Ben Webster – At the Renaissance – Concord Records 180g Vinyl

The late James Harris earned the moniker “Shakey Jake” due to his proficiency at dice, but he was equally adept at the blues game. The Arkansas-born, Chicago-based singer and harmonica blower traveled to Rudy Van Gelder’s New Jersey studio in November 1960 to record Mouth Harp Blues.. Jake brought along Jimmie Lee Robinson, the brilliant, fast-fingered guitarist best known for his work with Little Walter’s band. Also making tasty contributions to the session was Robert Banks, the New York R&B and gospel studio organist who, in this case, ably appointed himself as a two-fisted blues piano stylist. Among the 10 selections is the distinctively loping “Easy Baby,” a tune also associated with Jake’s nephew Magic Sam.