Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
In 1949, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown began recording a landmark series of big-band sessions for Houston's small Peacock label. Nearly 50 years later the versatile bluesman has returned to the format with glorious results. On Gate Swings the 73-year-old Brown's guitar rides the crest of a 13-piece horn section as he reels out one swinging, graceful solo after another, gliding through everything from his own compositions (like the gorgeous "Gate's Blues Waltz") to Count Basie's "One O'Clock Jump" and Percy Mayfield's "River's Invitation." Gatemouth swings for the fences on every track and only whiffs once, with some off-key crooning on Buddy Johnson's "Since I Fell for You." (Verve)
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