Eric Bibb

Diamond Days

2007-01-25

Acoustic guitarist Eric Bibb travels the road where the blues and folk .music intersect. Like Chris Smither and Keb’ Mo’, he uses his guitar as fuel for his lyrics rather than simply shoe horning some words around a riff. With everything from thoughtful tales about the redemptive power of faith, So Glad, to the reflective title track which laments the feast or famine nature of life, to the sly sexual come on of Storybook Hero and even a cover of Bob Dylan’s Buckets of Rain, Bibb crafts tales that escape the routine subjects that are the fodder of all too many blues discs. While the lyrics play a central role to these songs thinking there isn’t much going on musically would be a mistake. Bibb has a number of tricks up his sleeve to keep things just as interesting musically as lyrically. The lead off track, Tall Cotton, features Congolese Guitarist Kahanga “Master Vumbi” Dekula whose rhythmic style brings a taste of Africa to the proceedings. Elsewhere, Bibb employs a tuba to propel the bottom end of his call out to not only his blues heroes, Still Livin’ On, but to his favorite shoe shine man as well, Shine. The live track, In My Father’s House, utilizes Janne Peterssson’s skills on Wurlitzer to instill an urgency to it that would fit nicely on an early Doors disc. Coffee House blues at its best. Smitty

More reviews tagged #Blues

  • reviewed 10/2021

    SUE FOLEY
    PINKY'S BLUES

  • reviewed 08/2011

    GEORGE HARMONICA SMITH
    Teardrops Are Falling

  • reviewed 05/2016

    Steve Hill
    Solo Recordings Volume 3

  • reviewed 10/2009

    MR. GROOVE BAND
    ROCKET 88 TRIBUTE TO IKE TURNER

  • reviewed 05/2010

    OTIS TAYLOR
    Clovis People, Vol. 3

  • reviewed 08/2016

    The Maxx Band
    Funk Box

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.