THE MANNISH BOYS "THAT REPRESENT MAN" Liner Notes by Scott Dirks

The Mannish Boys are the closest thing to a blues "super group" you're likely to find this day and age. Assembled from the very top echelon of west coast blues veterans, this group is more top-heavy with true blues talent than many blues festivals. Of the eleven musicians who contribute to the CD, seven are bona fide recording artists in their own rights, with numerous acclaimed releases over a 50-plus year span. Veterans Finis Tasby, Roy Gaines, Mickey Champion and Johnny Dyer all take turns leading the Mannish Boys. But even without them, this is a formidable group on its own, with guitarists Kirk Fletcher and Frank "Paris Slim" Goldwasser, former Ike & Tina Turner Revue pianist Leon Blue, and the rhythm section of drummer June Core (Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Charlie Musselwhite, Robert Jr. Lockwood, et al) and bassist Ronnie James Weber (most recently with The Fabulous Thunderbirds). Veteran harp player Randy Chortkoff (who masterminded the project and produced the CD), and Paul Oscher, formerly of the Muddy Waters band, also make appearances. It would be virtually impossible to name an important blues figure from the last half century who someone in this aggregation has not played, recorded, or jammed with at some point or another. The Mannish Boys are one of the most exciting, experienced, and professional acts to emerge in this millennium - and may be the last of their era.