Wizard of the Harmonica [LP]

Ron Brown writes: "Perhaps Sonny Terry's blindness has isolated him from the world to such an extent that he's been able to shrug off a cloak of sophistication more than would normally be expected of a man who's been in demand by blues audiences the world over for more than thirty years. His vocal delivery is as rough, uncompromising and exhilarating as ever it was, embodying the raw essence of the country blues. He's inclined to pitch his voice a little on the sharp side, but he's retained over the years a passionate involvement in his music which he communicates to his audiences, who usually judge that musical niceties aren't of much consequence in the work of an artist who puts so much feeling into his performances." Originally recorded in 1972, this release is a brilliant overview of a pivotal figure in blues harmonica.