Blues Reviews & More
Brown, Clarence “Gatemouth” – “Down South in the Bayou Country”(Maison de Blues) A
Over a long and varied career, this remake of a 1974 recording is a perfect example of why it is nearly impossible to categorize Gatemouth. A man who “prefers listening to my own compositions” – I always thought he had lots of nerve. But what a talent! This CD is the best of Gatemouth’s Cajun nature. It’s got a little bit of country, Texas 2-step, and big Cajun sauce over all. I think they all would work for a peppy morning mix. (And I prefer listening to his own compositions too –smile—but these are none too shabby.)
Muldaur, Maria – “Heart of Mine” (Telarc) B+
A chanteuse approach to a collection of Bob Dylan tunes. All arranged in a mildly “standards” way with Muldaur’s trademark phrasing and jug-band approach. This worked nicely on things like “Buckets of Rain,” and “To Be Alone With You.” Interesting swing sound to “Moonlight” – yet most tunes here kind of Dylan-light. Can’t fault lovely playing and arrangements though. All tunes good for morning mix.
Texas All Star Band – “Bash: Rhythms for the Rio” (Topcat Records) B+
Imagine all the local musicians getting together with each other for a giant stage gumbo. That’s what this disc does with musicians around Austin and San Antonio. Big BIG band with swinging horn backup and a variety of front persons. Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Nicholas, Augie Meyers, Greg Piccolo – all trot out special numbers and get backed by the biggest horn section since a buffalo stampede. Good musicianship, but an awful lot of it. Kinda the king of jams. Not too good for morning mix, but good stuff.
Various – “Specialty Profiles” (Specialty Records) B+
A sampler of something to come (8/29/06), this is a collection of old label favorites on Specialty. Nice work, with two tunes each by six artists who did historic work on that label. Interesting collection of stuff, not all that well known, but for John Lee Hooker’s “Boogie Chillin #2.” Most good for Morning Mix but # 7 which is suggestive about women+men activity (probably high eyebrows at the FCC). Very interesting “Hit the Road Jack,” done totally a capella.
posted by Cathi N @ 5:27:00 PM
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