There are times when it’s so easy to get caught up in “progress” that you forget where you’ve come from. Here are three recent releases to remind us of the fertile soil of what has made jazz, blues and what we call American music.
JD McPherson put out a cooking little rockabilly album a couple of years ago which caught everyone by surprise, and happily so. This time out he’s with the team of Jimmy Sutton/g, Jason Smay/dr, Raynier Jacob Jacildo/key and Doug Corcoran/sax-g through a collection of originals If you grew up in the 50s and 60s, melodies and grooves on tunes like “Bossy” and “It Shook Me Up” will sound very familiar to you, with similar hooks and choruses. Like the material of that era, the themes are either filled with humor, as on “Bossy” or the innocent romance of “Bridgebuilder.” The songs are all concise, made for dancing and brimming over with a youthful energy that is infectious. He’s done two of these in a row, and he doesn’t sound like he’s running on a formula. But, the thought does come to mind if he will eventually go deeper into the black R&B sounds like early Ray Charles, or move forward to pop crooners like Fabian. I caught him in concert, and it was fun to have enjoy music again. Stay tuned.
Pokey LaFarge goes back even farther, sounding like something out of the Roaring Twenties or the Depression on this fascinating album. His voice has a warble in it that sounds like it’s for the megaphone more than the electronic microphone, while his tone is reminiscent of Howard Morris (figure THAT one out, you Baby Boomers!). The album can sound like Bob Wills’ Western Swing on “Bad Girl,” ragtime on “Knocking The Dust Off The Rust Belt Again” and “Wanna Be Your Man” or like Rev Gary Davis on “Far Away.” Then, just for affect, he’ll throw a curve and make you feel it’s early Bob Dylan on “Cairo, Illinois” with a strident rhythm guitar and harmonica. Moods are created here that are set for sepia photos. Time traveling via air waves!
Eric Gibson plays banjo, brother Leigh plays guitar and they both take lead vocals while making Everly Brothers-styled harmony with a bluegrass beauty team of Mike Barber/b, Jesse Brock/mand and Clayton Campbell/fid. The mix and match modern tunes with Cumberland Gap classics here, with Doc Watson’s “Eastbond Train” rolling in right on time, while Carol King’s “Crying In The Rain” set for the local parlor. “Bye Bye Love” highlights the joys of southern harmonies, and with this kind of music, you’re never too far from the local church. “What a Wonderful Savior He Is” and “I Have Found the Way” make you feel you’re in the front pew, yet after the service a little love goes on with”It’ll Be Her” and ”Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes.”
All three of these “Return to Roots” albums make you want to look forward to the next spring growth.
Rounder Records