Notes

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This monumental 1970 release is Al Kooper's follow-up to the enormously successful Kooper Session (1968). This volume squares multi-instrumentalist Kooper (keyboards/guitars) with guitar savant Shuggie Otis — son of the seminal Bay Area R&B singer/bandleader/disc jockey/composer Johnny Otis. The pairing creates an inspired collection of sounds whose success leans as much on Kooper's experience as it does on Otis' sheer, inspired, youthful energy. It should be noted that Shuggie Otis was concurrently only 15 years of age and had already been featured as a soloist on the senior Johnny Otis' album, Cold Shot (1968). As with its predecessor, Kooper Sessions, Vol. 2 is split between several shorter self-contained "songs" and a few extended blues instrumentals. Kooper and Otis lead the combo of Stu Woods (bass), Wells Kelly (drums), and — during several tracks featuring Kooper on electric organ — Mark Klingman (piano). While there isn't a gram of excess to be found, several cuts are worthy of mention as they are particularly potent reminders of the musical malleability of Al Kooper and the six- and 12-stringed genius of Shuggie Otis. The lead track is a reworking of what may be most recognized as "In My Time of Dyin'." Kooper has overhauled it as a high-steppin' full-blown gospel number, "Bury My Body." The track also features the combined efforts of Hilda Harris, Albertine Robinson, and friends. The cover of Booker T. & the MG's' "Double or Nothing" is absolutely dead perfect — with Otis nailing the Steve Cropper solo. "Shuggie's Old Time Slide Boogie" features a stunning piano/bottleneck slide combo that is 100 percent vintage 78 rpm blues — replete with vinyl surface noise. The other two jams — "12:15 Slow Goonbash Blues" and "Shuggie's Shuffle" — are live and unrehearsed instrumentals.