For someone who’s been to Czechoslovakia and Switzerland, played with Howlin’ Wolf and for Mick Jagger, it sure has taken a long time to get this guy live on record with his own band. Of course, blues pianist Gray (Wolf’s right hand man for many years) isn’t going to make blues history as a solo act, but he is one helluva pianist, and when backed by the Cats—not to mention slide fiend Sonny Landreth, who was also present last March in Lafayette when this show was in progress—he can certainly convey that sawdust-on-the-floor atmosphere to those of us not fortunate enough to have made it to the show. The set is pure crowd pleaser, dragging out every war horse from “Sweet Home Chicago” to “Stagger Lee”, but Gray IS a vet, and he and his company have a knack for breathing life into the old numbers, if not exactly shining them up brand-new. For a pleasant surprise, skip right to his barrelhouse version of Chubby Checker’s (or, more accurately, Hank Ballard’s) “The Twist”. For real authenticity, dig the extended patter on the intro to Big Maceo Merriweather’s “Worried Life Blues,” grab a couple of cold longnecks, and make a note to pay attention to Gray’s tour schedule next time.