01. Dirty Dog [00:04:11]
02. I’m Comin Home [00:04:53]
03. Stay From The Casino [00:03:47]
04. Want Nobody Tell Me How To Live My Life [00:04:14]
05. Tryin To Get Ahead [00:03:25]
06. Name Of The Game [00:03:06]
07. Who Stole The Booty [00:04:42]
08. Why You Wanna Do It [00:03:15]
09. Lonely All By Myself [00:03:35]
10. It’s A Shame [00:03:59]
11. I’m So Tired [00:05:06]
12. Hot Foot [00:02:36]
13. St Louis Woman [00:02:56]

Boo Boo Davis (vocals, harmonica)
Jan Mittendorp (guitar)
John Gerritse (drums, percussion)

From primitive drive to soft blues goes Boo Boo Davis´s newest album "Name Of The Game". The unclad, bassless trio plays with an appropriate less-is-more attitude, still giving depth to the big picture.

Mississippi Delta-born and bred Boo Boo Davis`s latest album "Name Of The Game" is steadfast, primitive blues. Its grooves contain both harshness and soulful moodiness. "Name Of The Game" is the fourth CD by Davis released by Black and Tan Records. Davis grew up with the blues all around him. His father Sylvester Davis played multiple instruments, and jam-sessions at home had friends like Elmore James, John Lee Hooker and Robert Pete Williams - nice guests indeed!

Davis`s own playing career started with the harp when he was five years old. In addition, he sang in the church choir. In the early sixties, he and his brothers had a band, which was involved in the lively blues world of St. Louis. They played as the house band at Tabby`s Red Room for no less than 18 years.

By his side, Davis has a drummer, John Gerritse, and guitarist Jan Mittendorp. Together they make an inspired trio contributing to an album full of interesting and versatile music. Davis has warmth and depth in his voice and his harp has a rich sound to it.

Raw, even primal blues proclaimed in tunes such as "Dirty Dog", "Who Stole the Booty" and "Stay From The Casino" meet with funky "Hot Foot" and the Jimmy Reed-style soft blues tunes "Want Nobody Tell Me How To Live My Life!" and "It`s a Shame".

What might be the highlight of the album is the soul style of "Why You Wanna Do It". Based on a two-chord change swaying back and forth is brilliant in its simplicity. All in all, the music is stripped to its barest and at times creates spaciousness in its monotony.

The spare guitarism of Jan Mittendorp contributes to the authenticity, communicating finely with Davis`s harp-playing. A good band needs a good drummer, and that is what John Gerritse most definitely is. His expressive playing combined with ingenious shifts of rhythm patterns such as found in "Stay From The Casino" give a brilliant rhythmic dimension to the record. The sound of his drums is captured in all its glory at the beginning of "I`m so Tired".

"Name Of The Game" consists entirely of originals by Davis-Mittendorp-Gerritse. They sure have managed in recording an album of authentic blues music in 2008 - one can only imagine how well they work in a live situation. ---L. Raudas, blues-finland.com

Description Boo Boo Davis is a survivor and belongs to one of the last generations of musicians that write and play the blues based on first hand experience of a hard life in the Mississippi Delta. He was born and raised in Drew, Mississippi where times were tough and everybody had to work the fields. Sharecroppers sang loudly to help pass the grueling hours of work and without a doubt Boo Boo developed his loud, bellowing voice based on the singing he heard in the fields as a young boy. All the music and extemporaneous sounds that you'll hear on this record are coming from Boo Boo s vocal chords and harmonica, John s drum kit or Jan s guitars. On the Spring Tour of 2008 they decided to leave out the bass and tour as a trio. The audiences loved it and were amazed all that sound was coming from just three pieces. John created a great drum kit (100% Radio King with real skin heads) around his 60+ years old 28 inch bass drum and Jan bought a baritone guitar and put very heavy strings on his regular guitar. These were the ingredients that produced this big authentic sound. Unlike many modern blues bands, Boo Boo and his band focus on the groove, the feel, and the basic truths found in the blues. Blues doesn t come any realer then this. ---Editorials Reviews, amazon.com

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1. Undercover Blues          play
2. Alligator Blues           play
3. Turkey Walk
4. Don't Drink And Drive
5. Don't Worry Baby
6. Got The Feeling
7. Have A Good Time
8. Xmas Blues
9. Train My Baby Is On
10. Shoot The Dice
11. Number One
12. Thank You Dave

Personnel: 
Boo Boo Davis (vocals, harp); 
Jan Mittendorp (guitar); 
John Gerritse (drums).

Boo Boo Davis is a survivor and belongs to the last generations of musicians that write and play the blues based on first hand experience of a hard life in the Mississippi Delta. He was born and raised in Drew, Mississippi in the heart of Delta. It was the richest cotton land in the South and the large amounts of field workers attracted the best musicians from the surrounding areas. The entire Delta region was rich with blues, but the town of Drew was a particularly fertile one.

Even though Boo Boo moved north to St. Louis, he will always be a southerner at heart. When he is at home (and not performing) his favorite pastimes are hunting with his dogs and fishing. During Boo Boo's childhood there was no time or money for him to go to school so he never learned to read and write. However that did not prevent him to travel all over the world. Following his guiding spirit (that he calls Dave) Boo Boo has found a way to deal with modern society. The blues helps him to keep his spirit high and survive day-to-day life. It deals with all the basic raw elements of life; good and bad, plain and simple. The latest record is called UNDERCOVER BLUES and was released in December 2010. All songs were played live in the studio without any overdubs and for most songs the first take turned out to be the best one. This is exactly how they sound live. Unlike many modern blues bands, Boo Boo and his band focus on the groove, the feel, and the basic truths found in the blues. Blues doesn’t come any ‘realer’ than this.

Stereotyp bluesmana-analfabety, którego dzieciństwo obracało się wokół zbierania bawełny i śpiewania pieśni o swym niełatwym losie wydaje się być dla niektórych czymś bardzo archaicznym. Boo Boo Davis z lubością podkreśla swe wiejskie pochodzenie, co czyni z niego chodzący skansen minionych czasów. Holenderski gitarzysta Jan Mittendorp wykorzystał potencjał drzemiący w bluesmanie, dzięki czemu możemy nacieszyć uszy kolejnym albumem z certyfikatem autentyczności.

Współcześni fani bluesa wiele daliby zapewne, by choć na moment przenieść się w czasy dzieciństwa Boo Boo Davisa. Mieliby szanse poznać po sąsiedzku Johna Lee Hookera, Muddy’ego Watersa i Elmore’a Jamesa w ich naturalnym środowisku. I mimo, że dziś Boo Boo Davis z dumą opowiada o swych młodzieńczych znajomościach, to wówczas przy nadarzającej się okazji szybko pozbył się patriotyzmu lokalnego i wyruszył w podróż w poszukiwaniu sławy i pieniędzy. Skutkiem tego teraz my, Polacy, możemy za sprawą albumu "Undercover Blues" spojrzeć na świat oczami Boo Boo Davisa.

Zespół Boo Boo Davisa, prócz wyżej wymienionego składa się także ze wspomnianego wcześniej Jana Mittendorpa (gitara) i Johna Gerritse’a (perkusja). Jak łatwo zauważyć, brakuje basu, ale na szczęście Jan Mittendorp poradził sobie z tym w sprytny sposób obniżając strój gitary. W efekcie otrzymujemy czysty, nieprzetworzony blues, który zaspokoi gusta nawet najbardziej wybrednych purystów. Płyta stanowi niestety krok wstecz względem zeszłorocznego "Ain't Gotta Dime". Wiele schematów powtarza się w ciągu całego albumu, a jedynym jego świeżym atrybutem jest utwór w stylistyce gospel. Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, że 12 zarejestrowanych na "setkę" kompozycji stanowi namacalny dowód nieśmiertelności tradycyjnego bluesa. Miłośnicy rasowego wokalu z pewnością docenią także głęboki i mocny śpiew Boo Boo, który wzbogaca frazy wokalne dźwiękami harmonijki.

Trójka bluesmanów po raz kolejny pokazała, na co ich stać. "Undercover Blues" dobrze wpisuje się w dorobek wytwórni Black & Tan Records i wydaje się być świetną propozycją dla osób ceniących sobie naturalność i surowość brzmienia. Pozostaje mi tylko wypowiedzieć słynną frazę wykrzykiwaną przez Boo Boo, która odnosi się do jego patrona duchowego: "Thank you Dave!". --Kuba Chmiel

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1. Mountain Top Top 
2. Leave It Alone 
3. Crown Royal 
4.The Snake 
5. Mike In Jail	 
6. Where Was My Baby 
7. Moley Man	 
8. Keep Your Car Locked 
9. Shut That Door 
10. Riplin 
11. Sure Had A Wonderful Time
12. Don't Bother My Shoes 

Personnel: 
James "Boo Boo" Davis (vocals, harmonica); 
Wybren Feenstra (piano); 
Roel Spanjers (Hammond b-3 organ); 
Jasper Mortier (bass guitar); 
JJ Goossens (drums); 
Jan Mittendorp (guitar); 
Tommy Schneller (saxophone); 
Cortez (percussion).

The third album by St. Louis' Boo Boo Davis, 2004's The Snake, is a small departure for the singer and harmonica player. Where 2001's East St. Louis and 2002's Can Man were straight up old-school electric blues with a very strong early Chicago influence, The Snake hedges its stylistic bets by incorporating more of an R&B feel more along the lines of Robert Cray's soulful but poppy albums. The problem is that the album doesn't commit itself fully either to Davis' early Howlin' Wolf-oriented style (the old-school pomade anthem "Crown Royal," which incorporates a vocal sound that approximates the classic old Chess Records' sound) or to the newfound, sleeker and more stylish direction (the smooth "Where Was My Baby," which one assumes Bonnie Raitt has on her "to cover" checklist), which makes it sound a bit scattered and unfocused. Davis acquits himself well on the soul-influenced material, and a full album of it would be quite enjoyable, but this, unfortunately, is not that album. --- Stewart Mason, allmusic.com

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1. Sad Thing	 
2. We're In Hell 
3. Somebody Have Mercy 
4. Hard Times	 
5. East St Louis 
6. Ice Storm 
7. Talkin' 'Bout My Dogs 
8. Ain't Got No Problems 
9. What Makes A Fool Fall In Love	 
10. Walk That Walk 
11. I Had A Dream	 
12. Walk On Tall

Personnel: 
James "Boo Boo" Davis (vocals, drums); 
Larry Griffin (guitar); 
Arthur Williams (harmonica); 
Bob Lohr (piano); 
Roel Spanjers (organ); 
Greg Edick (bass); 
Frank Bolder (drums).

People get ready! Here's some smokin blues coming straight outa da River City by the name of Boo Boo Davis! His debut disc, titled with props to the home of Jackie Joyner Kersee and the original Blue Note Club, "East St. Louis", is hands down the freshest rockin blues release of the new millenium. I first heard my favorite track, "Ice Storm" on the local community radio station while stuck in traffic homeward bound. Coulda swore Howlin Wolf found some old tapes of his earlier days, but Boo Boo Davis' voice roars in his own singular way. The Hammond B-3 organ punctuates and modulates the beat, and a steely cold, razor sharp guitar kicks in reminiscent of Stevie Ray Vaughn. For those of you standin outside of clubs in San Francisco waiting for Wolf to show up (and my brother will testify its worth the wait!) here is something that will keep you nodding to the jam. To those of us who need to keep a fresh supply of white-hot blues waiting to break out of the next traffic jam, here it is. Boo Boo Davis got it goin on! --- C. G. Miller, amazon.com

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1. Silvermine 
2. Ten Thousand Dollar 
3. Watch Yourself 
4. My Baby Got Me Fixed 
5. Man Who Be Around 
6. Ain't Gotta Dime 
7. Boo Boo Blues 
8. Cake Lady	 
9. Don't Wait Too Late 
10. Standing At The Fishbank 
11. Let Me Ride With You 
12. Got My Loving, Now You're Gone 
13. Cryin' Blues 
14. There's A Roach Crawlin'

Musicians:
Boo Boo Davis (vocals, harmonica); 
Jan Mittendorp (guitar).

The rough-and-tumble vocal style of Boo Boo Davis recalls the unrefined gruffness of a Hound Dog Taylor, Son Seals, or Elmore James. His harmonica is not as potent as peers or predecessors, but it is finely honed and tasteful enough to rank him as one of the better modern-day players. This set of originals based in the electric urban Chicago blues tradition should set listeners on their collective ear just enough to notice that he's an honest, get-down performer who takes no prisoners, belting out his songs in total confidence. With help from drummer John Gerritse, electric guitarist Jan Mittendorp, and no bassist, Davis romps and stomps along with a no-nonsense Mississippi Delta foundation, a slightly funky stance, and an authentic, uncut soul. His themes are typical, though the stomping "Silvermine" is tough as can be in a wishful-thinking manner, "Standing at the Fishbank" is a shuffle blues that refers to hanging out on a riverbank trying to catch a meal while perhaps also being at the corner ATM, and "My Baby Got Me Fixed" is a foot-sure tune that seems happy in an unwieldy situation. "There's a Roach Crawlin" is a hot-assed rock song where Davis is bugged that "the roach won't leave me alone." "Ain't Gotta Dime" is steady as a rock and the slower "Ten Thousand Dollars" features the best and most pungent harmonica of Davis, both songs immersed in the universal dilemma of having it all or being dead broke, with nothing in between. Then there's the downhearted "Cryin Blues," where Davis' sour harmonica is heard perhaps to its detriment, and "Got My Loving, Now You're Gone" is in a similar mood. More upbeat and positive, the novelty "Cake Lady" has Davis enjoying his woman's baking skills alongside some fine slide guitar work from Mittendorp, and "Man Who Be Around" emphasizes that Davis is always present and accounted for, no matter the situation, in a reply to skittish previous suitors. As first takes in the studio, there's a rawness and even an occasional hard rock feeling due to the distorted vocal production values, apparently intentional. You can identify influences of the Hooker brothers, Taylor's inimitable slide work by Mittendorp, and a contemporary quality that does not stray into smoother soul. If you like your uptown blues unfettered, in the moment, and untreated, Boo Boo Davis is likely your man. ---Michael G. Nastos, allmusic.com

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