Otis Spann – Is the Blues

Description

180G VIRGIN VINYL LIMITED EDITION COMPLETE ALBUM + BONUS TRACK. Widely considered the leading postwar Chicago Blues pianist, and best known for his extensive work in Muddy Waters’ group, Mississippi-born Otis Spann grew up under the tutelage of Big Maceo Merriweather and mastered the pounding barrelhouse piano style that Maceo brought with him to Chicago.

During his tragically short life, Spann was a member of the Chess label house-band that backed not only Waters, but also Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, Little Walter, Junior Wells, Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, and Lowell Fulson, among others.

Otis Spann Is the Blues, recorded for the Candid label in 1960, was Spann’s debut LP as a leader – an intimate duo session with guitarist Robert Lockwood Jr. They both share vocals and there are two solo piano performances by Spann included.