Biography

-2009-

“Blues, deep and raw and honest. Right here, don’t go no further. Louisiana Red and David Maxwell are today’s recognized masters of the ‘Old School.’ They inspire each other and bring the magic of the legends who were their teachers and friends. Muddy Waters and Otis Spann would love this album.”
– Bob Margolin

Award-winning blues pianist DAVID MAXWELL teams up with longtime friend, slidemaster LOUISIANA RED for an untamed session of original songs and stories that recalls back rooms, roadhouses, and the earliest days of Chicago blues. Red is at his spontaneous best, and Maxwell complements and solos with sensitivity, fire and originality.

This is a long-overdue collaboration between two of the deepest bluesmen alive. David Maxwell and Louisiana Red met each other in the early 70s, when David was touring with Freddie King. Their paths would continue to cross in the decades that followed, and although they became good friends and often performed together, this is their first pure duo recording, and it summons the fire and spirit of the greatest days of Chicago blues.

Louisiana Red moved to Chicago in the early 50s, after serving in the Korean War. He made some recordings on Checker, backed up by Little Walter and Muddy Waters. Strongly influenced by Lightnin’ Hopkins, Arthur Crudup and Muddy Waters, he soon found his own voice and guitar style. He went on to play with Otis Spann, Jimmie Rogers and Baby Leroy Foster before striking off on his own. In a career spanning over half a century, Red has played with virtually every major bluesman, and released many critically-acclaimed CDs. In 1983 he won a W.C. Handy Award as best traditional blues artist. Red now makes his home in Germany, but continues to travel to worldwide stages, where he is always welcomed as one of the real living legends of the blues.

David Maxwell met the blues in his hometown of Boston in the 60s, when artists like Muddy Waters and Otis Spann came through town. Soon he was sitting in with Muddy and touring with Freddie King, Bonnie Raitt, James Cotton, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Johnny Adams, Ronnie Earl and others. Over the years David has gained the respect of artists, critics and fans and has established a reputation as one of the finest blues pianists alive. In the last decade alone David has received over half dozen Blues Music (W.C. Handy) and Grammy nominations and a Grammy award for his work with James Cotton. David has performed on dozens of records, and released his own albums on Tone-Cool, 95 North and Blue Max Records.