Play or Sing Along with Chicago's Great Blues Men

Sittin’ In With The Greats is a seriously fun learning tool that offers a unique opportunity to play an instrument or sing with the artists who helped create Chicago blues and who remain pillars of the music in the Windy City and around the world. With 19 instrumental and vocal tracks to develop your vocal, accompaniment and soloing skills, Sittin’ In With The Greats uses a strictly aural instructional approach, emphasizing the concept that the best way to understand and get the feel of the blues is to hear it from the practitioners of the music and play it with them until it becomes natural.

Sittin’ In With The Greats provides both the chance to hear the “real thing” and the opportunity to practice and perform with the finest musicians of the genre. These artists include some of the greatest veteran blues singers in Chicago as well as the most sought after rhythm players on the scene. These players have also backed such Chicago blues stars as, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Albert Collins, Koko Taylor, James Cotton and many, many others.

The material on the CD ranges from the traditional Chicago blues of the 1950s’ post-war period to its modern present-day style. All of the major grooves that define Chicago blues are represented from the traditional shuffles, slow blues and mojo beats to Chicago funk styles.

The CD was created for all musicians regardless of personal experience, style, or choice of instrument. All but two of the tracks have both vocal and instrumental versions allowing one to practice the art of accompaniment as well as having a straight rhythm track over which to improvise and practice solos. The CD was produced so that guitar players wanting to practice rhythm chops can eliminate guitar tracks by turning the “balance” completely to the right; piano and organ players wanting only guitar for rhythm practice, turn it completely to the left. All others, including vocalists singing over the rhythm track can take advantage of the full band. Lyrics are provided to all songs.

Sittin’ In With The Greats other function is to turn a great rhythm section into a learning tool by using it as an example of how blues rhythm chops should be played. The rhythm section reinforces the notion that blues musicians will be playing far more rhythm than solos. In other words, the rhythm section reminds musicians that their primary responsibility is to make a band sound as together and tight as possible.

Since most of you can’t go down the street here in Chicago to sit in with artists like Magic Slim, Willie Kent, John Primer, or Little Smokey Smothers, we invite you, wherever you are, to take the stage, step into the spotlight, and sit in with the Greats!

Order Sittin' in With the Greats - The Chicago Blues Play Along CD AND THE GREATS SITTIN' IN - Chicago Blues Now!

Johnny B. Gayden has recorded or worked with Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Cary Bell, Otis Rush, Koko Taylor, Junior Wells, Billy Branch, Robert Cray, James Cotton, Johnny Copeland ...and many others

Ray Allison has recorded or worked with Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Dawkins, Koko Taylor, Buster Benton, Smilin' Bobby, Syl Johnson, Johnny Dollar, Jimmy Johnson, Sugar Blue, Cary Bell ...and many others

Mike Avery, one of Chicago's top vocalists, is in demand as a concert, club and studio singer.

Tim Austin has recorded or worked with Otis Rush, Luther Allison, John Primer, Eddy Clearwater, Sugar Blue, Mavis Staples, Pop Staples, Dr. John, James Cotton, Lefty Dizz, Jimmy Johnson, Otis Clay, Ann Peebles ...and many others

Al Brown has recorded or worked with Otis Rush, Koko Taylor, John Primer, Junior Wells, Louis Meyers, Johnnie Johnson, Lurrie Bell, Gloria Hardiman, B.B. Odem, Little Bobby, A.C. Reed, Little Smokey Smothers ...and many others

Johnny Iguana has recorded or worked with Junior Wells, Eddie Shaw, Otis Rush, Billy Branch, Koko Taylor, Carey Bell, Robert Covington, J.W. Williams, Dave Meyers, Byther smith

Roosevelt Purifoy has recorded or worked with Jimmy Johnson, Otis Rush, Little Milton, Koko Taylor, Lurrie Bell, Larry Mcray, Cary Bell, Otis Clay, Lefty Dizz, Syl Johnson Mavis Staples, Valerie Wellington ...and many others

Little Walter Jacobs turned this song into a Chicago blues standard. A medium shuffle in the key of G, the head is played once folllowed by 4 solo choruses. The head is then played again. Another full chorus is played allowing you to repeat the head on your own. The band repeats the 5-chord twice to end the song. Recommended listening: The Essential Little Walter

Willie Kent: vocals, James Wheeler: guitar, Johnny Iguana: piano, Al Brown: bass, Tim Austin: drums.

This slow blues in the 1950's style was written by Jimmy Rogers. Here, in the key of E, it starts with a classic intro followed by 2 vocal choruses, 1 solo chorus and 2 more vocal choruses. The band plays another solo chorus that ends the song. There is no instrumental version of this track. Recommended listening: Jimmy Rogers, Chicago Bound

John Primer: vocals/guitar, Roosevelt Purifoy: organ, Johnny B. Gayden: bass, Tim Austin: drums

This song, in the key of A, is penned and perfomed by John Primer. One intro solo chorus is played before the vocals begin. The band plays 2 vocal choruses, 2 solo choruses, 2 more vocals choruses and then 2 two solo choruses to end the song. Recommended listening: John Primer, Knocking At Your Door

Little Smokey Smothers: vocals, James Wheeler: guitar, Johnny Iguana: piano, Al Brown: bass, Tim Austin: drums.

This is Smokey's version of an Albert King song. A swinging shuffle in the key of G, it starts with a piano intro leading to the 4-chord. It is followed by 2 vocal choruses, 2 solo choruses, then 2 more vocal choruses and 2 solo choruses that end the song. Recommended listening: Albert King, The Ultimate Collection; Little Smokey Smothers, Second Time Around

Mike Avery: vocals, Michael Coleman: guitar, Roosevelt Purifoy: organ, Johnny B. Gayden: bass, Ray Allison: drums

This B.B. King classic, a minor blues in A, is played here as a medium-funk. This is the only song on the CD that does not have a straight 12-bar blues form. The form is slightly altered by using the raised 5-chord instead of the traditional 4-chord. It starts with an intro from the raised 5- chord (F) which leads into the first 2 vocal choruses followed by 2 solo choruses, then 2 vocal choruses and 2 more solo choruses. The band ends the song repeating the turnatround 3 times. Recommended listening: B.B. King, King Of The Blues, 1949-1991

Magic Slim: vocals, Larry Skoller: guitar, Johnny Iguana: piano, Al Brown: Bass, Tim Austin: drums

Sung by Magic Slim, this song begins with a 4-bar intro followed 2 vocal choruses, 2 solo choruses, 2 more vocal choruses and 1 solo chorus to end the song. Recommended listening: Magic Slim, Raw Magic

Mike Avery: vocals, Michael Coleman: guitar, Roosevelt Purifoy: organ, Johnny B. Gayden: bass, Ray Allison: drums

Written by B.B. King, this slow blues in the key of C has also become a staple in Otis Rush's repertoire. The song begins with an intro from the 5-chord and is designed to be soloed over. There are 3 vocal choruses, 2 solo choruses, followed by 1 vocal and a solo chorus that takes the song out. Recommended listening: Otis Rush, Ain't Enough Coming In, The Cobra Recordings

Mike Avery: vocals, Michael Coleman: guitar, Roosevelt Purifoy: organ, Johnny B. Gayden: bass, Ray Allison: drums

This funk-blues in the key of C, penned by Little Johnny Taylor, was made famous by Albert Collins. The song begins with an intro that leads into 3 vocal choruses, 2 solo choruses, 2 more vocal choruses and another 2 solo choruses. The band repeats the 5-chord to end the tune. Recommended listening: The Best Of Albert Collins

Willie Kent: vocals/bass, James Wheeler: guitar, Johnny Iguana: piano, Tim Austin: drums

This is Willie's take on Buddy Guy's classic. A minor slow blues in the key of D, it begins with a 4-bar intro. The band plays 2 vocal choruses, 1 solo chorus, 1 vocal chorus and ends with a solo chorus out. Recommended listening: Buddy Guy, A Man And His Blues and Stone Crazy; Willie Kent, Make Room For The Blues

Willie Kent: vocals, James Wheeler: guitar, Johnny Iguana: piano, Al Brown: bass, Tim Austin: drums.

Written by Muddy Waters, this is the song that made the "mojo beat" a Chicago standard. In the key of E, the band plays an intro chorus designed to be soloed over. There are 3 vocal choruses, 2 solo choruses, then 2 vocal choruses and 2 more solo choruses to end the song. Recommended listening: Muddy Waters, McKinley Morganfield A.K.A. Muddy Waters

Willie Kent: vocals, Larry Skoller: guitar, Johnny Iguana: piano, Al Brown: bass, Tim Austin: drums.

Chicago's blues anthem, in the key of E, begins with an intro leading into the 4-chord, designed to be soloed over before the vocal starts. On this track, there are 2 vocal choruses, 1 solo chorus, 2 vocal choruses and 1 solo chorus that ends the song. Recommended listening: Magic Sam, West Side Soul