The American Folk Blues Festival tours of Europe educated an entire generation, and was how the youthful Jagger, Richards, Page, Beck, Winwood et al first got to see the likes of Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson in the flesh.
Recorded on three visits between 1963 and 1965, there are too many moments of transcendence on this double CD to mention them all. But in addition to John Lee and Sonny Boy’s mesmerising performances, try Muddy Waters solo and acoustic, Big Mama Thornton with a devastating “Hound Dog” and an antique dose of Sleepy John Estes, who was born in the Delta back in the 19th century.
More a masterclass than a concert.
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