Will,
Cyril was one English guy that got pretty close to that authentic sound and feel. Thursday nights at the Marquee in Oxford Street used to really steam. I knew Long John for a number of years and Cyril for the last two years or so that he was with us. Loaned me his 9 string guitar for a few weeks to try out and I also got a chance to pick his custom made 12 string with the gold plated fittings back stage one night when we got him a big gig at the Royal Albert Hall along with Peter, Paul and Mary and Ramblin Jack and others. I remember when Sleepy John Estes was "re-discovered" discussing it with Cyril. He said it couldn't be because Big Bill Broonzy had told Cyril that Estes was dead. Sadly Cyril was dead himself before Estes came over to Europe. Cyril went just as the blues boom was taking off in the UK and he missed visits by so many of his heroes. If he had still been around it would have been the Cyril Davies Allstars backing Little Walter at is first UK gig at the Marquee instead of John Baldry and the later version of almost the same band.
Sorry if I am rambling but it was a great scene and now virtually all the giants of the blues have gone. C'est la vie.

Hoot