist "Little" Buddy Thomas and drummer "Playboy" Vinson. Highlights of this unforgettable program include "Maxwell Street alley blues", "Back porch boogie", "Gonna bring down all my clothes", "Dust my bed", "Ha ha baby", "Conductor took my baby to Tennessee". The Blue Sting CD reissue adds three previously unreleased tracks and has renamed some of the songs. Superb cover art by Robert Crumb.

HARPIN' ON IT

JSP

September 1969

Dans cette anthologie, on trouve un titre ("Now darlin'") provenant initialement de la séance organisée par George Paulus et restée inédite jusque là.

This anthology includes a track ("Now darlin'") originally from the session organized by George Paulus and which had remained unreleased until now.

CHICAGO STRING BAND

Testament

June 1966

Pete Welding réunit ici Carl Martin (violon, mandoline), John Lee Granderson (guitare), "Big" John Wrencher (harmonica) et Johnny Young (mandoline). Les quatre hommes chantent alternativement. Le but est de reproduire fidèlement le son des string-bands des années 20 & 30. Agréable et varié, cet album possède de nombreux bons moments : "Don't sit your dog on me", "The sun is sinking low", "Weeping and moaning", "Hoodoo blues", "You got good business". Un disque qui mériterait d'être redécouvert.

Pete Welding brings together here Carl Martin (violin, mandolin), John Lee Granderson (guitar), "Big" John Wrencher (harmonica) and Johnny Young (mandolin). The four men sing alternately. The goal is to reproduce faithfully the sound of the string-bands of the 20's & 30. Pleasant and varied, this album has many good moments : "Don't sit your dog on me", "The sun is sinking low", "Weeping and moaning", "Hoodoo blues", "You got good business". A record that deserves to be rediscovered.

AMERICAN BLUES LEGENDS '74

Big Bear

February - April 1974

Big John Wrencher put, à deux reprises, venir jouer sur le sol européen en 1973 et 1974. La première fois lors de la tournée du Chicago Blues Festival et la seconde lors de la tournée de l'American Blues Legends aux côtés d'Eddie Taylor, Doctor Ross et Cousin Joe. Dans l'album de la tournée, on peut écouter deux excellents titres : "Big John's boogie" et surtout "I'm a root man".

Big John Wrencher had the opportunity to play in Europe twice in 1973 and 1974. The first time was during the Chicago Blues Festival tour, and the second was during the American Blues Legends tour alongside Eddie Taylor, Doctor Ross, and Cousin Joe. The tour album features two excellent tracks : "Big John's boogie" and especially "I'm a root man".

BIG JOHN'S BOOGIE

Big Bear

Castle

February - April 1974

La tournée de l'American Blues Legends organisée par Jim Simpson donna lieu à l'enregistrement de cet album. Big John Wrencher y est accompagné par le guitariste Eddie Taylor et des musiciens anglais. Une belle tranche de Chicago Blues, superbement jouée, pleine de feeling sur des titres comme "Third degree", "Trouble makin' woman", "Lonesome in my cabin", "Telephone blues". Il décède brutalement d'un arrêt cardiaque en juillet 1977 lors d'un voyage familial dans son Mississippi natal.

The American Blues Legends tour, organized by Jim Simpson, led to the recording of this album. Big John Wrencher is accompanied by guitarist Eddie Taylor and english musicians. A beautiful slice of Chicago blues, superbly played and full of feeling on tracks like "Third degree", "Trouble makin' woman", "Lonesome in my cabin", "Telephone blues". He died suddenly of a heart attack in july 1977 during a family trip to his native Mississippi.