The Canadian Mark Stafford is a harmonica player 'pur sang'. His nickname "Bird" refers to Charlie "Bird" Parker, aka Charlie Christopher Parker Jr. (1920-1955). This American composer and alto saxophonist is one of the most important transitional figures from traditional to modern jazz. Parker, together with Dizzy Gillespy and Bud Powell, among others, is considered to be the inventor of bebop, a complex sub-music style in jazz. Stafford can, like Parker, go up in his harmonica playing style and take off as a bird. Stafford is already a performer from his early childhood. It all started for Stafford when blues singer-songwriter Richard "Hock" Walsh (1948-1999) (co-founder of the "Downchild Blues Band") addressed him during one of the first 'Pine Tree blues jam sessions', beginning 1985. Richard Walsh founded in 1969 in Toronto, along with his older brother Donnie one of the few Canadian blues bands. Dan Aykroyd ("Blues Brothers") was a big fan of both. Stafford is the "Polaroid Blues Band" in Toronto and plays in 1989 with the "Sly Dogs", which later became the "Mark" Bird "Stafford & The Rectifiers".
The album "Live At The Delta" is the new album of Mark Bird Stafford and proves his love for the roots music and especially for the harmonica. On the album are his interpretations of eleven classic blues songs. He recorded the songs live with a selection of four musicians, in the local blues bar at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, CA. The opener 1 "Pretty Baby" is the only song from Junior Parker on this album. Junior Parker (1932-1971) was a Memphis blues singer and harmonica player, best known for his unique voice, which was described as 'honeyed sweet' and 'velvet smooth'. Together with his band "The Blue Flames" Parker released the single "Mystery Train" in 1953 at 'Sun Records', a song that was later covered by Elvis. The song "Pretty Baby" that Stafford brings here is a 1956 single from "Little Junior Parker & His Combo", with a B-side song from Jimmy Rogers "That's All Right". Stafford and his musicians (Aaron Griggs - guitar, Fabio Pavorel - guitar, Tyler Burgess - drums & Dennis Pinhorn - bass) let us hear from the opener what they have in store. The song with more attention for the vocals and guitar swings. In 3 "Juke-Ish", an instrumental number by Walter Jacobs, Stafford goes for almost five minutes and proves his abilities as a harmonica player. What else can a mondharmonical enthusiast demand? The choice for blues singer and harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs, aka "Little Walter" (1930-1968) is a right choice and requires more in 4 "Mellow Down Easy". Stafford's voice fits in perfectly, his harmonicasolo's are finished and the jazzy riffs of the guitarist do the rest. On the album also one cover of Jimmy Reed: 6 "I Found Joy". Jimmy drove (1925-1976) was a controversial man, but made well-known songs, which were often covered by big ones. Stafford has to go very high on harmonica this time. Also one song from Slim Harpo: 8 "Got Love If You Want It". Slim Harpo was the stage name of James Moore (1924-1970) from Baton Rouge. Stafford is pushed by Burgess tom tom and has to go very high again. Then there are the covers of Dixon and Sonny Boy Williamson. Willie Dixon's (1915-1992) was not only blues composer, but also bassist and singer. He worked with all the greats of the Chicago blues for the 'Chess Label' (Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim, Chuck Berry ...). Everyone certainly knows his "Little Red Rooster" ("Stones", "Doors" ...). 9 "Can not Hold Out Much Longer" is the first of the three covers that Stafford chose. The slow number opens on harmonica, after which the vocals are very phrased and accentuated and the harmonica follows in a groovy way through the thick fog. In the second Dixon number 10 "It's Too Late Brother" the pace goes up a bit in an up tempo swing, but the atmosphere stays cool. The other musicians remain in the background and leave Stafford much room for his solos on harmonica. 11 "Up The Line" is the end of the Dixon row. The tempo changes again and becomes Latino, with alternating guitar riffs and vocals. We stop the show with three covers from Sonny Boy Williamson I & II. SBW I (the 'original'), aka John Lee Curtis Williams, was from Tennessee (1914-1948) and worked with 'Bluebird Records'. SBW II alias Aleck "Rise" Miller was from Mississippi (? -1965), played trumpet and worked with 'Checker Records'. 5 "Sloppy Drunk Blues" (Sonny Boy Williamson 1) is a lively song, one of the famous SBW I songs. In 2 "Born Blind" (Sonny Boy Williamson 2) Stafford gets a lot of space for singing, which he alternates with capped solo's on harmonica. The guitar riffs are smooth. In the other song of SBW II 7 "I Do not Know" a wide groove of Aaron Griggs cuts guitar riffs, the other musical endeavors.
Credits:
Mark Bird Stafford - Vocal and Harmonica
Aaron Griggs - Guitar
Fabio Parovel - Guitar
Tyler Burgess - Drums
Dennis Pinhorn - Bass
Tracklist:
1. Pretty Baby (Junior Parker)
2. Born Blind (Sonny Boy Williamson)
3. Juke Ish (Little Walter)
4. Mellow Down Easy (Little Walter)
5. Sloppy Drunk Blues (Sonny Boy Williamson)
6. I Found Joy (Jimmy Reed)
7. I Don’t Know (Sonny Boy Williamson)
8. Got Love If You Want It (Slim Harpo)
9. Can’t Hold Out Much Longer (Willie Dixon)
10. It’s Too Late Brother (Willie Dixon)
11. Up the Line (Willie Dixon)
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