Willie Cobbs: Jukin’

Willie Cobbs is one of the funkiest singers and harmonica players in the blues today. For Jukin’ the Arkansas-born bluesman traveled to Memphis to record with soul maven Willie Mitchell, whose production work for the likes of Al Green, Ann Peebles, Otis Clay and O.V. Wright helped establish the instantly identifiable Hi Records sound. Utilizing Memphis brothers Teenie Hodges on guitar, Leroy on drums, Charlie on organ and Fred on piano, the two Willies-Cobbs and Mitchell-have come up with a soul-blues gem. That Hi Records magic comes across on “Feeling Good” and “Black Night.” Cobbs also fronts superb renditions of Little Walter’s “Mean Old World,” “Reconsider Baby” and Percy Mayfield’s classic “Please Send Me Someone to Love.” He burns his way through the rollicking, Southern-fried title track, goes toe-to-toe with chromatic harmonica ace John Weston on a dramatic reading of “Five Long Years” and ends on a humorous note with the jivey “I Don’t Know.”

Originally Published January 1, 2001