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LEARNED
THE HARD WAY
"Listening to
MISSISSIPPI HEAT'S latest album is the equivalent
of taking a joy ride in a time-machine back to Chicago,
circa 1950. … Normally, when I hear that someone
or some group is doing 'classic' blues, like they
did in the old days, I'm a bit suspicious. If they
have the emotions, they miss out on the musicality.
If they hit the music right on, the human element
is missing. But not with MISSISSIPPI HEAT. They
fire on all cylinders and keep me coming for more."
- SOUTHBEND BLUES SOCIETY
"Here we go again
blues lovers, CD number two from Chicago's MISSISSIPPI
HEAT. This disc is one that is hot, mellow, blue
and cool … This album introduces the heavenly
voice of Deitra Farr, a boatload of complimentary
adjectives could be used to credit her singing,
but all I can say is she casts a mystical spell
that causes me to melt. … Pierre Lacocque
is always there, playing chords and smooth riffs
that back up and snuggle all around the singers
without stepping on anyone's toes. Then when he
takes steps to the front stage to take his harp
solos – Wham – a few hot lightning bolts
of precision run right through with dead solid note
action, or wailing with a little dirt all the while
creating that killer tone that Chicago harp players
are known for."
- TELL IT LIKE IT IS (WISCONSIN BLUES SOCIETY)
"Bandleader Pierre
Lacocque has developed into a highly sensitive and
innovative harmonica player in his own right capable
of delivering powerful solos as well as riffing
effectively as part of the rhythm section. …
(Pierre's got) a style that took its influence from
the creative use of tone as illustrated by the two
Walters and refining the Jimmy Reed style of high
and low note combinations, gradually developing
an awesome technique that is as subtle as it is
powerful, often building his solos in sustained
single note bursts, always creating and rarely repeating
himself."
- BLUES LIFE JOURNAL
"MISSISSIPPI
HEAT has done it again. It proves ones again that
it not only is keeping the blues tradition alive
but expanding on it. … One of the things you
immediately notice about the stellar playing of
Pierre Lacocque is that his is more of an ensemble
effort than a harp player fronting a band. If you
listen to Pierre's playing, you get the impression
that with a coupe of swift blows he could overwhelm
the band. But he doesn't do that, and that's what
makes this harp player and this band different from
many. You don't feel the harp is dominating the
sound to the detriment of the players or singers."
- AMERICA HARMONICA NEWSLETTER
"If you like
the Chicago blues sounds of the '50s you will have
to have this CD. I can't praise it too highly, it's
megastonking. … All of (Deitra Farr's) vocals
are sublime".
- BLUES AND RHYTHM
"One of Chicago's
hottest straight-ahead blues bands, MISSISSIPPI
HEAT, scores with LEARNED THE HARD WAY."
- ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER
"It is difficult
to put together a blues band that is traditional
yet original, but that's what MISSISSIPPI HEAT has
done."
- JAM MAGAZINE
FRENCH REVIEWS
"MISSISSIPPI
HEAT, c'est ce qui est arrivé de mieux a
Chicago depuis le premier album de Lil' Ed and The
Blues Imperials. … Cette formation a le vent
dans les voiles. Cette formation, il faut la suivre.
Il faut entendre son dernier album, LEARNED THE
HARD WAY. … Si le blues a repris son droit
de cite, s'il repris du poil de la bête, c'est
grâce aux musiciens qui composent le MISSISSIPPI
HEAT. … Ce groupe de musiciens forme en fait
l'un des cinq meilleurs groupes de blues actuellement.
… FAMEUX"
- LE DEVOIR (MONTREAL)
"LEARNED THE
HARD WAY est un indiscutable bonheur pour les oreilles
avides de guitares rugueuses, d'harmonica brulant
et de voix chaudes … Deitra Farr est une extraordinaire
chanteuse…"
- LA TRIBUNE (SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC)
"MISSISSIPPI
HEAT mérite amplement qu'on s'y attarde.
… Pierre Lacocque fait partie des rares harmonicistes
blancs qui ont pleinement assimilé les leçons
de Walter Horton, Little Walter et les deux Sonny
Boy Williamson: puissance, ingéniosité
et finesse dans la construction de ses solos, discrétion
efficace dans ses riffs d'accompagnement."
- JAZZ IN TIME (LIEGE) |
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