A performance by Eric Bibbis an enriching experience – bothmusically and spiritually. Purveying a beautifully realized anddeftly accomplished, soulful and gospel infused, folk-blues, Bibb hasno problem melding a traditional rootsy American style with a subtlecontemporary sensibility.
Sisters & Brothers (CD) Eric Bibb, Rory Block, Maria Muldaur SHIPS FREE in U.S. 1 used from $7.99.
Bibb will perform tunes from his mostexcellent recent blues recording Diamond Days (Tel Arc Records).Website:Eric Bibb is a musical troubadour whohas travelled the world, enjoying successand pleasing audiences wherever he goes.He is a brilliant acoustic blues musician whohas received a Grammy nomination and 4WC Handy Award nominations for his solo recordings.Eric is a native of New York with deeproots in the American blues and folktraditions. His father, Leon Bibb, is atrained singer who sang in musicaltheatre and made a name for himselfon the 1960's New York folk scene.His uncle is the world famous jazzpianist and composer John Lewis, ofthe Modern Jazz Quartet. His godfatherwas singer/actor/activist Paul Robeson.Surrounded by major musical figures ofthe day, young Eric was inspired andinfluenced by Odetta, Richie Havens,Pete Seeger, Earl Robinson, Joan Baez,Bob Dylan and many others.He was given his first steel stringedguitar at the age of seven. By 16 hewas playing in the house band for hisfather's TV show.
He later went on toimmerse himself in pre-war blues guitarplaying and songwriting, moved toEurope in his twenties and eventuallysettled in Sweden where a world musicfolk scene was emerging ahead of beingmarketed throughout the globe.Eric's first album, Good Stuff, wasreleased in 1997 and he quicklyestablished himself as one of the greatnew blues and folk talents in the world.Since that time Eric Bibb has beenaround the world and back.He's paid his dues and absorbedmusical influences. Eric has playedand recorded with many of the greatsincluding: Pops and Mavis Staples, TheGospel Hummingbirds, Guy Davis, TajMahal, Linda Tillery, Maria Muldaur,Rory Block, Guy Davis, Ruthy Foster,Mamadou Diabate, and a special project'Family Affair' with his dad Leon Bibb,now one of Vancouver's most belovedmusical entertainers.Eric Bibb has just released his 14threcording, Diamond Days. Like agumbo of various musical stylesincluding Delta blues, gospel spirituals,folk and New Orleans R&B, Bibb hasmanaged to cook up something all hisown.
'If one recording out of my entirecatalogue were to be selected as a selfportrait,Diamond Days would be themost accurate.' 'I'm hittingmy stride.'
— Ian Migicovsky.
Eric Bibb Rory Block Maria Muldaur – Sisters & Brothers (2004)1. Rock Daniel 2:092.
Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down 3:273. Get Up Get Ready 4:284. Lean On Me 4:065. Bessie's Advice 7:176. Good Stuff 3:027. Rolling Log 2:498. Gotta Serve Somebody 5:349.
Travelin' Woman Blues 4:2910. Little Rain 4:0611. Maggie Campbell 2:5812.
Give A Little More 3:2013. My Sisters & Brothers 4:44Personnel:Eric Bibb - vocals, guitarRory Block - vocals, guitarMaria Muldaur - vocalsPer Hanson - drumsMudcat Ward - double bass, upright bassChris Burns - piano, Wurlitzer piano, Wurlitzer organ.As its title implies, this is a spiritually based collaboration from three distinct - even disparate - yet surprisingly harmonious voices. Mostly, but not entirely acoustic, the trio of rootsy singers trade lead vocals on smooth jazz/blues ('Bessie's Dream'), folk-blues ('Good Stuff'), Delta blues ('Rolling Log'), gospel (an a cappella version of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's 'Rock Daniel'), and combinations of those genres.
On paper it sounds scattershot, but in actuality this is a thoughtfully paced combination of styles, united by three affecting voices. Eric Bibb's smoother Keb' Mo' approach meshes surprisingly well with Rory Block's more penetrating Delta croon and Maria Muldaur's sassy, sexy, throaty growl. Covers of Jimmy Reed's 'Little Rain' and Bob Dylan's 'Gotta Serve Somebody' with Bibb taking lead, and Bill Withers' 'Lean on Me' (Muldaur and Block) show the disc's wide stylistic range. A musical seminar in how diverse types of music interbreed and influence each other, all three singers are in the moment with nobody commanding the spotlight for long. The barrelhouse honky tonk piano blues of Block's 'Travelin' Woman Blues' incorporates both Muldaur's and Block's singing in the album's most convincing duet. Only a few songs such as the closing title track feature all three voices, and the album might have benefited from more instances where they all contribute.
But the vocalist's exuberance soars from the grooves and creates a lively yet relaxed vibe that's contagious and often thrilling. The result is a cohesive, soulful, and powerful disc that will hopefully inspire listeners to find more material from each of its headliners.Hal Horowitz, AllMusic Reviewdownload (mp3 @320 kbs):Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 July 2019 11:37).