|
by Jerry Bradley Music compilations are hard to come by in Southern Illinois,
and the latest one to come down the pike should be a most welcome
addition. Called Guitars
Between the Rivers this is a
compilation featuring 14 guitarists well-known in Southern
Illinois and beyond. But don't be fooled by the title, the disc's
13 tracks do not lean on the strength of the
guitarists alone. Many of the them are backed up with solid
vocals, scorching sax play, hot piano chops and more. The musical
range is also a good mix with straight-up rock, blues, jazz, folk, and
country, along with instrumental and acoustic tunes. This is an
excellent chance to hear many different sounds and licks from a wide
variety of local talent in Southern Illinois -- all collected
on a single compact disc.
 A good share of non blues-based tracks are to be
had, but several of the songs are searing blues numbers. Such
tracks are highly appropriate considering that the
royalties from the CD's sales will go to go to the Hurd
Brothers Scholarship Memorial Fund. For those who may not be
familiar with the Hurd Brothers, they were
an extremely talented, well respected and influential
local blues/rock duo who were tragically killed by a drunk
driver on July 21, 2002. The Hurd Brothers have made a huge
impression on musicians in Southern Illinois, and their
legacy still lives on through the scholarship fund and an annual
benefit and fund-raiser. The centerpiece of "Guitars Between the
Rivers" includes a Hurd Brothers song called "When
I Look into Your Eyes." To celebrate "Guitars Between the Rivers," and commemorate
the Hurd Brothers, a CD release party will be held at 7
p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 12 at the Hangar 9 in Carbondale. The event, which
is slated to end at 11 p.m. or midnight, will feature a good
share of the guitarists and musicians found on the "Guitars
Between the Rivers" disc. If all goes as planned, a grand
finale will be held, a la "The Last Waltz," at the end of the night as
the musicians present will take the stage for a giant
collective jam.
Here is a brief synopsis of the disc's 13 tracks . .
.
1. The CD starts off right "Southern Illinois" proper
with Bruce Camden's original tune "Jimmy Lee
Baker." Written, played and sung by Camden, this is a classic
country tale which comes along with an infectiously catchy
background chorus.
2. Grant Morgan sparks things up next with
"Seezn the Moment." One of the key forces behind
Massive Funk, a legendary band from Southern Illinois' past,
Morgan presently fronts a one-man band, playing a "soulful
variety of synthesized music, mixing together songs
from many artists, as well as a healthy dose of original
material."
3. Following Morgan, the
crazy lovers of Majnun provide a blues classic with a
cover of "She Caught the Katy." "She
Caught the Katy," is a tune written by Taj Mahal and Yank Rachel which
was popularized in the cult comedy classic, "The Blues
Brothers." Din Dayemi and Bill Carter
combine for some wicked guitar play and the vocals of Barbara
Eidlin make this track worth multiple spins.
4. Next is an instrumental
with Ivas Johns jamming in "Warmth." Pianist
Mel Goot accompanies the tune with some strong
keyplay.
5. Robert Russell
has been around the Southern Illinois scene for a long time. Most
recently he's been playing with Creole Stomp. But he's also
working solo on an original blues project. In the song called "
Stop
Breakin' Down," Russell performs a strong blues number which
is tightly tricked out with some fine fiddle-work from local
Cajun/Creole kingpin Dennis Stroughmatt.
6. In the relatively short
time he has been in this region, Zacc Harris has been
a musical force in Southern Illinois and beyond with the "jamgrass"
band Broken Grass. He can also be found
occasionally sitting in at Pinch Penny Pub on Sunday's with Mercy
Jazz and when he's not on the road will be picking
on Monday nights at Tres Hombres with the jazz band Caravan.
It is with Caravan that Harris slaps down the tune "Funk
E-350." As a bonus, the tune is also saturated with the
scorching sax play of Todd Rewoldt. [NOTE:
Broken Grass' last concert will be held the previous night at the
Hangar 9.] To reach Harris about the "Funk E-350" or about
Broken Grass' final gig, call 713-6871.
7. Local tunesmith and
folksinger Randy Auxier provides a fabulously
folky number with "Something In Your Eyes."
Auxier is a true folk aficionado and has a radio show "Folk Fiasco" on
WDBX 91.1 FM Community Radio every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to
noon. Auxier lays down an excellent original folk song on this
track.
8. Robbie Stokes
follows with an instrumental called Raia. Stokes
is a musician with a strong musical pedigree, including stints with the
Grateful Dead and having a hand in Norman Greenbaum's immortal rock
classic, "Spirit in the Sky." Stokes provides a truly unique bit of
guitar-driven narrative that flirts with an ambient aesthetic
which in no way abandons a strong rock/guitar ethic. There is even a
story behind the instrumental track about an worn-down bluesman
coldcocked by a women who goes by the name of Raia. To reach
Stokes, call Robco Audio at 529-2279.
9. The Hurd
Brothers take over with "When I Look Into Your Eyes,"
a great guitar-driven BB King-style blues number.
10. The Hurd Brothers are
a tough act to follow, but Billie Bowden answers with an upbeat track
flavored with a dose of Graham Parson-ish California
country-rock. Bowden is accompanied by his two lively
California comrades, Wm. "Tugboat Willie" and Lois Weaver.
11. Next, Nathan
Clark George grants the listeners a beautifully crafted and
sounding acoustic instrumental called "The Aspens."
Clark plays expertly and emotionally. He also has a reputation in
the area for having a sterling ear, having found himself
at the end of numerous gushing compliments as a result of
his work at Misunderstudio in Murphysboro.
12. "Curt
Carter" rounds out the twelfth track with his partner Tom
Connelly in a fast-n-furious folk number called Don't Need No
Roads."
13. "Jimmy's Jazz,"
is a tasty track from one of Carbondale's foremost guitarists, Jimmy
Salatino. In this track, Salatino reaches away from some of
the straight rock which people are used to hearing from him into the
realm of personal experimentation.
14. And finally, the last
track is a brief recording of summertime Cicadas called "Cicada
Coda" -- a brief tribute to Forrest and Doug.
For more information, email guitars@betweentherivers.com |