Category: Roots Music Safari
New Folk – Next Time Around from Darryl Purpose
My musical day today started with a mix of folk music from the iPod, first there was a song from Jesse Winchester’s Gentleman of Leisure album and then a Mark Erelli song, a track from Les Sampou, I haven’t heard her voice in a while! As my thoughts rambled through the list of musicians whose music could come on next, they landed on Darryl Purpose, whose music I’ve loved since around 2000. I thought about his latest album, his first album of new material since 2003. In 2005 he set down his guitar shut down his music making and according to his website he…
Life’s Soundtrack – RPWL and Todd Snider!
Ok so yesterday we had a family gathering to celebrate Easter and Andrew’s 31 birthday, which is today. Anyway about midway through the day, Andrew went upstairs and came down with three albums by RPWL which I mentioned in the other days post about Blind Ego! So on the way down to the job site at milepost 53.9 on the Garden State Parkway, I listened to a mix of RPWL and enjoyed their music. I’ll write more after I’ve listened to the albums a few more times.
Yesterday in Music – Hoyt Axton’s Birthday!
So yesterday I didn’t write about the day being the birthday of Hoyt Axton, so I’ll make up for it today! Anyway Axton was a big bear of a man with a contagious smile and a pretty darn good songwriter! Most of his songs became hits for others. Here’s a list of the songs I’m sure you all know a few of them!
“Into the Night” with the Blues Harp of Brandon Santini
So the other day I listened to the latest album from Memphis Blues Harp player Brandon Santini, This Time Another Year I really liked it, both his harp playing and his vocals were great, at times he reminds me of Leon Russell and at other times Dr. John. From his website:
New Blues – Bex Marshall – The House of Mercy
Bex Marshall’s album The House of Mercy caught my eye a couple of weeks ago and I had no idea how he artist was, so I went to MOG put on the album and was blown away by the title track!! So after being sufficiently impressed by the first listen to the album I went the Bex’s website and discovered that Bex was born in Devonshire England and now lives in London. She is the offspring of a diverse family one side being blue blooded landed gentry, the other Irish Romany. She’s been playing guitar since her Uncle Dave presented her with one on her 11th birthday. By the age of 18, she was a trained croupier, traveling the world working gaming tables on cruise liners to Park Lane, even dealing illegal poker games in Amsterdam. She hitch hiked the coast of Australia on cattle trains and always with a guitar on her back living and storing tales. The House of Mercy is her sophomore release coming on the heels of her successful début album, Kitchen Table, which rose to 13 on the USA ‘UK artists chart’ and number 20 in the USA national Americana Music Association Chart. (AMA Chart). The House of Mercy is now 31 on the Roots Music Report Blues Chart, a couple of weeks ago it was higher than that!
The House of Mercy features The Bex Marshall Band composed of Barry Payne (acoustic bass), Crispin Taylor (drums), Danny Bryan (percussion), Toby Baker (keyboards) and newest edition, gospel singer Shola Adegorove. They are helped out by guests musicians include: Don Wayne Reno (banjo), Dale Reno (mandolin) & Jake Byers (acoustic bass) all from Hayseed Dixie. B J Cole (dobro), Eileen Healy (fiddle) and Brigitte DeMeyer adding backing vocals.
Townes Van Zandt – March 7, 1944
Townes Van Zandt – Dean of Americana Songwriting (March 7, 1944 – January 1, 1997)
On March 7, 1944, Townes Van Zandt was born. I am one of those people who just fairly recently discovered Townes’ music. I knew his name , but it really wasn’t until after Willie recored “Pancho & Lefty that I became aware of his immense talent. The first album that I bought was A Far Cry from Dead which was released in 1999 after his death. Since then I’ve gone back and added several albums to my library. Some background information from Wikipedia, for those who don’t know Townes:
“Into the Night” with the Blues Harp of Mitch Kashmar!
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Mitch Kashmar
Photo by Dusty Blues
So after listening to Kevin Selfe’s album last night and thinking about Mitch Kashmar lending his harp prowess to the album, made me feel like listening to a little Mitch Kashmar tonight!. So on my way back from the DMV I put on the Mitch Kashmar and Pontiax album 100 Miles and listened to several tracks. Once again I will say, by writing this blog and concentrating on finding and listening to new music, I don’t get enough time to listen to some of my favorites, and Mitch is one of them! He is a great blues artist and boy can he wail on harp. And I am not the only one with that opinion! “Mitch Kashmar is my absolute favorite blues harp player of his generation, and one of my favorites period! He’s also a first-class vocalist – his singing really knocks me out.” – William Clarke “Mitch was only 19 when I first heard him and he sounded good even then. These days, oh man, is he tough!”– Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds From his page at Delta Groove Productions:
Today in Music – Birthdays for Johnny Cash and Paul Cotton!
So on this day two music legends were born. On this date in 1932 Johnny Cash was born and then in 1943 Paul Cotton of Poco was born, well maybe one legend was born and one great musician! anyway both had impacts on my musical listening. Of course Johnny Cash had the greater impact! n Through the years starting with songs like “Ring of Fire”, “Jackson” and hell you know them all, through the TV show and the albums from San Quinton and Folsom Prisons, Cash blazed a trail many country rock musicians followed, he was their Beatles! The success that he found with the last albums he produced before he died prove that his appeal spanned generations and genres! He was the man! For me after Cash came artists a love for artists like, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and many more!