The Toronto Sessions Vol. 1

Blues guitarist Archie Edwards was 68 years old in 1986 when he recorded these sessions in Toronto. Its release 15 years later was cause for blues fans' joy and sorrow. Thought it was great to finally have available, it's unfortunate that Edwards wasn't recorded more often; his natural approach to the blues is timeless. While too many blues releases at the beginning of the 21st century prefer to mask the guts and soul of the performance with glossy over-production, the spirit of Edwards' heroes, Mississippi John Hurt and Blind Lemon Jefferson, come shining through. Highlights include Edwards' reworking of Sitting on Top of the World, How Long Blues, Meet Me in the Bottom, and Poor Me. According to the informative liner notes by Barry Lee Pearson, enough material was recorded in Toronto to warrant a second disc. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide