"June 2002 CD Reviews" by Steve"Big Daddy BluzHarp"Harvell http://bluzharp.tripod.com

Cds and products that I review are rated from (1) to (7) Harps

1. (Bluz Harmonica) 35th Anniversary Jam of "The James Cotton Blues Band" Telarc Blues Stereo CD www.telarc.com
   
   www.jamescottonsuperharp.com
   
   Sure is good to know that ol' James is still getting on down with it , just like in the old days when he was as wide open as a barn door . Now I will tell you like it is , James is not thirty years old anymore and age catches up to us all . But his style of playing now is so advanced that he uses a slightly different approach to his playing , making up for sheer muscle/lung power by showing that with breath control and making notes more tonefull he can still out play/boogie harp players half his age.
   
   Helping out James on this CD is Kenny Neal , Koko Taylor , Shemekie Copeland , Syl Johnson , Jimmie Vaughn , G E Smith , Kim Wilson , Maria Muldaur , Ronnie Hawkins ,Lucky Peterson , Bobby Rush , and Derek O' Brian .
   
   Here are the tunes = Don't Start Me Talking / The Creeper / I've Got A Feeling / Cotton Crop Blues / Fatuation / How Long Can A Fool Go Wrong ? / Rocket 88 / Blues In My Sleep / River's Invitation / All Walks Of Life / Hold Me Baby / Blues For The Hook .
   
   I have been on this planet in my living/breathing state of being for over 50 years now and I know what the blues is all about people , having come from a tobacco/cotton/hog farm myself . And James Cotton is still giving us no bullshit/old school/state of the art blues . James does not play glossed over crap that is going around these days being passed off as blues . This CD gets my highest rating , a (7) Harp BluzHarp Rating as well as my "Nasty Harp" Award, people there is nothing more hair raising/chill bumping on the skin than that nasty sound of a soulfull harmonica and James comes thru in flying colors.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !
   
   
2. (Bluz Guitar) Omar And The Howlers "Big Delta" Blind Pig recordswww.blindpigrecords.com
   
   "Omar & The Howlers" website www.omarandthehowlers.com
   
   On this CD Omar handles the vocals and guitar duties , Roscoe Beck keeps the groove on bass , Malcom"Papa Mali"Welbourne plays guitar/electric sitar/dobro , B.E. "Frosty" Smith on drums as well as Terry Bozzio www.terrybozzio.com on drums .
   
   Omar has been around for many years now and plays the blues and boogie the way few can do today with the experience/expertise/soul/and sincerety that is evident from the first note as the cd starts to turn . This is one of the chosen cds as I like to call them , I can recommemned with a full heart and KNOW that it will blow your socks off .
   
   Omar has the voice of "Howlin' Wolf" and "Wolfman Jack" all rolled up into one but it is so smooth and with authority whether it is a slow burner or boogie shuffle .As most of you know by now I am a bit opnioniated when it comes to the blues and Omar is a man with a plan and he executes like a field general but still a bit loose around the edges to keep everything on the EDGE .
   
   Here are the tunes=Linin' Track / Monkey Land / Muddy Springs Road / Life Without You / Bad Seed / Wall of Pride / Pushin' Fire / Mississippi Queen / Mystery Walk / Low Down Dirty Blues / Caveman Rock / Conversation mambo .
   
   One thing about the way Omar has laid out this cd , you will not get bored for sure , very nice mixture of tunes , slow burners , boogie in place tunes , and little bit of blues/rock to keep it moving . There is something special about Omars' music that will keep you coming back for more , this cd gets a solid (7) Harp Salute from ol' Big Daddy BluzHarp and his version of "Mississippi Queen" will trip your trigger for sure , this guy can get on down in the dirt and dig baby !
   
   
3. (Bluegrass/Innovative Jam) Jerry Douglas "Lookout For Hope" Sugarhill Records www.sugarhillrecords.com
   
   Jerry Douglas www.jerrydouglas.com
   
   Jerry Douglas is one of the most innovative bluegrass guitarist on the planet , bar none ! He stays true to his roots but is not afraid to venture off the well worn path to take his listeners to new heights . Jerry blends bluegrass with jazz and classical that is so pure and beautifull that it will elate you and make ya cry in the same instint . Many of you may know his playing backing up Alison Krauss or Maura O'Connell , but Jerry is also his own man and this new CD is one of the best bluegrass CDs that I have ever listened to . Jerry's new CD gets a (7) Harp Salute from ol' Big Daddy BluzHarp as well as my coveted "BluzHarp Superglue Award" , it deserves to be glued to your CD player and left there and played over and over until the glue lets go . I have been listening to it for days now and it is still as fresh as when I first opened it .
   
   Mr. Douglas has a way of mesmerizing the listener with his subtle picking and he can take you on such beautifull journies you don't even realize that you have been swept off your feet . In my minds eye , Jerry outpaces Bela Fleck in many ways , this fella is breaking new ground . Please give this CD a listen whether you are a diehard bluegrass fan or if you have never listened to bluegrass , start with this CD and you WILL be back .
   
   Here are the tunes= Little Martha , Patrick Meets The Brickbats , Footsteps , Monkey Let The Hogs Out , Lookout For Hope , Cave Bop , Senia's Lament , The Wild Rumpus , The Sinking Ship , In The Sweet By and By , The Suit .
   
   And for all you wipper/snappers out there , Trey Anastasio from Phish plays on this CD too . No hipe in this review folks , just the plain damned truth , this is one of the classiest recordings I have ever reviewed and gets my personal recommendation .
   
   
4. (Bluz/Boogie Woogie Harmonica)Steve Potter "Grotto Says"www.stevepotterband.com
   
   Cds are $15.00 S&H included . Send check or money order to Steve Potter "Grotto Music" PO Box 706 Hughesville,Md. 20637 Phone# 301-274-3467
   
   This is by far the very best blues harmonica cd that I have gotten this year , yes I know , I just finished a review of the new James Cotton CD too ! James is the ol' BluzHarp Master while Steve Potter is a new age BluzMan that is doing a damned fine job of carrying on the torch . I had never heard of Steve Potter until he sent me this CD and I am simply amazed and excited as hell to finially get some stuff,(Pure no bullshit/kickass blues harmonica music) , that is not a cookie cutter band , Steve is his own man . I am so excited about Steve's playing because I have never heard anyone with his particular sound and way of phrasing . I am not saying he is the best I have ever heard , but he is smoking , it is the fact someone is sounding like themselves .
   
   I talked to him for a few minutes just before doing this review and he says that he plays thru two amps at once on the CD ,a Sears Silvertone 1481 model with an 8 inch speaker and a Gibson GA-20 with a 12 inch speaker . He plays thru a Astatic JT-30 with an element from an old 1940s Green Bullet , and it is nasty , just like I like my women !
   
   Here are the tunes=My Special Place ,Born Blind , Hang On Now , Your Sweet Love , I Just Keep Loving Her , What Have I Done , Key To The Highway , Grotto Says ! , Don't Break My Heart , G.S. Blues , When The Saints .
   
   Steve plays both diatonic and chromatic equally well and with authority , his octaves are so full , especially on the chro like Rod Piazza . I give this Cd a strong (7) Harp Salute along with my most coveted "NASTY HARP" Award , some of his tunes are dripping with pure pork fat they are so greasy . I am pretty darn sure this will be in my "Top Ten Best of The Year" come this December .
   
   One last things my little chillins , I believe this is Steve Potter's first Cd , and most guys don't get this good until the third or fourth one that they put out . He only had 500 CDs pressed at first , so please do yourself and few freinds a favor , buy Steve's CD and get some good downhome blues music like they use to make forty years ago in the packhouses in Willow Springs,NC where I grew up . I put my personal seal of approval on this CD , Muddy and John Lee are smiling down on Steve Potter !www.stevepotterband.com
   
   
5. (Blues/Rock) Blue Taxi "Step Aside" Visit their website at www.gruppeb.com/bluetaxi
   
   The band personnel consist of Bill Capuano on guitar and vocals , Theresa Capuano on vocals/keyboards/percussion , Robert Capuano on drums and Kurt England on bass/vocals and acoustic guitar on "Left of Center" . Sounds like a family affair to me and they have a good time playing too , it is very evident in their music . With "Blue Taxi" you get some good blues/rock , something that reminds me of Marshall Tucker(Song #3) and a tinge of the group The Band that had Levon Helm , you ol' timers know who I mean . The tune "Shadow of The Saigon Blues" is so soulful and slow bluzy like I like them . Especially like the tune "Billy Bennett" and "Looking For My Baby" has some cool rock/blues harp and the whole band is sounding hot and big like a full orchestra with nothing but Rock & Roll Gods .I would like to see their next album with more songs like "Looking For My Baby" .
   
   Here are the tunes =Step Aside , Now You Are Gone , Can't Stay Here Anymore , Shadow of The Saigon Blues , Money I never Had ,Nothing You Can Do , Rory Style , Left of Center , The Getaway , Blues For Breakfast , Billy Bennett and Looking For My Baby .
   
   I give this CD a strong (5) Harp Salute , I had a good time listening to it . The only drawback is there were a couple of the songs where the vocals were a bit weak , otherwise this CD is WELL worth your hard earned money and is a well produced and heartfelt effort that will have you coming back for repeated listening .
   
   
6. ( Rhythm & Blues Guitar ) Jimmy Thackery and The Drivers "We Got It" Telarc Records www.telarc.com
   
   Please visit Jimmy Thackery's website www.jimmythackery.com
   
   My , My , My , what a refreshing this CD is to my soul ! For those of you that remember when he use to sling guitar duties for the ass kicking blues bar band the "Nighthawks ,well , Jimmy is dishing out the R&B songs by none other than Eddie Hinton . Eddie was a member of the Muscle Shoals rhythm section and played on albums by Aretha Franklin and The Staple Singers , supplying them with his songs and guitar playing . The linear notes say that this CD is a tribute to Eddie Hinton .
   
   Jimmy Thackery has shown with this CD that he is a completely mature musician in that he can play music outside of old pigeon/hole music that may have been assigned to him years back . Make no mistake about it my friends , Jimmy now has the vocals of an ol' bluz singer eminating out of him , unforceably too , that is his real voice . Most times when I do a review I first like to listen to the CD and then read any linear notes or bio info . In this way I will not have any preconcieved conceptions about where the music is going or any particulars , I keep my mind open to floating with it and a better experience in the end . Sometimes it will amaze even the reviewer how on the money or how wrong they can be about who is playing/singing or who wrote the songs .
   
   The first few songs I swore Jimmy was playing guitar for some ol' R&B singer that was damned good , turned out it was Jimmy singing . I give this CD a strong (6 1/2) Harp Salute , these songs are so darned heartfelt by both the original writer and now Jimmery Thackery and his Band . Helping Jimmy out on this were the Cate Brothers on keyboards/guitar/backup vocals and lead vocals on track # 3 .
   
   On this CD you have Jimmy Thackery on guitar and vocals , Ken Faltinson on bass and B-3 organ , Mark Stutso on drums/vocals on track #8 , Jimmy Carpenter on saxophones and man can he smoke'm and Reba Russell on backup vocals . Here are the tunes = My Searching Is Over , I Still Want To Be Your Man , It's All Wrong But It's Alright ,Where'd My Good Friend Go , We Got It , Blues Dog Prowl , Blues For Sale , Dangerous Highway , Super Lover , Get Off In It and my favorite Big Fat Woman .
   
   If you like blues /R&B well , I put my personal seal of approval on this one , grab your main squeze and settle on down in it !!
   
   
7. (Folk Blues)Guy Davis "Give In Kind" Red House Records www.redhouserecords.com
   
   Visit Guy Davis's website www.guydavis.com
   
   Guy Davis is possibly the most soulfull folk/blues singer in the business and he always gives 100 % in every note that he plays/sings . This a beautifully done CD with songs that will pull at your heart and soul and make you think about things that you have done in the past in a more thoughtfull way . When my wife walked by the bedroom where I had Guy playing she said it sounded like something that you would here at a Folk festival and I told her she was right on the money . This particulat type of music is played by many folks but very few pull off sounding as good or better than the original artist .
   
   Here are the musicians on this CD = Guy Davis on all lead vocals/all lead six and twelve stringed acoustic guitars/harmonicas/washboard/digeridoo and 5 string banjo , Gary Burke on drums , Mark Murphy on upright bass , W'ali Muhammad on electric guitar parts , Zoe B. Zak on accordian , Keith Slattery on piano/Hammand B-3 and David Helper on back ground vocals . Even in the electric parts it still sounds acoustic , such a mellow dishing of music , so good in the backyard on a hot summer afternoon with your favorite beverage and let the blues fall like rain . The sounds are gospel/blues/almost bluegrass-folk-country , it is amazing . I give this CD a solid (6) Harp Salute , well worth that money the government is trying to get all of , be sure to stash some to the side for music like this .
   
   Here are the tunes = Good Liquor , Loniest Road That I Know , Lay Down By My Side , I Will Be Your Friend , I Love My Job , Layla , Honeydew Melon Rag , Six Cold Feet Of Ground , Grandma Is Dancing , What You Doing , Watch Over Me , I Don't Know , Don't You Leave Me Here , JoppaTowne and God's Unchanging Hand . Really , Guy Davis is much like the song "John Henry . John Henry sounded like he had the strength of ten men , well , Guy has got the soul of ten men . I highly recommend this CD , and oh yes , did I mention that Guy plays harmonica on this CD much in the vein of Sonny Terry with whoops and hollers that give ya chill bumps like mad .
   
   Be sure to check out the tune # (6) "Layla" ,Guy rocks out on harmonica and plays the digeridoo like a man possessed , so damned cool !
   
   
8. (Blues/Swamp/R&B/Cajun stuff) Tab Benoit "Wetlands" Telarc Blues Stereo CD www.telarc.com
   
   Tab was born in Louisiana and you can tell from the first tune this a "Torch Carrier" , which is someone in my mind's eye that will carry on when the elders are gone . I just the love the rhythm and sort of conga/cajun/swing feel that Tab Benoit is able to coax from his mind and soul . His singing sounds like it is coming from an old black blues man that has never left his section of the state and it is so contagious to listen to . I first started listening to this CD on my Monday morning drive to work and not feeling too good about the drive until Tab came on thru my stereo and my attitude changed for the better . Amazing what a mood enhancer good music is , Tab can kick out some low down stuck in the mud blues to sort of acoustic/electric R&B to footstomping cajun boogie .
   
   On this CD you have Tab Benoit on guitar and vocals , Carl Dufrene on bass , Darryl White on drums , Anders Osborne guitar/vocals on track #13 only and Brian Stoltz also guitar/vocals on track #13 only .
   
   Here are the tunes = Fast and Free , Stackolina , Muddy Bottom Blues , When A Cajun Man Gets The Blues , Too Sweet For Me , Down In The Swamp , These Arms Of Mine , Dog Hill , Her Mind Is Gone , Loves Lips , Let Love Take Control and Georgia .
   
   Tab's guitar tone is impeccable , his picking nuances are subtle yet outstanding at the same instant . When he picks a little harder than usual the sound is hair/raising to say the least ,just a tadbit of overdrive baby . I give this CD a strong (6) Harp Salute . This is sincere from the heart music , highly recommended .
   
   
9. (Bluegrass/Country) Dolly Parton "Halos & Horns"Sugarhill Records www.sugarhillrecords.com
   
   I would like to start out this review by saying what a most beautiful CD Dolly has made for us . Hard to think that as long as Dolly has been in the music business that she still has the voice and range of a young woman singer in her prime , but her song writing is so fresh and new sounding too . This is a result of Dolly when she was spending some time at her home in the mountains of East Tenneessee last summer when she had an adrenalin rush of prolific song writing .
   
   Dolly ended up booking a studio in Knoxville and invited some of her Nashville band members and some where from her Dollywood theme park . There are songs on this CD that will move you in many directions from upbeat happy songs to a couple that will almost make ya shed a tear . Here are the tunes =Halos & Horns , Sugar Hill , Not For Me , Hello God , If , Shattered Image , These old bones , What A Heartache , I'm Gone , Raven Dove , Dagger Through My Heart , If Only , John Daniel and Stairway To Heaven .
   
   The tunes "Hello God" and "Raven Dove" are a direct result of her emotions after the September 11th tragedies of last year . Dolly and her band play her version of "Stairway To Heaven" that is absolutely spellbounding / positively ground breaking musically . I am a ol' die-hard fan of classic rock being 50 years old myself , and her version is right there with Led Zeppelin in a bluegrass way , superbly executed . The song "Hello God" is alone worth the price of this CD , Dolly's music and singing can actually sooth a very blue heart , for she has picked up my spirits immensely today , even CD reviewers get down about things too . My God , it would be a much more worse world than it is if not for such beautiful music as Dolly's .
   
   In my minds eye this is one of my very favorite CDs that Dolly has made , I give it a very darn strong (6 1/2) Harp Salute as well as my personal recomendation . If you like bluegrass , this is a sure fire winner . Not only is Dolly beautiful , but she has talent and brains to boot , MMMMMMMMMM !
   
   
10. ( Bluz Harmonica !) Bill Rhoades & The Party Kings "Don't Lose Your Kool" Bushmaster Record Company 15768 SE Powell #24 ,Portland , Or 97236 Phone # 1-503-760-5342 To order CDs email at BRpartykings@aol.com
    
    Bill has been breathing and playing the blues thru his harmonica for around 30 years I think , and he is still the man especially in the Pacific Nothwest , Portland Oregon area . I like the tone that Bill has on the amplified harp , on the edge and sounding a little bit sleazy !Bill has been making music with the Party Kings since 1976 and have backed Albert Collins/Louisiana Red/Sonny Rhoades/J.J. Malone/Troyce Key/Michael Bloomfield , and Robert Cray would occasionally sit in with the band .
    
    Bill has played harmonica with Jimmy Rogers/Big Daddy Kinsey/Luther Tucker/Smokey Wilson and Filmore Slim . His style on the harmonica is something like Alan Wilson from Canned Heat meets John Lee Hooker , but he still has his own personal stamp on his licks and chops . As a matter of a fact I did a review on a release from Bill many years ago and was knocked over by his infectious way of transposing his feelings thru his harp and music to make the listener be impacted by it both with the soul / mind .
    
    Here are the tunes = Look On Yonder's Wall , High Cost of Living , So Mean To Me , You Can't Live Long , I Wish You Would , Gonna Tell Your Mother , Top Of The Harp , Boogie Woogie Blues , Howlin' Wolf and Don't Lose Your Kool .
    
    In the band you have Bill Rhoades on harp and vocals , Jim Cochran on guitar , Alan Hager on guitar/slide guitar , Albert Reda on bass and Johnny Moore on drums.You have blues so thick and deep that you will feel like it is coming up from your toenails up and some buugie/wuugie stuff that the ol' Baptist Preacher use to warn ya about down here in North Caroline where I am from . I give this CD a very strong (6) Harp Salute , if you like blues and blues harmonica played hard and edgey like in a juke joint , this is Topdrawer Stuff as they use to say at the liguor house in Kennebec,N.C. . Nothin' but the best from Bill Rhodes and The Party Kings .
    
    
11. ( Blues/Jump/Swing/Boogie & Harmonica ) Pacemaker & The Blue Vanguards " Tales from the Basin " To order a CD send $15.00 which includes shipping to 5110 Bakman Ave #10 ,North Hollywood ,Ca 91601 call 818-985-6786 or fax to 818-985-6786 email to pace@bigplanet.com
    
    This CD was the brainstorm of a drummer named Bob Newham who has had the privilege of playing/tour/record with William Clarke , Johnny Dyer , Mark Hummel , Buddy Reed and more . Bob states that he wanted to do a CD that would feature players that would probably never have the chance to play or record together . And man did he gather the cream of the blues world . On guitar Bob has with him Jr. Watson ,Rick Holstrom , Marco Flume , Frank Tutweiler , Kevin Scull , Martin Pugh and Henry Pugh .
    
    Check out this lineup on harmonica my good people . Johnny Dyer , San Pedro Slim ,Johnny Rover and Mr . Stan Ruffo ,and these fellows are seasoned harp players that can take over any juke joint that I have ever been to .
    
    And not to be left out you have the mastermind of this musical experience Bob Newham on drums and vocals , Stace Newham on vocals/backup vocals , Henry Carvajal on vocals , Steve F'dor on piano , Stan Ruffo on sax and pulling down the upright bass you have Vance Ehlers/Scott Lambert and Art Kratz .
    
    I would like to say how much I especially like the singing of Stracy Newham , she has the voice of a jazz/blues singer from the forties , such class and so sultry . You have got some great tunes here from hardcore blues/boogie to swing/jump rhythms . Here are the tunes = Mean What I say , My Love , I Got To Know , M.T.A. Line , Somethin' Like Lightning , Spooky Eyes , Fool's Heartbeat , Kind Of A King Thing , I Grieve , No C. On Thurs Swing , Rockship , What Do You Know About Love , You Made Me Cry and So Sad .
    
    Don't mean to be prejudice about that good ol' electric harp playing but there is some juicy stuff on this outing and you have it on six tracks.And oh yes , did I mentioned the mesmerizing lady singer Stacie Newham , can't imagine she is not world famous , she is worth the price of the CD alone . But every other musican in the band also deserves that same praise . This is a solid (6 1/2) Harp Salute Cd my blues/swing chillins , it has some of the feel of the Chess Records from the early fifties . This CD may well turn out to be in the top ten or twenty that you play on a regular basis . There is only one thing wrong with this situation , I have only one CD by Pacemaker and The Blue Vanguards and damn it I want MORE !
    
    
12. (Blues/Boogie/African Rhythms/Carribean-Island/Rock) Corey Harris "Downhome Sophisticate" Rounder Records www.rounder.com
    
    This new CD by Corey Harris and 5x5 is what I would describe as a body of work that most musicians could only dream of doing once in a lifetime if they were lucky or blessed by an angel ! Just to help keep your attention I want you to know that I give this CD my highest rating of (7) Harps , this is such a beautifully made grouping of songs/rhythms and tempos . Corey does hit on a lot of variety but these tunes are put together like they are weaving a story and the whole CD moves along with pure continuity like a book you have to read in one sitting .
    
    At times you will hear blues , rock like "Ten Years After" , some "Johnny Winter" , "The Band" , then you will be scimming along the waves to catch some reggae/island flavored textures and all the way to Africa for the REAL ROOTS of it all . Actually , I must admit , I find it hard to find the words/adjectives to describe Corey Harris's new cd , it is like trying to transpose in words a picture of a sunset or a snowy mountain after a storm . Seems like you never do it justice , but I sure love trying .
    
    Corey has a fantastic array of musicians and singers that make this CD a multiple layered affair , kind of like those early Beatles albums . People were hearing all sorts of things that it would take a long time for you and your mind to catch up with the actual full impact that the message/music was delivering to the listener . This train of thought makes me remember what Jerry Portnoy once told me when I was doing a interview with him after he had recorded "From The Cradle" with Eric Clapton . Jerry said , " Most people let music just wash over them , they don't completely use all the power of their senses to absorb the music inside of them " . And Corey's new CD will actually take you to that level and painlessly , this is the kind of music that will actually make you smarter in the way that you perceive music and little effort is needed with no pain a'tall .
    
    Talk about getting your money's worth , you get 18 tunes and here they are = Giddyup , Frankie Doris , Money On My Mind , Don't Let The Devil Ride , Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning , Capitaine , Santoro , Fire On The Radio , Fire , BB , Downhome Prelude , Downhome Sophisticate , Sista Rose , Black Maria , Chinook , Money Eye , Where The Yellow Cross The Dog and F'Shizza .
    
    This is the kind of CD that is as well thought out and put together as anything that I have ever had the pleasure of hearing , highly recommended !
    
    
13. (Acoustic/Hillbilly/Country Guitar) Norman Blake "Old Ties" Rounder Records www.rounder.com
    
    Norman Blake was born in 1938 and grew up in northeast Georgia where he resides today . He grew up listening to hillbilly music and learning the basics of guitar playing and dropped out of high school to become a full-time musician .In the 1950s Norman made his living in music playing the mandolin and fiddle as much as the guitar . After he came out of the service in the early 1960s Norman begin teaching guitar and playing in dance bands . He soon found himself working with Johnny Cash and his career blossomed thereafter .
    
    He has gone on to perform with Joen Baez , Cash and Kris Kristofferson . Norman played on Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" album and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's historic "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" and has also appeared on Johnny Cash's network TV shows . This CD is a collection of two decades worth of his recordings.
    
    This is by far the best acoustic guitar and singing that I have heard in my entire life ya'll , this CD is actually humbling to listen to and in more ways than one . Of course his mastery of the guitar is impeccable but the way he plays and sings makes you become more aware of yourself and how you react to situations and people in your daily life . You can't tell me that acoustic/country/hillbilly music does not transpose the blues/grief/hard times just as well as any hardcore blues tune that I know of . If you are not a fan of this kind of music I beg you to get this recording , it is like going your whole life and not really getting the gift of what this life really has to give ya , and then BAM , it hits ya . That is what this CD does for me !
    
    This recording really does cover a lot of bases and fluidly might I add , a couple of tunes reminds me of when I use to go to my grandmothers Primitive Baptist Church and hear that pure/natural/heartfelt singing , you CANNOT ignore the talent that Norman Blake shares so graciously with us . Here are the songs , (19) of them total . Spanish Fandango , Church St. Blues , Sleepy Eyed Joe/Indian Creek , O'Malley's Tune , Fifty Miles Of Elbow Room , Down Home Summertime Blues , Blind Dog , Fiddler's Dram/Whisky Before Breakfast , Old Ties , Lost Indian , Ginseng Sullivan , OBC #3 , Prettiest Little Girl In The Country , Uncle , Bristol In The Bottle , Billy Gray , The Fields Of November , Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar and Randall Collins/Done Gone .
    
    I give this CD my highest rating , a (7) Harp Salute , I would give it more but I promised myself to stop at (7) harps , (5) was the highest years ago . That is what I think of this CD , cut # (2) "Church St. Blues , is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever had the pleasure of listening too . Now don't get me wrong , there are some very peppy tunes on here , this music actually soothes me and calms my heart and mind . I highly recommend this CD , it literally took my mind's breath away , if you can understand that then you know what a gem it must be !!!!
    
    And there is great news for you once ya hear this CD , gotta have more . Norman Blake has (12) other CDs on Rounder , oh yeah baby !
    
    
14. (Pure good old country girl singing at it's BEST ) Heather Myles "Sweet Talk & Good Lies" Rounder Records www.rounder.com
    
    PLEASE check out Heather Myles website at www.heathermyles.com
    
    As most of my long time readers already know , at one time I very seldom ever strayed from blues or blues harmonica reviews . But time progressed , I am now past 50 and listening to new music is as exciting as a new lover , seriously . That is how moved I am by this thing we call music . And when I hear a country girl sing ol' time country like this , well , she has passion and her own way of plowing the back forty ! Yes , Heather Myles has so much charisma and pure authority/mastery of her voice and guitar that it is uncanny . This is not your superslick/Hollywood processed rehashed country that is going around these days . Heather is carrying on in the style of Hank Williams , Merle Haggard , Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson . When she sings the song , "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" , well , kinda makes ya choke up . She just has this sincere way of delivering the goods that just sucks you in and overwhelms your senses .
    
    In the band ya have Heather Myles on lead vocals and acoustic guitar , Dwight Yokum vocals on duet with Heather Myles ("Little Chapel") , Bob Gother on lead guitar , Bob Ryan guitar , Taras Prodaniuk on bass , James Christie on drums , Skip Edwards on keyboards , Scott Joss on fiddle and mandolin , Mark Christian on banjo , Gary Morris on pedal steel , Rick Schmidt pedal steel , Pride Hutchinson on percussion , Lee Thornburg on trumpet , Jonathan Clark and Beth Anderson on harmony and background vocals .
    
    Heather Myles gets a very strong (6) Harp Salute from ol' Big Daddy here at BluzHarp Central . She may be old country and sings some tear jerkers but can she get on down with some honky-tonk boogie woogie on the song "Sweet Little Dangerous" , can't help but to want to tap dem' der' boots around the dance floor . Heather stays true to the old country but she most definitely has a style all her own , just to hear this fresh new talent is alone worth the price of this recording . Hell , I have to do something that I have never done before , I am going to change my rating and bump Heather to the top with a (7) Harp salute , this is so moving , to have heather's sweet/sweet voice floating around in my head and soothing the savage beast !
    
    
15. (Cerebral Funkrock Jazz) Saunter "Trails" CDs can be purchased at www.sauntermusic.com or directly from CD BABY www.cdbaby.com/sauntermusic2
    
    This band is from Chapel Hill , North Carolina , just a few miles down the road from where I live . This new CD has guest appearances by Raleigh , N.C. based newgrass flavored Barefoot Manner and Dave Wright of The Countdown Quartet / Squirrel Nut Zippers . With this CD purchase you also get a four minute video , viewable in Real Player .
    
    Saunter's new sound is very well described indeed in their promo pack as being "Cerebral funk rock with a strong pinch of jazz and an emphasis on vocal arrangements" . This band was formed in 1999 at The University of North Carolina's Music Department and has performed over 100 shows in the past two years in NC and SC .
    
    In the band you have Charles Battle on drums/percussion/slinky/vocals , Brian Buzby on alto sax/percussion/vocals , Matthew Davis on guitar and vocals , Tripp Smith on bass and Drew Willardson on guitar and loops . The guest musicians are David Wright on trombone and trumpet , Chris"Catfish"Webb on keys , David Kleiss and Shawn Chase on guitar and mandolin , Rev. Jon Sappington on keys and Michael Babyak on steel pedal .
    
    I can hear many influences flying around in the heads of these thinking musicians , but they also have a lot of heart and soul too . Not just anyone is able to make great original music and play from the gut as well but these fellows sound much older than they are in musical expertise . The vocals are so haunting and chilling , and the sax playing is to die for . This would be a nice CD to put on the player with your headphones on or thru a high end stereo system and just let yourself free . At times this sounds like a Gratefull Dead jam concert but with a bit of a different edge , like Steely Dan . SMOOTH ! "Saunter" can take you to places that Pink Floyd frequent , "The Cerebral Music Skyline , and to take you there ya need experienced/seasoned musicians to guide your way . Yes this group will take you in one instant from slow/smooth jazz to a rock feel and then swing you all around . This is some VERY WELL thought out jazz/funk/rock and I have found it to be relaxing to hear .
    
    The songs on this are are "Peaks of Otter" , "Black Eye" , "Rough Lee" , "Marked" , "Metrix" , "Blue Jay" , "American Tourist" , "Speechless" , "Pauntley Bel Fedora" , "Stairwells" , "Ostrich !" and "Bye Nicole" . I find it very easy to give this CD by "Saunter" a very solid (5 1/2) Harp Salute , this is a fine way to spend your dough if ya like the above described music . Very heady music , know what I mean Vern !!
    
    
16. (Songs & Ballads / Old Timey Music) "Songs and Ballads of The Bituminous Miners" The Library of Congress Archive of Folk Culture ( Rounder Records )www.rounder.com
    
    These field recordings reflect the lives of early miners around 1940 in the bituminous (soft coal) mining regions in Alabama , Kentucky , Ohio , Pennsylvania and West Virginia . George Korson documented these songs himself and was often driven by union field representatives themselves who knew the miners well in their districts . The soft coal industry did not get well underway until around 1840 and was usually mined by native white workers and negro slaves . Was not long before immigrant miners came to America from Ireland , England , Scotland and Wales . Not only did these immigrant miners introduce the mining industry with old world mining technology , they also broght over songs and ballads from the coal fields in their homeland .
    
    I personally find these types of recordings to be an actual oral history in a sense of speaking . I remember one time I took my daughter to a Story Telling Festival and was I impressed with how a person can weave a perfect picture/history with words and make it feel like you are actually there experiencing what the story teller or vocalists is portraying to you . George goes on to say that the song "Two Cent Coal", as sung by David Morrison at his home in Finlayville , Pennsylvania in 1940 when David was 81 years old bears eveidence that it's origin dates back to 1876 . This is a direct connection with history in my mind's eye . I remmeber 2 or 3 decades back when I was trying to interview as many harp players that I could that use to play with Muddy Waters and some of my friends did not understand why I was so excitied every time I would interview someone like Carey Bell , Jr. Wells or Jerry Portnoy . Hell man , these fellows WERE A DIRECT CONNECTION with the history of the blues and I still am very passionate to this day about the blues and their roots .
    
    And I have started to evolve into this mode with other types of music as well . I find this thing called history and how music associates so closely with it to be so intriquing . In these 18 songs you hear the miners sing about how the unions were effecting their lives , the hard times from drinking and Blue Mondays to great stories about working in the mines and personal life stories . The tunes are The Hard Working Miner , Blue Monday , Two-Cent Coal , The Young Lady Who Married A Mule Driver , The Dying Mine Brakeman , The Coal Loading Machine , Sprinkle Coal Dust On My Grave , That Little Lump Of Coal , Mule Skinnin' Bles , Harlan County Blues , Coal Diggin' Blues , Coal Loadin' Blues , Drill Man Blues , Hignite Blues , Payday At The Mine , This What The Union Done , We Done Quit and A Coal Miner's Goodbye .
    
    One of the great treats here is that these are the actual miners themselves singing and playing instruments in these historic recordings , this stuff is for real . If you are into ol' timey/spiritual early/bluegrass feel this is the place to be .This kind of music cannot even be rated on my (7) Harp sytem , this is Supreme/Cream statement music . When you hear how sincere all of these musicians are , especially a couple of the older gentlemen , well , kinda brings up the bible spirit and a tear or two down . These people lived some hard , hard lives and their words need to be heard !
    
    
    
    Return to Main Page