During his career pianist and singer Memphis Slim excelled at Chicago blues, jump blues and acoustic folk-blues, always being very adaptable. He moved to France in 1962 where he was a star for many years. This double-CD has some of the very best of his recordings for the Barclay label, emphasizing his working groups on the first CD and some all-star dates on the second. There are many exuberant performances on this reissue along with low-down blues and a few instrumentals. Among the guests are bassist Willie Dixon, pianist Roosevelt Sykes (his duets with Slim are delightful), Buddy Guy, Freddie King and even jazz altoist Sonny Criss. Although completists will prefer to get the many original sessions, this two-fer serves as a perfect introduction to the music of Memphis Slim, with the music straddling the boundaries between blues, vintage R&B and swinging jazz. – Scott Yanow