John Primer opened up his most recent tour in Albany, and the city was given a special treat of what it was like to listen to the traditional Chicago Blues sound that came out of Chess Records in the ’50s and ’60s, in a club setting, exactly where the blues are supposed to be heard.

If you love Muddy Waters, this is the band to see. At one-time, John Primer was Muddy’s guitarist, as well Magic Slim’s. He’s soaked in the history of the Chicago Blues sound and came dressed for the occasion: fedora, vest and tie, just like the old days, when a bluesman dressed in a suit.

The minute Primer sang his first note, it was if Muddy was in the room. The band had a strong rhythm section with Lenny Media on drums and Danny O’Connnor on bass,  and very talented harmonica player, Steve Bell, a staple of the Chicago sound. They played a number of Muddy’s and Willie Dixon’s songs such as “Hoochie Choochie Man” and “I’m Ready.”

Primer mixed up his playing between straight-up guitar and slide guitar. He certainly captured Muddy’s unique sound, while the harmonica player played in the style of Little Walter and James Cotton. He also produced a unique sound of his own while playing single notes on the harmonica. It always amazes me when I listen to older musicians and the dexterity some of them still possess andPrimer is no exception. The crowd was mixed, but, as seems the norm when I attend shows, the majority of the audience was older and enthusiastic, and the band certainly felt their appreciation. The show brought back memories of seeing Muddy Waters back in the early ’70s with Johnny Winter.

I met drummer Lenny Media before they took the stage, and to those of you from Albany, he remarked that Albany was a nice city. That’s coming from a Chicago blues man.

—Glenn Bohan