b. July 23rd, 1942 in Holly Springs (Mississippi)

BLUES 'N MORE (EP)

Ricjaz

1998

Né dans le Mississippi dans une famille de métayers, il grandit à Memphis et rejoint Chicago en 1959. Linsey s'intègre au circuit des clubs du South Side de la ville formant, d'abord, The Hot Tomatoes puis The Equitable Band (un groupe avec lequel il deviendra l'attraction régulière du club Lauching Pad pendant 8 ans !). Cet EP semble être le premier de sa discographie. La meilleure piste est, sans conteste, le long blues "I'm tired". Malgré un excès de synthétiseurs, sa reprise de "Rainy night in Georgia" s'avère intéressante et démontre ses talents de chanteur.

Born in Mississippi in a family of sharecroppers, he grew up in Memphis and settled in Chicago in 1959. Linsey become integrated into South Side clubs circuit of the city forming, first, The Hot Tomatoes then The Equitable Band (a group with which he will become a regular attraction at Launching Pad club for 8 years!). This EP seems to be the first in his discography. The best track is, without question, the long blues "I'm tired". Despite an excess of synthesizers, his cover of "Rainy night in Georgia" is interesting and demonstrates his skills as a singer.

SOMEONE'S COOKIN' IN MY KITCHEN

L.A.B.B.

2003

Au début des années 2000, Linsey se lance dans l'auto-production avec ce premier album. Excellent guitariste et chanteur, il propose un blues cuivré orienté funk très dansant avec "Come back baby", "Booty call 2003", "Hoochie man". Cependant, on déplore un son de synthétiseur déplaisant sur le blues "How can I get over you", un effet vocal disgracieux sur "Funny feeling" et une version décousue et trop longue de "The train is coming". Un album imparfait mais prometteur.

In the early 2000's, Linsey launches himself on self-production with this first album. Excellent guitarist and singer, he plays a funk-oriented brassy blues with "Come back baby", "Booty call 2003", "Hoochie man". However, we regret unpleasant synthesizer sound on the blues "How can I get over you", an awkward vocal effect on "Funny feeling" and an incoherent and too long version of "The Train is coming". An imperfect but promising album.

MY DAYS ARE SO LONG

Hoochie Man

2005

Pour ce second album auto-produit, le son est plus électrique et homogène et il n'y a pas de section cuivres. On trouve une puissante entrée en matière avec "Where did you take your clothes off last night". Plusieurs titres méritent une écoute attentive : "My days are so long", "I gotta move", "I'm tired", "Higher". D'autres pistes sont plus convenues même si Linsey et son groupe jouent justes (Chico Banks, Carlos Showers, Janet Kramer, Andre Howard).

For this second self-produced album, the sound is more electric and homogeneous and there is no horn section. We find a powerful introduction with "Where did you take your clothes off last night". Several titles deserve careful listening : "My days are so long", "I gotta move", "I'm tired", "Higher". Other tracks are more conventional although Linsey and his band play very well (Chico Banks, Carlos Showers, Janet Kramer, Andre Howard).

IF YOU AIN'T GOT IT

Hoochie Man

2010

Cette fois, Linsey est entouré d'un producteur - Pete Galanis - qui donne un son Soul-Blues contemporain. D'ailleurs, une section cuivres est de nouveau présente. Le groupe qui l'accompagne est parfaitement homogène et inspiré. Quelques morceaux sont particulièrement convaincants : "If you ain't got it", "Moving to the country", "Why you love me like you did", "Thinking about me".

This time, Linsey is surrounded by a producer - Pete Galanis - who gives a contemporary Soul-Blues sound. Indeed, a horn section is again present. The backing band that accompanies him is perfectly homogeneous and inspired. A few tracks are particularly compelling : "If you ain't got it", "Moving to the country", "Why you love me like you did", "Thinking about me".

BEEN THERE DONE THAT

Delmark

March 2012

Après trois albums autoproduits, Linsey Alexander signe son premier opus pour le label Delmark, co-produisant le disque avec Steve Wagner. Le cocktail Soul-Blues reste parfaitement au point même s'il demeure peu original. Il y propose de nouvelles versions de ses premiers titres ("I had a dream", "Been there done that"). "Looks like it's going to rain", "My mama gave me the blues", "Big woman" ainsi que le surprenant "Saving Robert Johnson" figurent parmi les meilleurs moments de cet album.

After three self-produced albums, Linsey Alexander signed his first album for the Delmark label, co-producing the disc with Steve Wagner. The Soul-Blues cocktail remain perfectly tuned up even if it is not really original. He offers new versions of his first titles ("I had a dream", "Been there done that"). "Looks like it's going to rain", "My mama gave me the blues", "Big woman" and the surprising "Saving Robert Johnson" are among the highlights of this album.

COME BACK BABY

Delmark

February 2014

A plus de 70 ans, Linsey propose avec "Come back baby" son second album chez Delmark après avoir tourné en Europe et en Amérique du Sud. Comme souvent, la production et les musiciens méritent tous les compliments : une section rythmique très efficace (Greg Mac Daniel, Pooky Styx), un ensemble de cuivres parfaitement arrangé (Ryan Nyther, Chris Neal, Bill Mac Farland). On peut retenir "Little bit of soap", "Booze and blues", "Things done changed", "Booty call", "Snowing in Chicago". Il s'agit probablement de son meilleur disque pour l'instant.

Now a 70 years old bluesman, Linsey offers with "Come back baby" his second album on Delmark after touring Europe and South America. As often, the production and musicians deserve all the compliments : a very effective rhythm section (Greg Mac Daniel, Pooky Styx), a brass ensemble perfectly arranged (Ryan Nyther, Chris Neal, Bill Mac Farland). We can point our "Little bit of soap", "Booze and blues", "Things done changed", "Booty call", "Snowing in Chicago". This is probably his best record to date.

TWO CATS

Delmark

January - February 2017

Troisième opus chez Delmark co-produit par Linsey Alexander et Steve Wagner. Comme pour le précédent album, ce Chicago Blues cuivré reste inspiré et remarquablement arrangé. Les sidemen sont tous impeccables : Anthony Palmer supplée parfaitement Linsey à la guitare, E.G. Mac Daniel et Bryant Parker forment une excellente section rythmique, et enfin les souffleurs Kenny Anderson, Hank Ford et Norman Palm constituent une section cuivres irréprochable. Capable de beaux blues lents, de tempos plus funky, Linsey donne plusieurs morceaux mémorables : "Where did you take your clothes off last night", "That ain't right", "Two cats", "Facebook woman", "I'm in love with a woman", "Thinking about me", "Kiss revisited" (avec le rappeur J. Parker).

Third opus for Delmark co-produced by Linsey Alexander and Steve Wagner. As for the previous album, this brassy Chicago Blues remains inspired and remarkably arranged. The sidemen are all impeccable : Anthony Palmer perfectly supplies Linsey on guitar, E.G. Mac Daniel and Bryant Parker form an excellent rhythm section, and finally the blowers Kenny Anderson, Hank Ford and Norman Palm constitute an irreproachable horn section. Capable of beautiful slow blues as well as more funky tempos, Linsey gives several memorable songs : "Where did you take your clothes off last night", "That ain't right", "Two cats", "Facebook woman", "I'm in love with a woman", "Thinking about me", "Kiss revisited" (with rapper J. Parker).

TRIBUTE : DELMARK 65TH ANNIVERSARY

Delmark

2018

Pour cet hommage aux plus grands artistes ayant enregistrés pour le label Delmark, Linsey Alexander accompagné par Billy Flynn rend hommage à Jimmy Dawkins en reprenant "All for business".

For this tribute to the greatest artists who have recorded for the Delmark label, Linsey Alexander accompanied by Billy Flynn pays tribute to Jimmy Dawkins by covering "All for business".

LIVE AT ROSA'S

Delmark

May 2019

Excellent album live capturé sur la scène du club chicagoan Rosa's Lounge. Linsey s'y trouve toujours en grande forme avec son chant puissant et sa guitare incisive. En outre, il est parfaitement épaulé par un groupe très homogène (mention à Roosevelt Purifoy constamment inspiré aux claviers). On apprécie en particulier ses propres compositions comme "My days are so long", "I got a woman", "Snowing in Chicago" et "Going back to my old time used to be".

Excellent live album captured on stage at chicagoan club Rosa's Lounge. Linsey is still there in great shape with his powerful vocals and his incisive guitar. Furthermore, he is perfectly supported by a very homogeneous backing band (mention to Roosevelt Purifoy constantly inspired on keyboards). We particularly appreciate his own compositions such as "My days are so long", "I got a woman", "Snowing in Chicago" and "Going back to my old time used to be".