b. January 16th, 1932 in Tchula (Mississippi)

d. March 17th, 2009 in Chicago (Illinois)

AMERICAN BLUES LEGENDS

Big Bear

August 1979

Surtout harmoniciste, Lester est un vrai multi-instrumentiste capable de s'adapter à tous types de formation. Ici, il se fait batteur pour Chico Chism, bassiste pour Little Smokey Smothers ou Good Rockin' Charles. Dans le microsillon relatant cette tournée organisée par Jim Simpson, il prend deux bons titres en leader ("I'm tryin'", et "No peace").

Especially harmonicist, Lester is a true multi-instrumentalist capable of adapting to all types band configurations. Here, he is drummer for Chico Chism, bass player for Little Smokey Smothers or Good Rockin' Charles. In the LP relating this tour, organized by Jim Simpson, he takes two good tracks as a leader ("I'm tryin" and "No peace").

IT'S GREAT TO BE RICH (EP)

Red Lightnin'

August 1981

Sur cet EP, on trouve le bon instrumental "Lester's comet" gravé en aout 1981 par Lester Davenport.

On this EP, we find the nice instrumental "Lester's comet" recorded in august 1981 by Lester Davenport.

AMERICAN LIVIN' BLUES FESTIVAL

Paris Album

EPM

May 1982

Enregistré à Créteil (dans la banlieue de Paris), ce concert regroupant plusieurs artistes de premier rang (Smokey Smothers, Queen Sylvia Embry, Jimmy Dawkins) compte aussi la participation de Lester Davenport sur deux morceaux accrocheurs ("Be careful baby" et une reprise de "I got a woman")

Recorded in Créteil (in Paris suburb), this concert gathering several first-rate artists (Smokey Smothers, Queen Sylvia Embry, Jimmy Dawkins) also includes the participation of Lester Davenport on two catchy songs ("Be careful baby" and a cover of "I got a woman").

CHICAGO BLUES HARMONICA

Wolf

February 1987

Il y a trois morceaux de Lester Davenport dans cette anthologie consacrée à l'harmonica. Ceux-ci ont été enregistré en février 1987 à Chicago par Mike Rasfeld et Paul Smith. Bien arrangés et interprétés, ils démontrent à quel point Lester est un bluesman qui mériterait de pouvoir graver un album complet.

There are three sides of Lester Davenport in this anthology dedicated to harmonica. These were recorded in february 1987 in Chicago by Mike Rasfeld and Paul Smith. Well arranged and interpreted, they show how Lester is a bluesman who deserves to burn a full album.

WHEN THE BLUES HIT YOU

Earwig

August 1991

Issu d'une famille qui cultive la terre, Lester grandit sous l'influence de son père guitariste (Neely Davenport). Il arrive à Chicago en 1945 (il a 13 ans) et vit avec son frère. Lester subit rapidement les influences de Little Walter et de Snooky Pryor sur son jeu d'harmonica. Il fréquente le marché de Maxwell Street et cotoie Homesick James qui guide le jeune homme ainsi que Jimmy Rogers qui lui présente Muddy Waters. Un soir, il jouera même de la batterie derrière Howlin' Wolf (un jour ou son batteur régulier Earl Phillips s'était assoupi). En 1955, il remplace Billy Boy Arnold dans l'orchestre de Bo Diddley. Avec ce dernier, il part en tournée et l'accompagne sur 4 morceaux pour Checker ("Pretty thing", "Bring it to Jerome", "Heart O' Mattie Love", "Spanish guitar"). Dans les années 60 et 70, il subsiste en accumulant petits boulots et son activité de musicien. Pendant sept ans, il accompagnera Big Daddy Kinsey & The Kinsey Report en tournée. Grâce à sa rencontre avec Michael Frank, le propriétaire du label Earwig, il obtient enfin la possibilité d'enregistrer un disque complet. Lester est le compositeur de la plupart des morceaux. Dans ce pur disque de Chicago blues soigné et inspiré, on retrouve un groupe remarquable : John Primer, Sunnyland Slim, Bob Stroger. On connaissait, bien sûr, les qualités d'harmoniciste de Lester mais on découvre aussi à quel point il peut être un chanteur et un compositeur convaincant. La plupart des morceaux méritent d'être cités : "King of the jungle", "I believe my baby got a mojo", "It won't work like that" ou encore l'instrumental "Mad Dog on the loose".

Coming from a rural family, Lester grew up under the influence of his father guitarist (Neely Davenport). He arrived in Chicago in 1945 (he was 13) and lives with his brother. Lester quickly undergoes the influence of Little Walter and Snooky Pryor on his harmonica playing. He attended Maxwell Street market and kept close to Homesick James who guide the young man and Jimmy Rogers who introduces Muddy Waters to him. One night, he even played the drums behind Howlin' Wolf (his regular drummer Earl Phillips was asleep). In 1955, he replaced Billy Boy Arnold in the Bo Diddley orchestra. With the latter, he toured and accompanies him on 4 tracks for Checker ("Pretty thing", "Bring it to Jerome", "Heart O' Mattie Love", "Spanish guitar"). In the 60's and 70's, He is still accumulating odd jobs and his work as a musician. For seven years, he accompanied Big Daddy Kinsey & The Kinsey Report on tour. Through his encounter with Michael Frank, the owner of Earwig label, he finally gets the opportunity to record a complete CD. Lester is the composer of almost all tracks. In this pure Chicago blues album, neat and inspired, there is a remarkable group : John Primer, Sunnyland Slim, Bob Stroger. We knew, of course, Lester's qualities as harpist but we also discover how he can be a convincing singer and composer. Most of the songs are worth mentioning : "King of the jungle", "I believe my baby got a mojo", "It won't work like that" or the instrumental " Mad Dog on the loose".

ACOUSTIC BLUE CHICAGO

Blue Chicago

November 1998

I SMELL A RAT

Delmark

July 2001

Il aura fallu près de dix ans pour écouter le deuxième album de l'harmoniciste Lester Davenport. Publié par Delmark, produit par son ami Jimmy Dawkins (brillant à la guitare également), ce disque atteint quasiment le niveau du précédent. Du Chicago blues traditionnel mais interprété avec force et conviction même si les possibilités vocales de Lester ont un peu décliné. On retient notamment "Knocked on your door", "West side blues harp", "Miss Sallie Mae", "So long" et "I smell a rat". Malheureusement, Lester n'aura pas d'autres occasions d'enregistrer et décèdera d'un cancer de la prostate en mars 2009.

It took nearly ten years to listen to Lester Davenport second album. Published by Delmark, produced by his friend Jimmy Dawkins (brilliant on guitar), this CD almost reached the level of the previous one. It is Chicago traditional blues but played with force and conviction even if the vocal possibilities Lester have somewhat declined. Note in particular "Knocked on your door", "West Side blues harp", "Miss Sallie Mae", "So long" and "I smell a rat". Unfortunately, Lester will not have other opportunities to record and will die of prostate cancer in March 2009.