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1.
ROSA’S
STRUT
(instumental)
(P. Lacocque, Ransart Music,
BMI)
2. 19
YEARS OLD
(J. Oden, Arc Music Corp.,
BMI)
3. I’VE
GOT TO SLEEP WITH ONE EYE OPEN
(F. Knight, Malaco Music Co.,
BMI)
4. DIRTY
DEAL
(P. Lacocque, Ransart Music,
BMI)
5. HONEST
I DO
(J. Reed/Abner, Conrad Music,
a division of Arc Music Corp., BMI)
6. ROCK
STEADY
(A. Franklin, Springtime Music
Inc., BMI)
7. JUKIN’
(instrumental)
(P. Lacocque, Ransart Music,
BMI)
8. COLD,
COLD FEELING
(J.M. Robinson, MPL Communications,
ASCAP)
9. COOL
TWIST
(P. Lacocque, Ransart Music,
BMI)
10. SHE
AIN’T YOUR TOY
(P. Lacocque, Ransart Music,
BMI)
11. LISTEN
HERE
(instrumental)
(E. Harris, Seventh House Ltd, BMI) |
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From
the Liner notes by Matthew Socey
Welcome to Mississippi Heat, one of the most adaptable
blues bands in the world. I've seen Mississippi Heat as
a four piece in the back room of Jazz Record Mart in Chicago.
Later that same day, the band included a horn section
and female backup singers at the Chicago Blues Festival.
No matter what the size or the lineup, Mississippi Heat
is a perfect example of ensemble work.
If a band member can sing, that flavor is added to the
gumbo. Even when there's a special guest on an album (Billy
Boy Arnold, Carl Weathersby, Zora Young, Peter "Madcat"
Ruth and Ken Saydak have all felt the Heat), their musical
contribution blends right in.
The band has been in every kind of live situation in the
Chicago-land area. Heading around the Midwest, there are
places like The Knickerbocker Saloon in downtown Lafayette,
Indiana. Across the state, they're favorites at The Key
Palace Theater in Redkey (about half-hour northeast of
Muncie). They've also played France, Belgium, Holland,
Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Venezuela and Canada (including
The Montreal International Jazz Festival). The band were
even featured on national television, during a broadcast
of Monday Night Football. The game was in Indianapolis
and at the time, ABC would highlight a couple of host
city hot spots. The cameras showed St. Elmo's Steakhouse
and The Slippery Noodle Inn. As the voice-over was indicating
what the club was and did, there's a shot of bandleader
Pierre Lacocque on stage, wailing on harmonica.
Pierre Lacocque was born and lived in Israel with stints
in Belgium, France and Germany before arriving in Chicago
in the summer of '69 at the age of 17. That summer Pierre
got his blues baptism. According to Pierre, his papa gave
him his first harmonica at age 3 or 4. He had a good start
because of his young appreciation for the soul giants
of the '60s (Aretha, Otis, and Ray). By the time he arrived
in Chicago, he was washed over by the blues harp power
of his first concert: Big Walter Horton at Ida Noyes on
Dorchester and 58th. This was followed by a healthy blues
diet of Little Walter, Junior Wells, James Cotton and
Carey Bell. According to Pierre, it was older brother
and future Mississippi Heat manager Michel who persuaded
him to check out Junior Wells at Theresa's.
It's nice to see a family working together. Sister Elisabeth
has designed the band's album covers on previous recordings.
The next generation of Lacocques is also musicians in
various degrees. Talk about a Thanksgiving jam session.
After a college stint in Montreal (along with nourishment
of the music of John Mayall), Pierre returned to Chicago
where he raised a family and made a career in the non-music
world. All the while he was friends with fellow Chicago
musician Tad Robinson, whom he met at church, of all places.
See, there's always a link between Saturday night and
Sunday morning. Pierre was reintroduced to members of
the Chicago blues community. Mississippi Heat was born
in 1991 and has been continuing the city's blues heritage.
Pierre likes to try out a new song at every gig. That's
right. Every gig. He's constantly writing new material.
A tune like "Rosa's Strut", gives folks an instant
taste of what the evening holds in store. Like a good
boxer, he picks his harmonica punches instead of Blues
Traveling you to death with a flurry of notes. His playing
is smooth but can pack a wallop. Pierre Lacocque is the
blues equivalent to a bottle of Chimay.
Following in the grand tradition of female soul shouters
is Inetta Visor. The lady of the band since the band's
Footprints On The Ceiling, Visor is a Chicago storyteller
who can hold her own with the boys. She can sing gutbucket
blues and smack you with the bucket if need be. As she
mentions at Rosa's, "A true diva ain't scared to
sweat." Refreshing to hear since nowadays terms like
"Diva" and "Drama Queen" have become
euphemisms for "Great big pain in the …"
Mississippi Heat continues the fine tradition of Chicago
blues. Street harmonica, a bold lady vocalist, guitarists
and keyboards from deep in the city gelling with a rhythm
section that just won't quit. Plus the band's leader is
writing original material as you read this. In today's
blues times, it's real easy to put on a blues show with
all the greatest hits of the 50s and early 60s. It's real
easy to be a human jukebox and please the beer drinkers
in the house.
The band has an impressive lineup of alumni players including:
Billy Flynn, Sam Lay, Calvin Jones, Shirley Johnson, Ike
Anderson, Deitra Farr, Katherine Davis, George Baze, Bob
Stroger, Mary Lane, James Wheeler, and Robert Covington.
On July 18, 2005, Mississippi Heat was a septet at Rosa's.
Lurrie Bell (whose Delmark albums are also must-haves)
was the band's guest weapon on guitar and vocals. Mississippi
Heat and Delmark are a perfect fit. Both are time-honored
institutions, celebrating the past and spotlighting the
future. Enjoy.
----
Matthew Socey is host of THE BLUES HOUSE PARTY on WFYI
90.1 FM and a contributing writer for NUVO Newsweekly,
both in Indianapolis. His articles have appeared in Down
Beat, Blues Access, Big City Blues and Blues Revue. |
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