The Ragpicker String Band
Yellow Dog Records

The Ragpicker String Band is Americana roots at its highest caliber. You certainly cannot argue that statement when you consider the members are all individually recognized as part of the elite class of such players: Martin Grosswendt, Mary Flower and Rich DelGrosso. Each member takes their own turn at vocals and each plays a variety of instruments.

Most of the music is classical blues and ragtime pieces by songwriters such as Sleepy John Estes (three tracks), The Mississippi Shieks, Lil Johnson, Walter Vincson, even jazz master Thelonius Monk. Flower and DelGrosso both penned a couple numbers each.

The three artists all blend to perfection. If you like acoustic music this is certainly a winning formula. Great takes prevail throughout the disc, take your pick. Some of my own personal favorites may be “Honey Babe,” “Black Mattie,” “Lonely One In This Town”and the outstanding take on “Trimmed And Burning.” And of course I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the humorous take of DelGrosso on Rich Lyons song “Google Blues” explaining how nobody is safe from having their life on the line of the information highway.

The Ragpicker String Band is one of those so-called super groups of musicians, this time in a very pleasing acoustic showcase. You may not see another recording of the three together again, and you may only be able to catch them at special concerts or workshops, so it is well worth the effort to run out and pick up a copy of this disc. Well done and quite enjoyable!

Total Time: 57:16

Honey Babe / Minor Blues / Google Blues / Blue Monk / Clean Up At Home / Motel Towel / Baby Where You Been / Black Mattie / Lonely One In This Town / By Your Side / Milk Cow Blues / Trimmed And Burning / Street Doctor Blues / Bruno’s Dream

The Mississippi Blues Child
Malaco

Castro Coleman, better known to the world as Mr. Sipp, opens his sophomore release with the autobiographical song “TMBC,” or more simply when spelled out completely “The Mississippi Blues Child.” He explains how he rose from a lengthy and successful career in the field of gospel, while always having the hankering to perform the blues, though his peers at the time told him that was sinful, the devil’s music. He went to Memphis and won the International Blues Challenge making him a phenom quite quickly.

One thing that Mr Sipp does not tell you in the song that he related to me while interviewing him for the book Blues On Beale Street, Memoirs Of The International Blues Challenge, was that prior to participating in the IBC the first time, he only had three original blues songs in his repertoire and had to create another on the spur of the moment when he reached the finals. Witnessing him perform and knowing this fact makes your jaw drop at the talent level displayed.

Mr Sipp has an extreme knack for song writing and has the ability where he often reaches into his pocket to pull out guitar riffs that can rival masters like BB King or Little Milton very naturally. The numbers can make you want to move your feet and shake your butt as in “Sipp Slide.” And there are times he can pull you into a soft heartfelt slow blues with biting guitar like “Say The Word” where he questions whether his girl truly cares for him or not. Then there is pure Mississippi soul with “What Is Love,” and since this disc is being released on Malaco, a label renowned for carrying a number of the finest soul singers ever to emerge from the South, it is right at home and is smooth with a capital S. That soul continues deeply with “Tonight” while “Hold It In The Road” takes on more of a bouncy direction while still holding onto the Southern soul mannerism. For pure fun, check out “Jump The Broom,” where he wants his girl to marry him and the song is just filled with tasty slide work from guitarist Chris Gill. This is an exceptional selection in an album filled to the brim with great work.

As Mr Sipp will tell you himself when something is right, he has “knocked a hole in it!” Oh yeah, he certainly has with The Mississippi Blues Child. If you haven’t caught onto Mr Sipp yet, what is your delay? Pick this one up and join in on the fun. Knock a hole in it!!

Total Time: 65:35

TMBC / Jump The Broom / In The Fire / Hole In My Heart / Say The Word / Sipp Slide / Nobody’s Bisness / Jackpot / What Is Love / V.I.P. / Tonight / Hold It In The Road / Be Careful / Too Much Water

Born To Play Guitar
RCA

It shouldn’t be any surprise considering the past few albums that Buddy Guy has released. Born To Play Guitar is … ho-hum, here we go again …. another masterfully created disc of fiery guitar, autobiographical songs and a handful of guests enhancing an already exceptional album. In fact, Buddy Guy just may be getting even better as he gets older.

Of the fourteen tracks included, Guy penned only four. Most are written/co-written by longtime associate Tom Hambridge who also plays drums and produced the album. He pays tribute to two blues giants with “Come Back Muddy” in recognition to his former mentor and boss Muddy Waters, and “Flesh & Bone” serving up his own bow to the late BB King. The latter he is joined on vocals by Van Morrison. Other guests on the recording include ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons on “Wear You Out,” vocalist Joss Stone on “(Baby) You Got What It Takes,” and harmonica man Kim Wilson laying down riffs on a pair of numbers “Too Late” and “Kiss Me Quick.”

Opening the album with the title track, “Born To Play Guitar,” songwriter Hambridge covers Guy’s journey from his Louisiana upbringing to his present glory as one of the world’s most appreciated guitarists. On “Crying Out Of One Eye” he may lay down some of the finest Chicago blues going. He hits it right on target. There’s always a bit of indiscretion in the blues at times and Guy shows a little infidelity as sings about his “Back Up Mama” whom he sees when his regular mama is not around. He also touches on vices like cigarettes and dice but he states that you can fix anything with “Whiskey, Beer & Wine,” something that he was taught by Howlin’ Wolf that it can make you kind of ignorant at times. Would you like a little taste of this medication, the song is definitely jammed packed with tearing guitar runs, as can be found throughout the album.

This is a very aptly titled recording by Buddy Guy, because without doubt he was most certainly Born To Play Guitar. And when it comes to the blues, perhaps nobody today does it better.

Total Time: 59:31

Born To Play Guitar / Wear You Out / Back Up Mama / Too Late / Whiskey, Beer & Wine / Kiss Me Quick / Crying Out Of One Eye / (Baby) You Got What It Takes / Turn Me Wild / Crazy World / Smarter Than I Was / Thick Like Mississippi Mud / Flesh & Bone / Come Back Muddy