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December 2005

Harry Manx Mantras for Madmen Dog My Cat/Fusion

The master of `blues from India' is back with album #6. His mesmerizing vocals deliver twelve selections, all but two originals. Emily Braden and her fellow harmony vocalists are present on almost every song now with a tabla player joining the drummer on occasion. Adding to more of a band sound, Steve Marriner plays harmonica on the bluesier titles and there are a few of them. As before, the musical load is carried by Manx's acoustic & lap steel guitars and of course the mohan veena. "The Point of Purchase" leads off a sequence of four highlights with "A Single Spark" showing what the mohan veena can do in blues setting. "Don't Take His Name Away" is a remarkably effective song about a homeless man's death. It's followed by a lovely soul ballad duet with Braden: "It Takes A Tear". "Nothing Fails Like Success" is a fast (for this album) song that might be the most radio-friendly. Manx states in the CD jacket that "Blues is like the earth and Indian music is like the heavens. What I do is find the balance between the two." This album is not as close to the earth as some of his earlier ones but his fans, and they are a large and growing group, will know what to expect.

Danny Brooks Rock This House HISHouse

After last year's Souled Out `n Sanctified, this one was eagerly awaited. I was not disappointed. This is once again a magnificent journey through Southern Soul. The songs here are not as openly devotional, although that is never in doubt. The subject matter is on a more personal level. There is a larger horn sound but the songwriting is as sharp as ever - anyone who thinks the music of Memphis in the sixties and seventies is mined out needs to listen to this CD. "Hold On" is a good example: over a surging horn riff, Danny reminisces over a long list of singers and songs from that era. If you liked "Soulsville" on that last CD, you'll love this one. The title song is a storming gospel soul song with the horns set against the choir and what a choir: John Mays, Steve Ambrose, Hiram Joseph, Amoy Levy and Julia Churchill all appear on various songs. "Good Love Is Hard To Find" is another `secular' song with a very catchy melody. "Unseen Hands" finds Danny in Howling Wolf mode warning us about the powerful who want to control our lives. "Tears from Heaven" is an impassioned plea for the poor. After those difficult topics it comes as a bit of a shock to hear an eloquent request for patience, but "It Takes A Little Time' has a great horn arrangement. Richard Bell is back as producer and arranger with assistance from Doug Romanow. It has taken Danny quite a while to get to this level of achievement and I hope it continues for a long time. His web site is www.dannybrooksmusic.com.

Jerome Godboo Live in Tel Aviv 2002 Indie

Judging by the large crowd's enthusiastic response to these two shows, they certainly feel they got their money's worth and you will too. Godboo's vocals and harp work are at their best and the Israeli quintet behind him play superbly. Alon Neuman on drums, Arik de Mayo on bass, Amit Itzhak & Gadi ben Elisha on guitars and Eyal Klein on keyboards provide all the support a visitor could ask for. There are two Jimi Hendrix songs and eight Godboo originals, many from Jerome's earlier CDs. The strength here is that, as I mentioned in those reviews, those CDs were stylistically diverse _ here, in a consistent setting, his songs really shine. Particularly good are "Jesse", "The Night I Slept Outside" and "Play Me". With much of Godboo's time taken up with touring with Jimmy Bowskill, it`s good to announce that he'll be officially launching this CD at Roc `n Docs in Port Credit on Dec. 16 and at Healey's on Dec. 17. His web site is www.jeromegodboo.ca.

Hot Toddy/Isaac & Blewett Live at the Black Box NB/Festival

They had frequently jammed together but never officially. Two of New Brunswick's finest acoustic blues groups have now done so with songs written for the occasion. Two live shows and two studio sessions were recorded that make the most of the palette of sounds the two groups bring to the collaboration. Hot Toddy is Tom Easley on acoustic bass, Thom Swift on guitar and Joel LeBlanc on guitar & harmonica. Tim Isaac plays cello and Jim Blewett, rhythm guitar. Tania Breen sings lead and background vocals on one song. On some songs, Easley on bowed double bass and Isaac on cello bring a classical chamber music feel and the group does blend a number of genres here. "Hard Times", for all its subject matter is very much in a folk vein. "Look Around" sounds the bluesiest but is a paean to country living. Generally though this is about some long time friends making serious, mostly acoustic music and on that level is very enjoyable indeed. "Chignecto", with a vocal by Tania Breen is a delight.

Black Cat Bone Bone-ified Big Toe

This is a re-release of Black Cat Bone's second, 1995, album. Guitar ace Paul Deslauriers and virtuoso pianist Paul Buonassissi recorded this blues rock extravaganza at the Queen's in Nanaimo while on a cross country tour opening for Colin James. Craig Soon on bass and Jerry Adolphe on drums round out this explosive quartet. The album apparently sold very well at the time and it's not hard to understand why. Deslauriers is a powerhouse on guitar, generating a monster sound. Fans of the Clapton/Hendrix songbooks will be amazed at his prowess. Buonassissi is a very good foil but his playing is often overwhelmed by the onslaught from the other side of the stage. There are three originals, "Mr. Fiction (an oft-played video), "Misery" and "Mad". I think these are better than the covers but then I've heard those very often. The almost twenty minute version of "Hey Joe" is a treat, though, never losing interest and showing a great sense of dynamics. The album is beautifully recorded. Cornwall-born Deslauriers studied jazz at McGill, playing in bands to pay his way and had re-located to Vancouver with Buonassissi. Black Cat Bone was dissolved a year after this recording after Buonassissi suffered career-ending injuries in a near-fatal car accident. Deslauriers has since toured with France D'amour and Amanda Marshall. This re-release is in preparation for Deslauriers' solo album due early in the new year followed by a duo CD with Dawn Tyler Watson. Go to www.paul-d.ca.

Odetta Gonna Let It Shine M.C. /Koch

There aren't many new discs of holiday music for readers of this column this year but this one would have shot to the top of the list in any year. It is a concert recording of Christmas spirituals and freedom songs, with just Seth Farber on piano except, that is, when she's joined by the Holmes Brothers. Most of the songs date from slavery times and with Odetta's spoken introductions provide a most moving listening experience. Especially interesting is her description and explanation of perhaps the most famous prison song, Leadbelly's "Midnight Special". The Holmes Brothers join in on "This Little Light of Mine", "Down By The Riverside" and "This Little Light of Mine" restoring these songs to their original glory. The booklet note by Bernice Reagon Johnson, of Sweet Honey in the Rock, is a most welcome gift.

- John Valenteyn, jvalenteyn8724@rogers.com

 

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