MEGAWAVE Records MEGW 0202

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When Mr. B was playing in front of his first large audience and met Bob Seeley for the first time many years ago, little did he know that the two would become close friends and two of the better known international purveyors of boogie-woogie piano alive today. Mr. B, influenced by a number of boogie-woogie piano greats including Little Brother Montgomery, and Bob Seeley, a classical pianist by training and protégé of the late great Meade Lux Lewis, deliver grace, style, lightning, and thunder. Here the two play blues and jazz standards back-to-back, in two different styles. This audio CD is the original studio recording, which first captured this concept and motivated them to commit to a DVD of their live show to be released later this year. The disc also contains two bonus tracks, where each contributes an additional favorite, not to be missed.

 

1 St. Louis Blues - Mr. B 7:35

2 St. Louis Blues - Bob Seeley 6:14

3 Chicago Breakdown - Mr. B 2:48

4 Chicago Breakdown - Bob Seeley 4:54

5 C.C. Rider - Mr. B 3:39

6 C.C. Rider - Bob Seeley 3:41

7 The Honeydripper - Mr. B 3:33

8 The Honeydripper - Bob Seeley 2:18

9 After Hours - Mr. B 5:45

10 After Hours - Bob Seeley 5:17

11 Cow Cow Blues - Mr. B 4:03

12 Cow Cow Blues - Bob Seeley 2:39

13 It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - Mr. B 3:36

14 It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - Bob Seeley 3:23

 

15 Pine Top's Boogie - Mr. B bonus track 3:27

16 Honky Tonk Train Blues - Bob Seeley bonus track 4:18

 

1:07:10 total playing time

 

 

I first met Bob Seeley in 1982. I was playing in Metro Detroit, on a large stage for a big crowd on a bill that included Big Joe Turner and J.C. Heard. An usher approached me and mentioned that a gentleman wanted to meet me, and within the next hour or so, Bob and I were sharing a piano bench and improvising a four-handed boogie woogie for a few thousand people.

 

We've been close friends ever since. In fact, Bob refers to himself as my illegitimate father, and I call him Dad. We have played far and wide together over the years, and Bob has been a great example to me in so many ways. I feel fortunate to have been Bob's friend, and I'm really honored to do a project together after all these years with one of the absolute finest purveyors of classic piano blues and boogie.

 

The idea was this: Let's record a number of tunes that we both play in common, and include versions by each of us, one after the other. Hence the title, "back to back". We both hope that you enjoy.

 

Mark Lincoln Braun (Mr. B)

 

Mr. B Bio

Bob Seeley Bio

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