Ok so, Eric Bibb is another of those artists who music I don’t have in my library simply because, say it with me now! there’s too much music – too little time! Generally. I don’t listen to a lot of acoustic blues no Keb’ Mo’ or Reverend Gary Davis in my library, there is however, Mississippi John Hurt, Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry and one of my favorite Bill Morrissey album’s is Songs of Mississippi John Hurt. Oh and I forgot my new friends Moreland and Arbuckle! Anyway yesterday after listening to some different? acoustic blues Seasick Steve I wanted to listen to something a little more standard and I had been thinking about Eric Bibb, so I download his latest album Booker’s Guitar and have really enjoyed it!
Eric was born in 1951 (he is actually 45 days older than me his birthday is August 16 and mine October 1) in New York and is the son of Leon Bibb, who was active in the New York folk scene and another absentee in my library! (Note to self – look-up Leon Bibb). Anyway, rather than having their albums around the house Eric had the actual PEOPLE like Pete Seeger, Odetta and Paul Robson (his godfather) around the house! Booker’s Guitar is his seventeenth studio album since his first release in 1996 Good Stuff and that’s what Booker’s Guitar is good stuff! The majority of the album features Eric on guitar with Grant Dermody on harmonica (second note to self look up Grant Dermody) and his work is great! Here are some career highlights from website:
In 2005 Eric released A Ship Called Love and toured the world as ever, including a major US tour with John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers and Robben Ford. A Ship Called Love was nominated for Acoustic Album of the Year in the 2006 Blues Music Awards.
Diamond Days was released in 2006 and has become the biggest selling album of the Eric’s lengthy career, receiving universal critical acclaim. The album entered both Australian (National) and US charts (Blues). Eric has been nominated for Acoustic Artist of the Year in the 2008 Blues Music Awards.
Booker’s Guitar starts with the title track “Booker’s Guitar” a half spoken half sung song about finding and playing on the track a guitar owned by Booker (Bukka) White and it is a great song! I love the imagery of having a paper taped onto the side of the guitar with the songs White is famous for! Of the remaining fourteen tracks 12 are Eric Bibb originals. The two that aren’t are a great version of “Wayfaring Stranger” and Blind Willie Johnson’s “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”
All of the songs work for me but the tracks that stood out the most include “Flood Water” which until the end of the song and mention is made of 1927, I thought it was about Katrina instead of the Mississippi Flood 0f 1927. Karmody’s harmonica on this track is great! I also enjoyed “Turning Pages” a song is praise of reading! “Tell Riley” and “A Good Woman”
So if you’ve never listened to Eric Bibb go find him and give him a listen. As for me I have sixteen other albums to listen to along with some from father Leon and then I’m starting on Josh White, Jr and Daddy Josh!
