Legends come in different sizes and for different reasons. Here are two different salutes, one to a famed blues icon, and the other to a true street musician who was a fixture in the LA area.
Eric Bibb sings while picking his guitar, and JJ Milteau blows his harp along with Larry Crockett/dr and some friends sitting in on an album that salutes Huddie Leadbetter, better known as Lead Belly. The songs come from a cozy concert as well as a studio, mixing self penned tunes with ones that the gentle giant made part of our lexicon. Bibb’s voice can be soft and sandied as he sounds like a guy selling you a watch on a street corner on “Grey Goose” or he can get ominous and gruff during the charging “Rock Island Line.” Harp and strings get ominous on “The House of the Rising Sun” while the gospel roots are never far away as on “Midnight Special” or “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Bibb sounds almost vengeful on his own “Chauffeur Blues” which depicts Lead Belly’s life, capturing the angst the blues singer must have felt most of his career. A fitting salute to a blues breaker.
Ted Hawkins was a fixture in the LA/Venice area for decades, singing his own material for passers by. He had a couple glances at fame, but they were just flickers of light, as Hawkins always returned to his home of the streets. Here, his songs are interpreted by a variety of artists including James McMurty, Mary Gauthier, Tim Easton, Sunny Sweeny and Tina-Michell Fowler along with various musicians that sound like a mixture between Nashville cats and The Band. McMurtry on “Big Things” has a rootys feel, while barroom boogie is delivered in a Country and Western style on “Happy Hour” with sunny Sweeney.” Grand Ol’ Opry and Nashville skylines are evident on “Strange Conversation” and “Sorry You’re Sick” while a foreboding Delta guitar gets you deep in the swamp on “Whole Lotta Woman” with Steve James. Impressive on its own, it will ultimately make you want to find the couple of albums Hawkins put out on his own.
Eight 30 Records