| Soul blues, Soul Jazz |
Each Big Daddy Wilson album is a true marvel, American, indeed, but his music also carries a European soul shaped by his life in Germany. It’s purely coincidental that another expatriate living in Germany, but Canadian, Layla Zoe, is releasing her new album at the same time.
Big Daddy Wilson, with his deep voice and the arrangements on this album, sets the tone for a new show that will include some songs from this new album. This is sure to delight all European fans when they see him on various stages, and there are even rumors that he might perform in Montpellier, France, in 2024. Stay tuned for confirmation.
Big Daddy Wilson is often featured in jazz festivals. The reason is simple; in addition to his exceptional voice, his music is never far from jazz in its structure, and his soulful inspirations are enough to convince even the most skeptical listeners.
Spiritual inspirations are also a part of his music, a matter of culture as well. Born in a country where all kinds of churches spring up like mushrooms, he spent his youth attending and perfecting his voice. His biography attests to this: “Big Daddy Wilson was born over 50 years ago in a small town called Edenton, North Carolina. Edenton’s population is less than 6,000 people, with 55% being African American and 25% living below the poverty line. “We were very poor, but I had a beautiful childhood,” recalls Wilson. “My sisters and I were raised by Mom and Grandma. We led a simple life, going to church every Sunday, and school during the week. At the time, I also worked on a tobacco plantation and in cotton fields; I was a real country boy.” Wilson sang at church, but he never considered stepping onto a stage. “I was extremely shy.” His guardians wanted the best for this fatherless boy, and they often sent him to church even during the week. “It won’t hurt him, it will keep young Wilson away from drugs and the streets.”
Big Daddy Wilson encompasses all of this; his blues is scholarly, and listening to it is just as enjoyable as dancing to it, especially since, like many African Americans, his excellent diction makes him quite easily understood.
If there’s one track I prefer on this album, it’s probably “Relax & Go,” mainly due to its musical structure, which I particularly enjoy.
So, thank you, Mr. Big Daddy Wilson, for creating such beautiful albums that make our “Essentials” logo seem almost obsolete.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, September 1st 2023
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