There is just no other harp player, living or dead, who had a sound like this. Note that he's playing right on the vocal mike, through the PA. No retro (Astatic, Green Bullet, etc.) harp mike, no Tweed Champ. Just mouth, harp, and mike. I've heard stories about Sonny Boy (Rice Miller) rocking juke joints with just harp and a stomping foot. I understand now. Loved Cotton since I was 16; saw him for the first time then, too.
Could very well be, Adam. You could never tell with Cotton, though, because he sounded the same WHATEVER he used. Thought I saw one of those tall Silverface amps that he'd use on the stage (Quad Reverb or Super 6). One time he used MY Super Reverb and Green Bullet in a little joint in Chicago and sounded like that, another time, I saw him play thru just his voice mike and he sounded like that-it was that thick "Virginia ham" tone that overwhelmed any system, PA or amp .....
A few years back, I listened to Cotton for the first time in years, and I realized that MY style of playing, which includes a lot of octaves, double-stops, and mouth distortion, was actually about 95% James Cotton. LOL.
I gate crashed this guys 64th birthday party, on Beale Street, Memphis, and he jammed with Sean Costello all night, without a doubt, the best gig I ever, ever went to....Love it, absolute 'harp' genius...!!!
Saw him in Detroit my hometown in about 1968 at the Chessmate on 6 mile and Livernois !!! One kickass show !!! James went out doors on that snowy night and played a few riffs before coming back on stage !!! Great memories for me!!!!!
Thank you James Cotton, I saw you in a bar in '75, you played this tune and had us all jumping up and down, laughing and who knows what. Thanks Rest in Peace, there's going to be an outrageous concert in Heaven tonight.
The thing about James C is there are other players who have super fast runs and greater technical facility. Tho Cotton’s vocabulary is smaller than some, he has other stuff at his disposal: great tone, showmanship, great feeling and his playing is always in the pocket. He hits those notes and bends at the right moment. His sound is distinctive. I can always tell when it’s James Cotton playing. He made us stand up and have a great time. RIP, James Cotton.
RIP, James Cotton. It'll be a rockin' good time with Muddy, Junior Wells, B.B., John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Stevie Ray and all those blues greats. Thanks for the wicked awesome harp playing.
I miss Cotton, with every beat of my heart. He was my first harp teacher. A dear dear friend, a confidante. My beloved mentor. God blesses his eternal soul. As the blessed Angels attend Cotton in Heaven......!!!!
The great James Cotton.First harp player I ever heard that I can remember actually playing the blues so will always have a firm place in my heart.Jim.liverpool.
He does Sonny Boy Williamson, Jr Wells. and Howlin Wolf effortlesly, and you know he has his own style. Everyone reading this post should send James Cotton his just appriciation for all the work he has done.
Saw Cotton many times back in the 80s. He had a line up with Micheal Coleman on guitar, I think Neil Noel on bass kinda being the focal point of the band until James came up on stage. Absolute dynamite. Those guys were so high energy, and tight. Best band I ever saw!
I saw him in Alaska about 3 months before he died. He was still recovering from throat surgery and couldn't but one of the band members did. He only made it about halftway through the second set, but we all knew that he wasn't well. No autographs, no visits. He almost collapsed on stage. It's so sad to see that olks like him and Ella keep on performing when they should be enjoying retirement because they need the money.
James Cotton has a way of making a person getting up to dance along. I am not much for getting up to dance and James Cotton had me dancing at the Chicago Blues Festival of 2013 on Sunday 6-9-13.
Living in Mtl. '67, '68, James invited me to see him at L'Hibou in Ottawa - when I got there the first set was on, but they locked the doors, charging for ea. set. I was standing under a large light, just outside the door - James, walking around & playing, mic cord over his shoulder - was it the Creeper or Blues in my Sleep? & saw me outside, reached out, yanked me in, never missing a note -- after the set, the owner came & asked me to PAY the cover..I told him to go see James...what a nite...
My favorite harp player! He had us all dancing around in the rain and mud (muddy waters!) to his music at the Poconos Blues Fest! Can you hear why? DEFINITELY THE REAL DEAL!
I've been playing bass since 1968, recently introduced to Mr. Harp. Amazing, he plays like an angel. I've played with a lot of fake musicians, but this guy is legit!
I've been telling every wanna bee blues drummer for years about Mr. Ken Johnson. He just has that perfect feel in anything he played! The hands and feet are matched perfectly. As a drummer you strive to have where one limb isn't always the lead. As a not he was the drummer on Steve Miller's "Fly like an Eagle" A groove that Miller didn't deserve!! Kenny makes that tune bigtime. I sure miss seeing him, he was a huge influence on me!
first time learned to appreciate his music was on a philippine tv program 'in concert' channel 13, something like 1972. and i loved the way he played his harmonica and the way he entertained his audience with the creeper and and his next music with his guitarist doing a solo. and i was around 14years old then. will never grow tired of his music.
Mid 60's Fillmore West…Bill Graham turned us all onto Cotton, Muddy Waters, BB King, Butterfield, Miles Davis, Freddy King, Albert King all of em' fantastic…thanks Mr. Graham for a lifetime of BLUES
Lee Oskar of war. Always my harp hero. Led me to Sonny Boy. And James Cotton. An underrated musical instrument. In the hands of these artist. Mind Blowing!
Saw JCB in '82. The man was possessed; rolling somersaults in the aisle, right at my feet. Super Harp, god his lungs were bursting. This tune closed one set. He was a young man and just filled the room w/his spirit. You had to be there to know. *****Star performance.
Saw JCB in '82. The man was possessed; rolling somersaults in the aisle, right at my feet. Super Harp, god his lungs were bursting. This tune closed one set. He was a young man and just filled the room w/his spirit. You had to be there to know. *****Star performance.
Mr. Cotton, I owe you so much, I can't even count. I'm a pretty good harp player who has lifted dozens of licks from you or the other people who've done the same. More to the point, your sound and energy inspired me to push past the simple stuff and go for the gritty, sophisticated blues-rock style you introduced. I'm sure Magic Dick, Huey Lewis, Sugar Blue, Jason Ricci and dozens of others would agree. You were a force of nature and a pioneer. Thank you for all you taught us!
This is brilliant! I'm such a fan of James and he's really having a great time here (bursting out laughing in the middle of a harp break, just brilliant!) I'm glad to say that I saw him many years ago at Colne in the UK and managed to get a signed poster, Just one of the Best ever!
The late Kennard Johnson on drums, also played on some Steve Miller records. From the electrified delta blues of Chicago's south side, to the James Brown beats and BB King-influenced guitar mixed into the west side blues, Cotton took Chicago blues into its third incarnation : high energy.
Little Walter had so much melodic inventiveness as well as fabulous tone & technique. His playing on the Muddy Waters stuff from the 50's & 60's is unsurpassed for economy & excitement. There've been some great players - Sonny Boy - Sonny Terry & Big Walter but LW had so much more in terms of beautiful runs & high flying harp that is breathtaking!... So much variation!
It's always a treat to see Mr. Cotton as I always call him when I see him and Pinetop still tearing it up at Antone's after 30 years. Bless Cliff for bringing him to Austin. Last year when he sat in with Johnny Winter at Antone's I swear could feel Cliff, and all the Saints in the place that night! Talk about your Cosmic Cowboys! While we have Mr Cotton and so many basing out of Austin, NYC go see Les Paul still doing his weekly show! Let him Les Paulverize you!
Traveled with James in an old Ford Van to Monterey Pop Festival from their BenLomond Gig 1974, after previously traveling with them in 1972 down around Florida … bass player, then the drummer. James visited house in1985 asking me to head back out on the road.
Abe Gibron ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3OcAVJDZoo8.html I tryied to play a 2001 Version Love this guy. James, and Little Walter are my favorite harp sucker players. Jaja 😈
I gave that a listen...strong on the harp. I had the honor of knowing Cotton a long time and spent a lot of time around him. I am not a musician but Cotton taught me a lot about life in general. I guess Buddy is the last of the Chicago cats thats still around. Check out Kim Wilson on harp.
Date:Oct 28 1988 Charles R. Calmese, 34, a native Chicagoan who played bass in several top rock and blues bands, died in Hartford, Conn., from injuries sustained in an auto accident. Mr. Calmese began his musical career in Chicago at 16 with the James Cotton Band, recording and touring in the United States and Canada for eight years. He moved to Willimantic, Conn., in 1975. He performed with such musicians as Muddy Waters, Ike &Tina Turner, Johnny and Edgar Winter, Chuck Berry and Mat...
I'm guessing this is mid-to-late 1970's - this is the time period I saw him play at "The Place", a bar in Eugene, Oregon. Best blues shows I've ever witnessed.
To whoever was asking about they key, James plays it on an A harp (3rd position). He is one of my top four, with Big Walter, Little Walter, and George Smith... can I even limit it to four!!!!
@2009framat Charles passed away in 1988 in an automobile accident on Route 6 in CT. He is deeply missed for his musicianship and generous spirit. He was awarded a Platinum album for Steve Miller's Fly Like and Eagle and Book of Dreams and a Grammy for Muddy Water's album Hard Again. More recently, we also lost drummer,Kenard (Kenny) Johnson.
