On October 7, 2002, Texas Blues singer Jimmy "T99" Nelson was honored as the special backstage guest of British rock star Elvis Costello (soon to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame) during the latter's concert at Houston's Verizon Theater. [+]On October 7, 2002, Texas Blues singer Jimmy "T99" Nelson was honored as the special backstage guest of British rock star Elvis Costello (soon to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame) during the latter's concert at Houston's Verizon Theater.
The unlikely cross-culture songwriter summit meeting was prompted by Costello's decision to highlight Nelson's 1999 recording of the original recording "I'll Miss Show Business" (from Nelson's Bullseye Blues release Rockin' and Shoutin' the Bues) in the post-concert soundtrack after each show.
During their half-hour visit, Costello expressed his admiration for - and extensive knowledge of - Nelson's songwriting and recording history, which dates back to 1948. At one point as they recalled lines and titles of various Nelson compositions, Costello began to sing a particular lyric. The elder musician promptly interupted him with a wave of his large hand and the command "Stop". Then Nelson started snapping his fingers and interpreting the lines with a pronounced sense of swing. Soon both men joined voices and delivered an impromptu duet to the delight of onlookers.
In the lengthy conversation that followed, Costello graciously acknowledged blues singer-songwriters such as Nelson as key forces in the evolution of populr music and expressed a fondness for classic recordings form Houston's now defunct Duke and Peacock labels (he sited Bobby Bland's Two Steps from the Blues as a favorite album).
Before departing Nelson presented Costello with a copy of his 2002 independent release "Take Your Pick" (nettie marie 001).
-Roger Wood (Living Blues Magazine #167 pg. 11)
If you've never heard Jimmy Nelson, you're about to discover that life is very good indeed. You have stumbled on the fatherload. This is it, right here. Anybody in your house who's not smiling or dancing, or at least foot tapping by the end of "Son listen To Me" go on and cut them out of the will.
If you already know how good T99 is, you'll appreciate the fact that they did this CD right, surrounding him with the kind of players his mighty voice deserves, cats who understand where he's coming from and who know how to hang with the brother-amen.
Duke Robillard on guitar. that's all you need to know. Add some great horn playing from Doug J
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