November 1999

Various Artists
Violin Play the Blues for Me
Old Hat Enterprises

By Duck Baker

This glorious compilation is devoted to recordings by early black fiddlers, mostly in jug band or blues contexts. Devotees of these styles will recognize names like Howard Armstrong and Lonnie Chatman, and the beautiful packaging, excellent sound, and largely unfamiliar program make it a "must" for that crowd. But anyone interested in hearing the forbears of jazz violin, or Lonnie Johnson on his first instrument, or just great good-time music, should also seek this one out.