By John Apice | Americana Highways
Delightful. That’s what this music is in a single word. Their voices with expertise, warmth & feelings in the heart of rural homecoming love begin on the opening tune — the marvelous “Room On the Porch.” Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’ & Ruby Amanfu conjure tears of happiness with their unified voices & emotional sophistication. What a cure for what ails ya.
Their voices, along with this repertoire, is a soundscape. The lighthearted instrumentation is a benevolent caress to the ears. “My Darling My Dear” is plaintive, catchy, & possesses good vocal contrasts. These voices can pull your ear in slowly on a silken line. Mr. Mahal has always had a soothing, authoritative tonality (one of his most impressive tunes being the energetic song “Freedom Ride” from an exceptional LP known as Largo).
10 rural journeys lead up to the Room On the Porch (Drops May 23/Concord Records/43:49) produced by Taj (vocals/acoustic & resonator guitars/ukelele/bgv/percussion) & Keb’ Mo’ (vocals/acoustic, resonator, slide & electric guitars/banjo/mandolin/percussion/steel drum/octave mandolin/harmonica) in Franklin, TN.
They mix it up generously, & trade off lead vocals with skill on “She Keeps Me Movin’” that’s dipped in hot buttered soul (as Isaac Hayes would say). The set is well arranged & each tune is deliciously creative in this showcase. I’ve been listening to the NY-born Grammy Award winner Taj Mahal since his early Columbia days & Grammy Award winner L.A.-born Keb’ Mo’ since I saw him perform “More Than One Way Home” in 1996. They’re part of the landscape of Americana & Taj even appeared in the Americana-rich film “Songcatcher.”
The musicianship is stellar throughout. The upbeat “Thicker Than Mud” embodies the qualities of their genre & this duo serves up the roots-Americana musicality imaginatively & with dazzling results. “Junkyard Dog” will make Tom Waits envious, & “Blues’ll Give You Back Your Soul” & “Rough Time Blues” harken back to Taj’s Columbia “Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home” era.
The music goes comfortably with a sleeping dog, a bottle of hooch, a rocking chair & of course, a porch. I found my summer music. It’s one of the year’s best. I’ll say it again; it’s one of the year’s best.
Highlights – “Room On the Porch,” “My Darling My Dear,” “She Keeps Me Movin’” “Thicker Than Mud,” “Junkyard Dog,” “Blues’ll Give You Back Your Soul,” “Better Than Ever,” (with Wendy Moten) & “Rough Time Blues.”
Musicians – Anton Nesbit (bass), Brian Allen (upright bass), David Rodgers (Hammond organ/synth), Jimmy Nichols (Hammond organ/Wurlitzer), K. Roosevelt (drums/bass), Keio Stroud (drums), Jenee Fleenor (violin), Billy Branch (harmonica), Jeff Coffin (sax), John Oates, Robbie Brooks Moore, Lauren Lucas, Michael B. Hicks, Ron Poindexter & Gene Miller.
Enclosed: a colorful 12pp stitched lyric insert. CD cover & color image courtesy of David McClister.