OTIS SPANN - ROBERT LOCKWOOD - OTIS SPANN IS THE BLUES (180g IMP LP)

Another absolute gem from Alan Bates’s Candid label this must be probably Otis Spann's finest piece of work on wax. He may not have been the blues, but he was sure close to being the blues pianist. Spann provided wonderful, imaginative, tasty piano solos and better-than-average vocals, and was arguably the best player whose style was more restrained than animated. Not that he couldn't rock the house, but Spann's forte was making you think as well as making you dance.