Fred Bishti
b. February 14th, 1950 in Beirut (Lebanon)
d. June 8th, 2023
ALWAYS HOT
Topic
Indigo
February 1988
Passionné de musique, Otis étude l'anthropologie tout en jouant au sein du Bliss Blues Band au début des années 70. Il partage son temps entre son Liban natal, la Californie, le Texas et même la France. Après travaillé quelques années comme informaticien, il attire l'attention d'Alan Robinson, un agent, qui lui trouve un contrat d'enregistrement avec le label Topic de Tony Engle (sur la marque Special Delivery). Otis fait alors appel à son ami Joe Louis Walker pour produire l'album. Réalisé en trois jours, il s'agit d'un disque de Jump Blues avec une belle section cuivres. Otis s'y montre un guitariste précis ("Fix our love") mais ne chante pas (le chant est assuré par Earl Green).
Passionate about music, Otis studied anthropology while playing in the Bliss Blues Band in the early 70's. He divided his time between his native Lebanon, California, Texas and even France. After working for a few years as a computer scientist, he caught the attention of Alan Robinson, an agent, who found him a recording contract with Tony Engle's Topic label (on Special Delivery imprint). Otis then called on his friend Joe Louis Walker to produce the album. Made in three days, it's a Jump Blues record with a nice horn section. Otis shows up there a precise guitarist ("Fix our love") but does not sing (vocals by Earl Green).
HE KNOWS THE BLUES
Sequel
Fantasy
November 1990
Initialement, l'album avait été enregistré à Lyon pour le label français Rhésus de Jean Luc Suarez et Jacques Garcia. Mais finalement, c'est le label anglais Sequel de Bob Fisher qui publie l'album. Otis Grand y est en grande forme, étincelant et inspiré à la guitare et accompagné par un remarquable groupe (Dan Quinton, Marc Wilson, Steve Clayton, Peter Bogart, Mike Hobart, Lorenzo Parry, Peter Acock). La tracklist est très consistante avec en particulier "Things are getting harder to do", "You hurt me", "Grand style", "Leave that girl".
Initially, the album had been recorded in Lyon for the french label Rhésus of Jean Luc Suarez and Jacques Garcia. But finally, it is the english label Sequel of Bob Fisher which publishes the album. Otis Grand is in great shape, sparkling and inspired on guitar and accompanied by a remarkable backing band (Dan Quinton, Marc Wilson, Steve Clayton, Peter Bogart, Mike Hobart, Lorenzo Parry, Peter Acock). The tracklist is very consistent with in particular "Things are getting harder to do", "You hurt me", "Grand style", "Leave that girl".
BIG BLUES FROM TEXAS
JSP
April - May 1992
Après plusieurs années d'absence discographique, on retrouve Phillip Walker en grande forme musicale. Grâce à John Stedman et, surtout, Otis Grand (producteur, arrangeur et guitariste), il grave cet excellent album pour JSP. "Young devil", "She's gone", "Bluesmobile", "Don't leave me baby", "Play me some blues", "Insomnia", "Goodie train" sont inspirés et percutants. Phillip rend aussi un vibrant hommage à sa défunte épouse dans "Beatrice Beatrice" (elle est décédée en 1991), un titre co-écrit avec Larry Garner. Mention à la superbe section cuivres, les Oh Gee Horns (Peter Beck, Mike Hobart, Noel Norris).
After several years of discographical absence, we find Phillip Walker in fine musical form. Thanks to John Stedman and especially Otis Grand (producer, arranger and guitarist), he cut this excellent album for JSP. "Young devil", "She's gone", "Bluesmobile", "Don't leave me baby", "Play me some blues", "Insomnia", "Goodie train" are inspired and incisive. Phillip also pays tribute to his late wife in "Beatrice Beatrice" (she died in 1991), a title co-written with Larry Garner. Mention to the superb horn section, The Oh Gee Horns (Peter Beck, Mike Hobart, Noel Norris).
THE RETURN OF HONK
JSP
1993
La collaboration entre le saxophoniste Joe Houston et le guitariste Otis Grand ne fut pas facile - comme ce dernier l'a raconté au magazine Soul Bag - mais déboucha néanmoins sur un album correct. Un programme de Rhythm & Blues dévolu au saxophone de Joe Houston avec de superbes sidemen (Ray Gelato, Peter Beck, Neil Gouvin). On retient notamment "Big legged woman", "They killed crazy horse", "Blues for T-Bone".
The collaboration between saxophonist Joe Houston and guitarist Otis Grand was not easy - as the latter told Soul Bag magazine - but nonetheless resulted in a decent album. A Rhythm & Blues devoted to saxophone of Joe Houston with superb sidemen (Ray Gelato, Peter Beck, Neil Gouvin). We note in particular "Big legged woman", "They killed crazy horse", "Blues for T-Bone".
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
Sequel
1994
PERFUME & GRIME
Sequel
February 1996
Pour son troisième album pour Sequel, Otis a souhaité s'ouvrir à de nouvelles influences. Il enregistre à la Nouvelle Orléans et mélange son Blues à d'autres styles ou sonorités (Funk, Soul, Zydeco). On apprécie en particulier "Between heaven and hell", "Magic mood" (avec Al Rapone à l'accordéon), "Knock knock" (avec Eddie Bo au piano), "100 years" (avec la slide guitare de Joe Louis Walker), "She's got my dog", "Perfume & grime" (avec son introduction au bouzouki et un beau duel de guitare avec Luther Allison).
For his third album for Sequel, Otis wanted to open up to new influences. He records in New Orleans and mixes his Blues with other styles or sounds (Funk, Soul, Zydeco). We particularly appreciate "Between heaven and hell", "Magic mood" (with Al Rapone on accordion), "Knock knock" (with Eddie Bo on piano), "100 years" (with Joe Louis Walker's slide guitar ), "She's got my dog", "Perfume & grime" (with its bouzouki introduction and a nice guitar duel with Luther Allison).
GRAND UNION
Blueside
March 1998
Rassemblement de trois guitaristes - Anson Funderburgh, Otis Grand et Debbie Davies - sous l'égide du second pour un album dédié à la guitare blues. Dans un style Chicago ou West Coast et avec une belle section cuivres, ils gravent de superbes titres comme "There was a time", "The things I'd do for you", "Don't talk about me", "Rockin' daddy", "A little too late".
Gathering of three guitarists - Anson Funderburgh, Otis Grand and Debbie Davies - under the aegis of the second for an album dedicated to blues guitar. In a Chicago or West Coast style and with a nice horn section, they cut superb titles like "There was a time", "The things I'd do for you", "Don't talk about me", "Rockin' daddy", "A little too late".
LIVE ANTHOLOGY
Mystic
January 2000
Un premier album live qui offre un bon panorama de la musique d'Otis Grand notamment au travers de reprises variées et plutôt bien rendues (plusieurs morceaux de B.B. King mais aussi Magic Sam, Albert Collins). Le chant est l'oeuvre de "Brother" Ray Oakley.
A first live album which offers a good overview of the music of Otis Grand, notably through varied and rather well rendered covers (several tracks by B.B. King but also Magic Sam, Albert Collins). The vocals are by "Brother" Ray Oakley.
GUITAR BROTHERS
JSP
August 2001
Après une longue et superbe collaboration avec Verve, Joe Louis Walker se tourne vers le label anglais JSP. Associé avec le guitariste Otis Grand, il livre un album entièrement dominé par la guitare, les deux musiciens se lançant dans de nombreux duels. On peut retenir dans ce programme inégal "Imitation ice cream man", "I like it this way", "I'm getting drunk", "Rude women".
After a long and superb collaboration with Verve, Joe Louis Walker turns himself to the english label JSP. Associated with guitarist Otis Grand, he delivers an album entirely dominated by the guitar, the two musicians embarking on numerous duels. We can retain in this uneven program "Imitation ice cream man", "I like it this way", "I'm getting drunk", "Rude women".
HIPSTER BLUES
Bliss Street
2006
Pour cet album, Otis Grand a rassemblé autour de lui pas moins de six chanteurs différents ainsi que d'excellents sidemen chevronnés. On trouve de bons moments comme "I'm glad to go", "Never raise my hand", "Every girl I see", "Nutcracker rock", "The Memphis push".
For this album, Otis Grand gathered around him no less than six different singers as well as excellent seasoned sidemen. We find good moments like "I'm glad to go", "Never raise my hand", "Every girl I see", "Nutcracker rock", "The Memphis push".
BLUES '65
Maingate
2012
Ce nouvel album d'Otis Grand est consacré à l'année 1965 dans un style entre Blues et Rhythm & Blues. Malgré quelques longueurs, on trouve d'excellents morceaux tels que "Rumba conga twist", "I washed my hands in muddy water", "In your backyard", "Bad news blues on TV" dans lesquels Otis brille à la guitare.
This new album by Otis Grand is devoted to the year 1965 in a style between Blues and Rhythm & Blues. Despite some lengths, there are excellent pieces such as "Rumba conga twist", "I washed my hands in muddy water", "In your backyard", "Bad news blues on TV" in which Otis shines on guitar.