George Carter Buford Jr
b. November 10th, 1929 in Hernando (Mississippi)
d. October 11th, 2011 in Minneapolis (Minnesota)
SHADES OF FOLK BLUES
Folk Art
THE EXCITING HARMONICA SOUND OF MOJO BUFORD
Blues Record Society
June 1963
Originaire du Mississippi, George joue de l'harmonica depuis l'enfance grâce à son père. Basé à Memphis, puis à Chicago dès 1952, il forme son propre groupe les Savage Boys. Influencé par Little Walter, il joue parfois aux côtés de Muddy Waters ("Mojo" Buford joue régulièrement avec Muddy durant les années 50 et 60). En 1962, il quitte Chicago et s'installe à Minneapolis. George joue alors avec les musiciens de la ville comme "Lazy" Bill Lucas et Jo Jo Williams. Il enregistre d'ailleurs pour quelques labels locaux de bonnes séances de Chicago Blues éditées confidentiellement. Chanteur à la voix rocailleuse et harmoniciste efficace, il délivre, en particulier, "Slim and trim mama", "Come home baby", "Have you ever been mistreated", "Mojo's woman".
Originally from Mississippi, George has been playing the harmonica since childhood thanks to his father. Based in Memphis, then in Chicago since 1952, he formed his own band, the Savage Boys. Influenced by Little Walter, he sometimes played alongside Muddy Waters ("Mojo" Buford played regularly with Muddy during the 1950's and 1960's). In 1962, he left Chicago and settled in Minneapolis. George then played with local musicians like "Lazy" Bill Lucas and Jo Jo Williams. He also recorded some good Chicago Blues sessions for a few local labels, which were confidentially released. A singer with a gravelly voice and an effective harmonica player, he delivered, in particular, "Slim and trim mama", "Come home baby", "Have you ever been mistreated", "Mojo's woman".
RAY CHARLES ON STAGE AT THE PALLADIUM
Vernon
June 1963
Curieusement, ce disque édité par le label new yorkais Vernon rassemble plus de morceaux de "Mojo" Buford que de Ray Charles (seulement 2 titres) comme la pochette l'annonce. Il s'agit de morceaux provenant des mêmes séances que le LP Folk-Art. On y retrouve ce même Chicago Blues efficace dans "Mojo woman", "Steal my chicken", "Somebody knockin'", "Chi four blues".
Curiously, this album, released by the New York-based label Vernon, features more tracks by "Mojo" Buford than by Ray Charles (only 2 tracks), as the cover suggests. These are tracks from the same sessions as the Folk-Art LP. The same effective Chicago blues can be found in "Mojo woman", "Steal my chicken", "Somebody knockin'", "Chi four blues".
BLUES OBSCURITIES vol.2 : LONESOME HARMONICA
London
1965
Cette anthologie reprend un simple paru initialement sur le label Bangar constitué de deux bons titres : "Whole lotta woman" et "Messin' with the kid".
This anthology features a single originally released on the Bangar label, consisting of two good tracks : "Whole lotta woman" and "Messin' with the kid".
MOJO WORKIN'
Americana Anthropology
September - December 1969
Edité en 2020, ce CD reprend des séances initialement pour le label Metrobeat (apparemment certains titres étaient à l'époque parus en simple). Mojo se montre en forme au chant et à l'harmonica mais ses accompagnateurs (Lonnie Knight et Larry Hoffman) ne se montrent guère inspirés. Du coup, la tracklist s'avère très inégale allant du mauvais ("Lost love", "Got my mojo working") au sympathique ("Rag picker's blues").
Released in 2020, this CD features sessions originally recorded for the Metrobeat label (apparently some tracks were then released as singles). Mojo is in fine form on vocals and harmonica but his sidemen (Lonnie Knight and Larry Hoffman) are not inspired at all. As a result, the tracklist is very uneven, ranging from bad ("Lost love", "Got my mojo working") to nice ("Rag picker's blues").
MOJO BUFORD'S CHICAGO BLUES SUMMIT
Mr Blues
Rooster
P-Vine
February 1979
Mojo Buford reste actif pendant les années 70 dans la région de Minneapolis où il habite. Il enregistre sporadiquement pour divers petits labels dans l'indifférence et joue parfois derrière Muddy Waters. Cette séance gravée sous la supervision de Steve Wisner va lui permettre de se placer enfin sur le devant de la scène. Enregistré dans de bonnes conditions avec d'excellents musiciens (Sammy Lawhorn, "Pee Wee" Madison, "Little" Smokey Smothers, Sam Lay), ce disque présente Mojo en grande forme (même s'il n'occupe pas toujours la position de leader). Une tracklist consistante de pur Chicago Blues dont on peut ressortir "Deep sea diver", "Devil's love sin", "Don't go no farther", "Watch dog". L'édition CD japonaise de P-Vine ajoute deux titres inédits.
Mojo Buford remained active throughout the 1970's in the Minneapolis area where he lived. He recorded sporadically for various small labels for little attention, and sometimes backing Muddy Waters. This session, recorded under the supervision of Steve Wisner, finally allowed him to be back to the front stage. Recorded under excellent conditions with remarkable musicians (Sammy Lawhorn, "Pee Wee" Madison, "Little" Smokey Smothers, Sam Lay), this album presents Mojo in great form (even if he doesn't always occupy the leader position). A consistent tracklist of pure Chicago blues highlights include "Deep sea diver", "Devil's love sin", "Don't go no farther", "Watch dog". The japanese P-Vine CD edition adds two previously unreleased tracks.
TRIBUTE TO MUDDY WATERS
Isabel
November 1983
Ce disque a été enregistré pendant la tournée française Chicago Blues Legends '84. Il rassemble Phil Guy et Mojo Buford (quatre titres chacun en leader), accompagnés par les autres artistes de la tournée (Syl Johnson, Cash Mac Call, Nick Charles, Ray Allison), et est dédié à Muddy Waters. Mojo propose des reprises convaincantes de "Good morning little school girl" et "Hoochie coochie man".
This album was recorded during the Chicago Blues Legends '84 french tour. It features Phil Guy and Mojo Buford (four songs each as leader), accompanied by the other artists on the tour (Syl Johnson, Cash Mac Call, Nick Charles, Ray Allison), and is dedicated to Muddy Waters. Mojo offers convincing covers of "Good morning little school girl" and "Hoochie coochie man".
BACK HOME TO CLARKSDALE
Icehouse
April 1988
A l'initiative de John Mohead (patron du Cotton Exchange Club), une réunion d'ex-membres du groupe de Muddy Waters est organisée sur une scène de Clarksdale pour lever des fonds pour le Delta Blues Museum (fondé par Sid Graves). Pinetop Perkins est ici l'indiscutable leader du groupe composé de "Mojo" Buford, Louis Myers, Bob Stroger et Ted Harvey. On retient notamment "Pinetop's boogie", "For you my love", "I got my mojo working", "Lend me your love" parmi d'autres.
On the initiative of John Mohead (boss of the Cotton Exchange Club), a meeting of ex-members of Muddy Waters' band is held on a Clarksdale stage to raise money for the Delta Blues Museum (founded by Sid Graves). Pinetop Perkins is the undisputed leader of this group consisting of "Mojo" Buford, Louis Myers, Bob Stroger and Ted Harvey. We can point out "Pinetop's boogie", "For you my love", "I got my mojo working", "Lend me your love" among others.
STATE OF THE BLUES HARP
JSP
October 1989
A l'occasion d'une tournée en Grande-Bretagne, Mojo trouve l'opportunité de graver un album complet pour le label JSP de John Stedman. Il délivre une bonne tranche de Chicago Blues traditionnel mais solide comme sur les titres "Picking rags", l'instrumental "Mo's stroll", "I'm a bluesman" (simple démarquage de "Mannish boy"), "Jack Potato boogie". Dans les rééditions CD, on trouve un titre inédit supplémentaire ainsi que des morceaux enregistrés pour la BBC (voir après).
During a British tour, Mojo found the opportunity to record a full album for John Stedman's JSP label. He delivers a good slice of traditional but solid Chicago blues with titles such as "Picking rags", the instrumental "Mo's stroll", "I'm a bluesman" (a simple reworking of "Mannish boy"), and "Jack Potato boogie". The CD reissues feature one additional previously unreleased track as well as tracks recorded for the BBC (see below).
THE PAUL JONES RHYTHM & BLUES SHOW - THE AMERICAN GUESTS vol.3
JSP
October 1989
On trouve ici quatre morceaux enregistrés pour une émission radiophonique de la BBC. Ils furent repris sur les rééditions de l'album "State of the blues harp". Parmi eux, on retient une puissante version de l'instrumental "Mo's stroll" et également "Deep sea diver".
Here we find four tracks recorded for a BBC radio broadcast. They were included on reissues of the "State of the blues harp" album. Among them are a powerful version of the instrumental "Mo's stroll" and also "Deep sea diver".
HARPSLINGER
Blue Loon
February 1991 / September - December 1992
Alors que Mojo est retourné vivre à Memphis en 1986, il reste très attaché à Minneapolis où il a enregistré ce disque pour le label local Blue Loon. Avec le producteur Pat Dawson et de solides sidemen, il propose une tracklist consistante et excitante : l'excellent instrumental "Harpslinger", "Once upon a time", "Pink champagne", "Champagne and reefer" parmi d'autres.
While Mojo returned to live in Memphis in 1986, he remains deeply attached to Minneapolis, where he recorded this album for the local label Blue Loon. With producer Pat Dawson and solid sidemen, he offers a consistent and exciting tracklist : the excellent instrumental "Harpslinger", "Once upon a time", "Pink champagne", "Champagne and reefer" among others.
STILL BLOWIN' STRONG
Blue Loon
October 1994 / January 1995
Pour ce second album chez Blue Loon, Mojo Buford travaille de nouveau avec le producteur Pat Dawson mais est, cette fois, associé aux musiciens des Senders. Comme pour l'album précédent, on apprécie le blues direct et puissant de l'harmoniciste dans "Married woman blues", "Harp blast", "Walkin' down Beale Street" ou encore dans sa sympathique reprise de "In my younger days".
For this second album on Blue Loon, Mojo Buford works again with producer Pat Dawson, but this time he joins forces with the musicians of The Senders. As with the previous album, we appreciate the harmonica player's direct and powerful blues in "Married woman blues", "Harp blast", "Walkin' down Beale Street" and his nice cover of "In my younger days".
HOME IS WHERE MY HARP IS
Blue Loon
1998
Il s'agit du troisième et dernier opus pour le label Blue Loon de Minneapolis. Cependant, ici, Mojo Buford et ses musiciens apparaissent notablement moins inspirés que sur les deux précédents albums malgré quelques bons moments.
This is the third and final album for the Minneapolis-based Blue Loon label. However, here, Mojo Buford and his musicians appear notably less inspired than on their two previous albums despite some good moments.
CHAMPAGNE AND REEFER
Fedora
September 1998
Cet album live fut enregistré lors de deux soirées au Rhythm Room de Phoenix à l'initiative de Bob Corritore et de Bob Margolin. Mojo Buford s'y montre en forme à l'harmonica et chante avec sa voix rocailleuse. Il joue, soit en duo avec Margolin, soit accompagné d'un groupe complet, des reprises de son mentor Muddy Waters. Un bon moment de Chicago Blues traditionnel.
This live album was recorded over two nights at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix thanks to Bob Corritore and Bob Margolin. Mojo Buford is in fine form on harmonica and sings with his raspy voice. He plays, either in duets with Margolin or accompanied by a full band, covers of his mentor Muddy Waters. A nice moment of traditional Chicago blues.
RHYTHM ROOM BLUES
Hightone
September 1998
Dans cette anthologie, on trouve un morceau live issu des mêmes concerts que "Champagne and reefer", une reprise de "In my younger days".
This anthology features a live track from the same concerts as "Champagne and reefer", a cover of "In my younger days".
BLUES AIN'T A COLOR
KPN Beat
2005
Toujours en forme à plus de 75 ans, Mojo Buford est ici associé avec le guitariste Don Mac Minn pour un set de Chicago Blues beaucoup trop traditionnel. La tracklist est essentiellement de reprises qui, bien que correctement jouées, ont déjà été entendues bien souvent.
Still going strong at over 75, Mojo Buford teams up with guitarist Don Mac Minn for a far too traditional Chicago blues set. The tracklist is mostly covers that, though well-played, have been heard many times before.
FOUR DECADES OF MOJO BUFORD
KPN Beat
2007