Roosevelt Sykes - Sings The Blues

When Sykes recorded Sings The Blues in 1962 he’d already been making records for 33 years. His was a style that only got better with age, so it’s no surprise to find him on fine form. This is about as gentle and laid back as Chicago blues ever got, with Sykes’ warm vocal timbre and rolling, jazzy piano gliding through a clutch of effortlessly charming tunes. Honey Child hits a rich seam of loose vibes that transports the listener back in time by half a century, to an after-hours bar in Beale Street. On the bouncy Never Loved Like This Before Sykes reveals himself as a sort of Chicago blues equivalent to Fats Domino, all rambunctious piano fills, tooting sax and a clearly audible smile on his face. Clocking in at under half an hour, a few extra tracks would have been appreciated. That said, part of this album’s charm lies in its unfussy brevity, so even at this fleeting length it’s a record to keep you warm all winter.