A veteran of the old Beale Street scene and once a partner of the legendary
Memphis Slim,
Laury never got his shot at fame and fortune, or even the opportunity to cut a record. Now, approaching his 80th birthday,
Laury finally made his debut and shows on this rollicking, highly delightful CD that his boisterous voice and piano skills remain in good shape. Every number is an original, as
Laury opens the session with some uncensored remembrances about old Southern sanitary habits. From there, you get terse, spirited singing, powerful left and right hand piano lines, and a percussive, pounding attack that features octave-jumping forays and furious phrasing. One record can't correct a lifetime of being unfairly overlooked, but it can go a long way. ~ Ron Wynn