Blues & Rhythm - No 159 May 2001

Little George is the former harp player and co-vocalist with Big Joe Louis and His Blues Kings, so regular readers will know that means this set had to be checked out sharpish. I have rated Big Joe and his boys the toughest UK blues outfit of the last twenty years. Nowadays, Big Joe is fronting the Big Town Playboys and George has also struck out on his own. His debut release shows of the many influences he has, as a harp player and a vocalist.Thats everything from Snooky Pryor, J.B. Lenoir, J.B.Hutto, Muddy Waters through to soulful singers such as Johnnie Taylor and the under-rated Clay Hammond.
His years of supporting visiting US blues artists and touring with guys like Jack Johnson, Big Bad Smitty, John Primer, Honey Boy and the late Booba Barnes have paid off.
George is a confident, talented and skilled performer and as an added bonus, he writes his own material too!
Laid down in November 1999 and June last year at London's Toerag Studios, George is well supported by David Purdy on guitar, Matt Radford on bass and Chilly Watts on drums.
For good measure Lazy Lester helps out on five tracks and former Ike Turner Review singer Jimmy Thomas, helps out on two sides. Besides harmonica and vocals George plays guitar on eight cuts as well. Of the home grown material stand out tracks include the opener, 'Living In The City', 'Finger Lickin' and the two cuts with Jimmy Thomas, '3-6-9' and the co-penned 'Everyday About This Time', a wonderful ballard with Thomas harmonising wonderfully in the background. The spoken chorus on the number also sounds remarkably like Little Sonny Warner on 'There Is Something On Your Mind'.
Lazy Lester is on hand with his laconic and 'way back in the woods' harmonica on a fine cover of Johnny Ace's 'The Clock', Lester also appears on 'Papers' and he also plays rhythm guitar on 'Treat Your Daddy Right' as well as on the aforementioned 'Papers'.
Besides the Ace classic, George turns in top notch covers of John Lee Henley's 'Rhythm Rockin' Boogie', Robert Petway's 'Catfish', Wolf's 'I'm Leavin' and Ike Turner's 'Further On Down The Line'.
A smashing debut from the UK's brightest blues hope. Check out the specialist stores and mail order outlets for your copy. - Tony Burke

Blue Suede News (USA) - No 55 Aug 2001

Little George played with Big Joe Louis, who we've reviewed and also saw at the first Viva Las Vegas.
George's old school blues, recorded the old way, is truly excellent, and he's joined on a few tracks by none other than Lazy Lester on harp, guitar and rhythm board. Sueref plays lead guitar and harmonica,and also sings as well as writing fine tunes. Everything about the recording screams "real deal" and in addition to originals it features tunes from Johnny Ace ('The Clock'), Howlin' Wolf ('I'm leaving'), Robert Petway ('Catfish'), Ike Turner ('Further on down the line') and John Lee Henly ('Rhythm Rockin' Boogie'), plus one co-written and sung as a duet with Jimmy Thomas. George's singing is really great, and all the playing is soulful and in the pocket. Fans of the laid back swamp blues should really enjoy this over and over!
It's available from Hepcat, too, or order from Pussycat Records, 124 Knollys Road, London,SW16 2JU, England.

Juke Blues - No 49 Spring 2001

Followers of Big Joe Louis' 'Blues Kings' will need no introduction to Little George.
His powerful harp blowing is near-legendary, and when he opens his mouth a sweet, high register voice floats out, as soulful as you like. He plays some guitar too, and when he does, who better to take over the harp duties than Lazy Lester! Jimmy Thomas turns up as well, adding additional vocals to a couple of tracks.The small combo sound reeks of authenticity, and, with 10 original songs out of 15, this is a really impressive debut album.
Try to catch George live, and grab yourself a copy. - Alan Empson

 

Mojo Album of the month - No 92 July 2001

Highly individual debut album by the Brit-based harmonica player, guitarist and singer, formerly with Big Joe Louis & The Blues Kings.

Despite titles like 'Treat Your Daddy Right' and '3-6-9', most of Sueref's songs are his own compositions, but their shapes and sounds are deeply rooted in '50s/'60s downhome blues - the sort of music found on Sun, Chess, Excello and obscure Chicago indie labels. 'Feel So Lonesome' runs on the rails of 'Mystery Train', 'Living In The City' uses a Magic Sam riff, while 'Tell Your Mother' oozes the flavour of Lightnin' Slim and Lazy Lester. Appropriately, Lester contributes to five of the CD's tracks. Sueref is not the only musician drawing on these sources - though, like his sometime leader, he's wonderfully skilful at refreshing them - but he's unique in rejecting the vocal models of Muddy or Wolf for the plaintive high register of J. B. Lenoir or Ted Taylor.
For more info contact:
Pussycat Records, 124 Knollys Road, Streatham, London SW16 2JU. - Tony Russell

fROOTS Feature Article - No 222 December 2001

New king of London blues

George is one of that select few who are able to take their chosen influences and craft them into their own, strongly identifiable sound. In George's case this is a grit 'n' groove gumbo of wailin' Southern fried soul and down-home blues, closer in spirit to some mid point between Memphis and New Orleans than his London home. His album Little George Sueref & The Blue Stars (released earlier this year on his own Pussycat label) has broken out of the blues scene and gained glowing praise and airplay from the likes of Charlie Gillett and Andy Kershaw. So who is he? How come his voice is so darn soulful? And where did he get that lonesome, wailing harmonica sound from?