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Swimming In Turpentine-Woodbrain Yellow Dog YDR 1678 2009 A chill and evil wind sloughs through the North Mississippi pines with echoes of moonshine stills, midnight demons, lynchings, Parchman Farm and indentured servitude resonating in the pounding, grinding, rocking fury of Woodbrain. A Portland , OR quartet of deeply visceral attack and righteous reality, these guys put it down hard with free explorations, cranking intensity, emotional maelstroms and instrumental fecundity. They create a caustic blend of sharp edged North MS hill country and Delta influenced roots that rocks like a tornado. Whether rocking steady or rolling on hypnotically, their sound is honest and brutally clear with a refreshingly original mix of boogie, smoke, Hill Country and ZZ Top mixed into one potent stew of blasting, rock your world different strokes. Whether laying down or riding high, the guitar, banjo and vocals of Joe McMurrian, lowdown and eerie organ of Jason Honi, Dave Lipkin’s psychotic harp and back-up vocals are all tied together by the skintight drumming of Jimi Bott who has also anchored such as Rod Piazza and Mark Hummel. Together, they create an acoustically impactive, visually reminiscent sound that takes the lead of NMA and brings it further with a platter of significant originals and Bukka White’s “Shake ‘Em On Down”. When you yearn for pedal to the metal boogieing, slow burn malevolence and extended hallucinogenic jams, there’s just a word to the wise, turn on these guys. 9 snaves For Rosa, Maeve and Noreen-Samuel James Northern Blues NBM 0056 2009 Samuel James is so ultimate, from his musicianship, his attitude, his expression and his real panache. He sings like Greg Brown and wails on slide like a screaming banshee. He is so fluent, so fluid and so phenomenal. Sam is the real man. His unique vocal phrasing and timbre blends with every stringed tool from Resonator, Flamenco and 12 string axes, 5 and 6 string banjos, piano and foot stomping percussion that quivers and shakes as he gives life to a great disk. James’ choice of song material ranges wide and smooth with a good time groove and complete instrumental mastery. He must be channeling. His soul is in contact with Son House. Picking, sliding, piano and harp resound with powerful skill as applied to works influenced by Skip James, Gus Cannon,Charley Patton and Sonny Terry. Samuel is a pre-war blues compendium who takes Keb’mo and Taj on into the 21st century with high style. His approach is that of a storyteller covering the tales and topics of blues from infidelity and jailhouse time to the Southern Black experience and even riotous laughter but all are first and foremost about the story, done to the music. There’s dark apprehension and Delta profundity delivered in the old fashioned way, with the tradition running through the veins of a true bluesman. Sam’s great North woods Maine childhood as an orphan only adds a deeper dimension to his stories and veneer to the old spirit of Samuel James! 9.5 snaves Pleasure and Pain-Dennis Jones Blue Rock records 2009 Dennis Jones makes excellent blues. His smoky tenor is expressive and authentic. The songs are cooking, driving, in a groove, propelling pleasure and pain with the sure footed balance of a tiger. Jones’ axe is something special with a fine appreciation for dynamics, a searing lead and the rare ability to flow in long, continuous, sinewy yet melodic lines. The lyrics are emotional, mature and to the point whether crying against loss or hoping for better days as well as when dealing with other relationship involved conundrums. Jones has spent his wood shedding time well and his playing blends everything from Santana and Jimi to the Kings and soul serenading into a country fried stew of heat. Songs are as intense as “Sunday Morning Rain” which is told from the perspective of a husband whose wife has a terminal disease or the hot, funk horn blaster opener called “Brand New Day.” Dennis is a new talent that you owe it to yourself to get in touch with. Cooking. 9 snaves The Garden of Joy-Maria Muldaur Stony Plain SPCD 1332 2009 As the album suggests, this is “good time music for hard times.” Going back to the blues and her own personal roots, Maria unleashes a platter of good, ol’ timey jugband music of 1930s vintage and they knew a thing of two about hot music and hard times! Joined by many former Kweskin jugband mates from way back in Greenwich Village along with John Sebastian, Taj Mahal and David Grisman, the results are a whole passel of original pieces along with several new compositions that are co-written with Dan Hicks. This is like a nip of bootleg moonshine a sip of lemonade and an old porch swing and is so fine. 8 snaves
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