Alabama Slim The Parlor
Alabama Slim
The Parlor
Music Maker Relief Foundation/Cornelius Chapel Records
Milton Frazier a.k.a. Alabama Slim was born in Vance, Alabama in March of 1939. His father worked at the Pullman Plant, the manufacturer of railroad cars, and his mother a housekeeper. His parents listened to 78’s on an old Victoria turntable, and as a youngster he fell in love with the music of Lightnin’ Hopkins and Big Bill Broonzy.
Slim moved to New Orleans in 1965 where he still resides. “I came to New Orleans after hurricane Betsy. Got me a job with a moving company and then one making cooking oil. My cousin Freddie King was drinking hard in those days, and I was too. We jammed every once in a while. By the time the 80’s rolled around I was not doing much but Freddie always checked on me. By the 90’s I got myself together and we have been the best of friends ever since, tighter than brothers really; there is not a day goes by when we do not speak or see each other.”
Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans on August 29th, 2005; and both Slim and Little Freddie lost all their worldly possessions. Together they settled in a Dallas apartment complex where they spent their days working up old and new songs. Drummer/producer Ardie Dean recorded one of their sessions. When Music Maker Relief Foundation founder Tim Duffy heard the session he asked them to come to North Carolina to record. In 2007 Slim, Little Freddie, and Ardie cut their first album “The Mighty Flood”. Three years later Slim, with the assistance of Freddie and Ardie, recorded a follow-up album “Blue & Lonesome”. In 2013, Slim recorded with Ironing Board Sam and Robert Lee Coleman; and also appears on Music Makers 2019 compilation “Blue Muse”.
On June 7th, 2019 Slim, Little Freddie and Ardie entered the New Orleans recording studio “The Parlor”. During post production Matt Patton of the Drive-By Truckers was added on bass, and Jimbo Mathus of the Squirrel Nut Zippers added on piano and organ. “Slim and King’s guitars interweave with Dean’s masterful drumming to create a driving boogie, with Slim’s soothing vocals sprawled out on top, reminiscent of John Lee Hooker”. The album is produced by Ardie Dean, and Tim & Denise Duffy.
The ten tracks include new masterpieces from Slim including the opener “Hot Foot”; “Rob Me Without A Gun”, “Rock With Me Momma” and “Midnight Rider” featuring outstanding vocals; retooled classics “Rock Me Baby” and “Someday Baby”, special guest Little Freddie King’s lead on “Freddie’s VooDoo Boogie” and Slim’s timely politically charged “Forty Jive”.
The final product is a lesson in perseverance, fifty years in the making, Slim holds dear to the blues he learned growing up in Alabama. An instant classic.
Richard Ludmerer
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