CORKY SIEGEL'S CHAMBER BLUES
Complementary Colors (Gadfly)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Corky Siegel is well-know to blues aficionados as one of the founding members of the Siegel-Schwall Blues Band, one of Chicago's better known blues bands to hit the scene in the 1970's. He's continued to break new musical ground by playing the blues with a chamber music quartet. Yes, that's right, chamber music as in classical music. In other words, Chamber Blues. Corky's newest CD on Gadfly, Complementary Colors, truly creates a music category all its own. Corky Siegel's newest CD, Complementary Colors, smashes musical conventions by featuring his expert harmonica alongside the West End String Quartet and it's a delight. Just listen to "Pizzicato Blue," with Frank Donaldson on percussion and Guillaume Combet and Rebecca McFaul on violin, along with Corky out front on harp, and you'll be hooked, particularly when Combet and McFaul pick their way through viola player Richard Halajian's energetic piece. "Downtown Blues, Opus 20" showcases Corky's harp, as wistful and evocative as ever, jammin' right alongside the quartet. Implausible, you say? Not after you've heard Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues' on their newest Gadfly release, Complementary Colors.

Special Thanks to Corky Siegel and Gadfly Records

Track List:

El Nino, Opus 18 * Aunt Lila's Suite: Complementary Colors, Opus 17; Burnt Sienna, Opus 14; Raw Umber, Opus 15; Slow Indigo, Opus 16 * It's Too Early in the Morning, Irene * Pizzicato Blue * Two Part Trilogy: Uptown Shoes, Opus 19; Downtown Blues, Opus 20 * Goodbye, California

(C) 1998 - Eric Steiner