MARKUS JAMES

Snakeskin Violin

2008-03-14

Markus James has been dubbed "The Unofficial Dean of the Roots-World-Blues Movement." This disc makes him official. Recorded in Mali, the Mississippi Delta and California, James teams with Malian musicians such as Vieux Farka Toure, Tamashek women vocalists from Timbuktu and delta drummer Calvin Jackson to merge American blues with African roots music. The lines are so blurred that you can play this CD as either blues or worldbeat. "Weather Vane" (#7), "O.M. Boogie" (#8) and "Soon" (#15) are examples of brilliant merging of the genres. A remarkable effort that shows the seamlessness of Mali and Mississippi music. MJVD 03/08 B-Roots (or W-Fusion depending on your ears)

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Blues

  • reviewed 08/2008

    MICK HUCKNALL
    TRIBUTE TO BOBBY

  • reviewed 04/2014

    KENNY 'BLUES BOSS' WAYNE
    Rollin' With The Blues Boss

  • reviewed 05/2008

    HONEYBOY EDWARDS
    ROAMIN' AND RAMBLIN'

  • reviewed 03/2013

    GURF MORLIX
    Gurf Morlix Finds the Present Tense

  • reviewed 11/2009

    SHELLEY KING
    Welcome Home

  • reviewed 11/2020

    BETTE SMITH
    THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE BETTE

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.