TV Review : All of the Power, None of the Gloss in Blues

“Memphis Slim Live at Ronnie Scott’s,” airing tonight on the Bravo Channel at 7 p.m. and 2 a.m., offers a glimpse of the blues in a form so basic, so shorn of all latter-day sophistication, that the effect is not unlike going through a time warp to the 1920s, when this music was in its first reign of glory.

The pianist and singer, born Peter Chatman in 1915 in Memphis, began recording in Chicago in 1940. He achieved much of his fame vicariously, as the composer of “Every Day I Have the Blues,” which became Joe Williams’ passport to fame. In his own right, though, Slim has long been a favorite, particularly in Europe, where he first toured 30 years ago.

The hour begins with a voice-over in which Slim tells us that his life in the blues suits him fine. An a cappella vocal leads to a clap-along as the crowd at the London club joins in the celebration for “Baby Come Home.”

From that point on it’s blues all the way, whether in the traditional 12-bar form, the 8-bar version as in “How Long Blues,” or the 32-bar blues balladry of “Please Send Me Someone To Love.” He is joined by what is presumably a British group of young musicians, with occasional solos, well attuned to the intense, extrovert mood, by Paul Jones on harmonica and Danny Adler on guitar. A small group of dancers is seen briefly.

Despite changes of tempo, variety is not what one looks for in the blues at this primordial stage. Chord changes, even key changes, are few and far between. Of the 15 tunes, 11 are in the key of C; the others are all in G. Toward the end, during a barrelhouse piano solo, Memphis Slim introduces Slim Gaillard, who joins him for some good-humor, four-hand keyboard work.

All of this might have worked best as a half-hour show, but at any length the reductio ad minimum blues piano and lusty vocal appeal of Memphis Slim is an invaluable slice of history.