PAUL OSCHER: Down In The Delta

Paul Oscher

Down In The Delta

© 2005 Blues Fidelity (634479980527)

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This former Muddy Waters Blues Band member gets deep in the blues with a stunning collection of downhome blues capturing the essence of his live performances

notes

NATIONAL RELEASE JULY 12, 2005

*****WINNER*****

ACOUSTIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR !
AND
ACOUSTIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR !

2006 BLUES MUSIC AWARDS
(formerly known as the W.C. Handy Awards)


This CD "Down in the Delta" really captures the deep blues feeling that this former Muddy Waters Blues Band member brings to his live performances. This is real lowdown, gutbucket, down-in-the-alley blues steeped in tradition featuring Paul on neckracked harmonica, guitar, piano, melodica and vocals.

He is joined on this album by a stellar cast of some of the best blues musicians working today, including Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Levon Helm and Richard Innes on the drums, Dave Maxwell on the piano and Calvin "Fuzz" Jones, Mudcat Ward and Ronnie James on the bass.

PAUL OSCHER began playing the blues at age 12 when his uncle gave him a harmonica. He was taught the rudiments of blues harmonica by Jimmy Johnson, a southern medicine show harp player and by the time Paul was 15, he was playing professionally in soul revues at black night clubs like the Baby Grand, 521 Club, Seville Lounge and the Nitecap.

In the mid 1960's Paul met MUDDY WATERS back stage at the Apollo Theatre, and in 1967, when Muddy came to New York without a harp player, Paul sat in with the band. He played two numbers and Muddy hired him on the spot. That hiring saw Paul following in the footsteps of other Muddy Waters harp players Little Walter, Junior Wells, Big Walter Horton and James Cotton. Oscher was the first white musician in the world to become a full time member of a black blues band of this stature. While working alongside Otis Spann, Sammy Lawhorn, Pee Wee Madison and S.P. Leary, Paul spent the next five years in the Muddy Waters band learning the deep blues phrasing and timing characteristic of his music today. Spann taught Paul the piano and he learned guitar by looking over the shoulders of Muddy and Sammy Lawhorn.

Besides Muddy, Paul has performed or recorded with a veritable who's who in the blues world including John Lee Hooker, Earl Hooker, Johnny Young, Jimmy Rogers,T-Bone Walker, Big Mama Thornton, Victoria Spivey, Johnny Copeland, Louisiana Red, Hubert Sumlin, Levon Helm, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Mos Def. Paul is now in the process of writing a book about his life's experiences in the blues. An excerpt from his book was just published in the companion book to the series "Martin Scorcese PresentsThe Blues".

Paul Oscher is currently performing at blues festivals throughout the United States and abroad in solo, duo and trio format. His solo show "Alone With The Blues" features Paul on harmonica, bass harmonica, guitar, melodica, piano and slide guitar. It's a show that has received rave reviews from blues fans, musicians, press, promoters and club owners from around the world. Don't miss it.

This album is a "Must Have" for any serious collector of authentic blues. For more info about Paul Oscher and vintage photos, soundclips, road stories and bio, check out his website at WWW.PAULOSCHER.COM

reviews

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  • True get down blues! A listening pleasure, great harmonica!
    author: Anna Hurlbutt

    The tunes flow from one to another, just as the music flows. The rendition of Georgia was great and the harmonica is played with such feeling. I could almost feel the music. But isn't that what the blues are about?

  • BILLBOARD CRITICS' CHOICE...a deep satisfying blues experience
    author: Philip Van Vleck/ Billboard

    Paul Oscher/ Down in the Delta release date July 12th,2005 this is certainly a record for fans of elemental blues. Harmonica virtuoso Paul Oscher is a veteran of the Muddy Waters Blues band, and the album is reminiscent of Water's formative Mississippi blues. Oscher cut these tracks without any overdubs or other electronic cleverness, opting instead to rely on sharp musicianship and feel. His uncomplicated approach yields a deep satisfying blues experience. Oscher takes on some classic blues tunes, including W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues,"Robert Johnson's "32-20 Blues" and Robert Lockwood Jr.'s "Take a Little Walk," He offers four originals, one of which is the top- notch slow burner "So Lonesome." Also note his very cool solo-guitar cover of "What a friend we have in Jesus."

  • ON MY LIST OF "BEST OF THE BLUES" 2005
    author: Willard Strandberg Jr.

    No one alive gets that harp tone out of a neckrack. Quadruple threat: harmonica, guitar, piano and melodica. Deep, deep blues, the real deal!

  • Oscher is one of a kind
    author: Scott Dirks Author of "Blues with a Feelin" the Little Walter Bi

    Paul Oscher not only channels the guitar sound of Muddy Waters, the piano sound of Otis Spann, and the deepest-toned blues harp this side of Big Walter Horton, he's also a fine songwriter in the classic blues tradition. Oscher is one of a kind.

  • right on the money, excellent cd
    author: Lee Holman

    I LOVE THIS CD AS I LOVE ALL HIS CDS,MUDDY WOULD BE PROUD, DEEPEST TONE THIS SIDE OF THE BLACK STUMP. WHEN YOU HAD ENOUGH OF THAT JUMP BLUES STUFF EVERY ONE PLAYING THESE DAYS GET BACK TO THE OLD DEEP BLUES.HEY AND HE DOES MOST OF IT HIMSELF. SHIT I GOTTA GO BUY ME A NECK RACK. PAUL,COME TO AUSTRALIA MAN,YOU CAN STAY AT MY HOUSE AS LONG AS YOU WANT.

  • I've been playing this record all the time for the past for two weeks
    author: Lynnann Hyde - Hohner Harmonica Endorsee

    Brief: An excellent ensemble recording featuring mostly classic blues tunes and three original compositions. Oscher plays neck rack harmonica, piano, guitar and melodica and is the sole vocalist. Superb renditions of songs including “St. Louis Blues” “Blues Before Sunrise” and “Sugar Mama” among others provide contrast and texture to Oscher’s outstanding original songs. The Country song “Deborah’s Baby” is stunningly lovely, and it’s simple harmonica phrases are well supported by the straightforward acoustic guitar lines. Traditional hymn “What A Friend We Have (in Jesus)” is another deceptively simple and uncluttered sounding rendition that touches the soul and pulls at the heartstrings. Track 9 “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be” sounds like one of the Walter’s having a romp with the band, and “Georgia” is just a wonderful instrumental version of the dear old classic Charmichael tune. “I’m Going Away Baby” smacks of Jimmy Reed guitar-harp style and John Lee harmonica bits, with plenty of nice chugs to push the amazing harmonica solo through. It’s a great CD to listen to and to practice from, a real “must have” for harmonica students.

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