Hundred-word Reviews for November 2024: Blues/Roots

It’s been some time since I’ve done a clutch of hundred-word reviews; three months, to be exact. So here’s five, all in the blues/roots bag.

Piper & the Hard Times – Revelation
Combine a saucy New Orleans vibe with a blues sensibility, put a soulful and strong vocalist out front, and give them a set of well-written and-arranged tunes. The result could be Revelation, the sorta-major-label debut of Piper & the Hard Times. Fronted by Al “Piper” Green, the group dig into a deep groove on twelve tracks of tasty tunes. There’s nothing terribly unusual about this group or its music; they simply do what they do in the traditional method, and they do it well. The band won the International Blues Challenge’s best band award in 2024; listen and learn why.

Shemekia Copeland – Blame it On Eve
When it says Shemekia Copeland on the tin (as it were), you can be assured of quality within. Copeland’s latest is no exception: Blame it On Eve is a winning collection of authentic blues delivered with soul, wit and panache. With a dozen songs composed for her by John Hahn and Will Kimbrough – the latter of whom produced the album – Copeland is on fire. Guests abound, like Luther Dickinson turning in some searing guitar work on the title track, and Alejandro Escovedo on duet vocals for “Is There Anybody Up There?” But Shemekia Copeland remains the star of the show.

Jake Shimabukuro / Mick Fleetwood – Blues Experience
Shimabukuro is known for his work on the ukulele, though he made a stellar blooz power trio album a few years back. Fleetwood is renowned for being one of two mainstays in Fleetwood Mac. Some may not remember that in early days, the Mac was a top-notch blues band, not at all like its breezy yacht rock incarnations. Tackling well-loved tunes from the likes of Jeff Beck, Procol Harum and that original Mac, they create a wonderful set of instrumentals that simmer and soar. You’ve never heard uke like this; you likely won’t even recognize that you’re hearing a ukulele.

Randall Bramblett – Paradise Breakdown
Randall Bramblett is in that rarefied pantheon of artists whose work transcends genre. Calling his work roots music is about as close as we’ll get; the point is that Bramblett makes heartfelt, genuine music that makes no bows toward commercial consideration. Yet it’s warmly accessible by its very nature. And Paradise Breakdown is an exemplar of an artist who at age 76 is at the peak of his abilities The subtlety of “Come On” draws the listener in, while the down-home groove of “Fire Down in our Souls” is hypnotic in its character. The three bonus tracks are great, too.

Tab Benoit – I Hear Thunder
It’s fair to wonder if the blues quartet format has anything original left to offer. But when one hears a record like guitarist Tab Benoit’s I Hear Thunder, it’s clear that the answer is yes. Benoit’s strong vocals and the commanding lead guitar work of Anders Osborn makes the songs jump out of the speakers. A tune like the opening title cut smolders and bellows, serving up sinister vibes and sass within just a few moments. Storytelling tracks like “The Ghost of Gatemouth Brown” take a familiar musical bed and put an original tale on top of it. A good’un.