The title
The King of Chicago Blues Piano
is no joke -- while never achieving the level of fame won by many of his contemporaries,
Big Maceo Merriweather
was indeed a major force behind the development of the Windy City sound, and these 1940s sides, cut in collaboration with guitarist
Tampa Red
, remain his most enduring legacy. Combining startling instrumental proficiency with a
traditional blues
sensibility,
Maceo
was also a powerful vocalist; despite recording just 28 sides -- all but three of which are included here -- he was still a pivotal figure, bridging the
country blues
of the '20s with the urbanized electric sound of the '50s. Among the highlights: the instrumental closer
"Chicago Breakdown,"
an instrumental tribute to his incredible prowess, and
"Worried Life Blues,"
later covered by
Chuck Berry
. ~ Jason Ankeny