Gloria hardiman biography

Description

Steve Freund & Gloria Hardiman – Set Me Free
Delmark DE 837 (2014)
Compact Disc

Born and raised in Brooklyn, blues guitarist Steve Freund was reborn a Chicagoan when he relocated in 1976. The list of people he’s played with reads like a Who’s Who of Chicago blues legends – including Sunnyland Slim, Luther Allison, Lonnie Brooks, Otis Rush, Koko Taylor, Johnny Littlejohn and Big Walter Horton. Originally issued on the Razor label, this 1983 album was Steve’s debut as leader. Set Me Free teams him up with vocalist Gloria Hardiman, whose voice was one of the richest, toughest blues voices on the Chicago scene at the time…a voice that’ll steal your soul and take it right up to heaven. Contains four bonus tracks including the previously unissued tracks “Homework” and “Kiddio” along with two by Ken Saydak, keyboardist for the whole album, from a rare ’83 Razor single.

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The late keyboard wizard “Professor” Eddie Lusk and his vocalist partner Gloria Hardiman communicated a joyous, gospel-influenced passion within their blues. The band they shared was among the tightest in the city.

The Professor, born in 1948, was a minister’s son and began playing piano in church before becoming a regular in the Chicago blues clubs. Gloria sang with gospel greats Andrae Crouch and James Cleveland before fronting the blues combo called The Blueprints for an album on Razor Records. She also contributed a memorable guest appearance to Roy Buchanan’s first Alligator LP, When A Guitar Plays The Blues. The Professor cut sessions with Jimmy Johnson, Phil Guy, Koko Taylor, Sunnyland Slim, and Syl Johnson, and was heavily involved in the local gospel scene.

Professor Eddie Lusk died tragically in 1992. Gloria Hardiman has retired from the blues, though she still sings gospel. Just before his death, Professor cut an album for Delmark with vocalist Karen Carroll. His session for Alligator’s The New Bluebloods remains the only document of Professor and Gloria. Their version of the “Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On” has become a “hit” in the Carolina beach music scene.

Discography

1987 The New Bluebloods (Alligator)
1993 Professor Strut (Delmark) (with Karen Carroll)

The guitar players may get most of the glory, but some of the most satisfying music to be heard in Chicago`s blues clubs comes from the ladies who sing.

One of the best of them is Gloria Hardiman, a fixture at North Side clubs like Blue Chicago and Blue Chicago on Clark, the Wise Fools Pub and B.L.U.E.S.

Like many blues singers, Hardiman got her start singing gospel, and she has sung with Andrae Crouch and James Cleveland`s gospel groups. Since she began singing blues professionally a little over 10 years ago, Hardiman has turned into one of the local scene`s most dynamic performers.

On a foggy night a decent-sized crowd braved the late winter doldrums to hear Hardiman and her quintet at their regular Monday night gig at Blue Chicago. There were visitors conversing in Japanese and German, guys in plaid shirts and jeans and three women sitting together at the bar.

In typical Chicago blues band style the band warmed the crowd up before Hardiman took the stage. Herbie Hancock`s jazz-funk instrumental ”Chameleon” established the group`s musical credentials. Tenor saxophonist Lawrence Fields blew soulfully over a thundering groove provided by bassist Al Brown and drummer Brady Williams, while Willie White on keyboards and Larry Skoller on guitar added some percussive chording.

Stepping out from behind his keyboard, the pint-sized White proved a fine singer as well. His smoky vocals on ”Take Me to the River” sounded uncannily like Al Green`s on the original recording.

By the time the evening`s star was introduced, the crowd was sufficiently defrosted. Perhaps best described as Rubenesque, Hardiman provided a striking figure with her bright red dress and thick mane of curls.

Hardiman`s first song, the jazz-samba ”Rio de Janeiro Blues” seemed an odd choice, and her gritty vocals seemed at odds with the tune`s sophisticated chord changes.

Thankfully, the bulk of Hardiman`s repertoire consists of tried and true blues standards. T