The passing of Jimmy T-99 Nelson makes I.J. Goseyยs Sunday Afternoon Blues Party all the more a treasure. One of only a handful of session players from the legendary Duke-Peacock recording sessions still working, Gosey is the realest of deals, a bluesman who not only lives to play but plays it like his lifeยs on the line. Goseyยs one of the jazziest, smartest, most economical players ever to pick up a six-string ย and heยs as humble, modest and intelligent a man as youยre likely to find in the blues game. He played a jillion gigs and zillion studio sessions before he finally released a recording under his own name. This guy hits you where you live. Lucky us.
This article appears in Aug 9-15, 2007.