Blues Walkin' Like A Man: A Tribute To Son House

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ALBUM INFORMATION

Total Tracks: 13   Total Length: 53:19

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John Morthland

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John Morthland has been writing about music since the days of electronically rechanneled stereo and duophonic sound. His name has darkened the mastheads of Roll...more »

09.26.08
Somehow, this woman not only gets Son House, she channels him
2008 | Label: Stony Plain Records / The Orchard

Block plays and sings acoustic blues with power and authority, to say nothing of rhythmic drive and pop. And she'd better — this is the music of Son House, after all. Not only does she grok the Delta bluesman's singular, complex slide style, but she manages to interpret him — impulsive, throbbing guitar, powerhouse voice and all — rather than ape him. This puts her a step or two ahead of the competition automatically. Her rich bottleneck sound on "My Black Mama" is remarkably full and varied, as if there's more than one guitarist at work here; her singing on "Preachin 'Blues" likewise conjures up several voices and moods in just over three minutes while embracing all the secular vs. sacred contradictions House wrestled with for his entire life. Block employs other singers and players sparingly — but usually effectively — mixing House's best-known tunes with relative obscurities. And if her choice of songs plays up the tension and turbulence within House, with "Grinnin 'in Your Face" pretty much summing up his feelings on the matter, her decision to close with the pastoral "I Want to Go Home on the Morning Train" wasn't a bad move. Is all this… read more »

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Son House Lives

nortonnels

Rory has long been one of the preeminent delta blues musicians recording today. It's great to hear her doing more works by artists such as Son House and Robert Johnson. They've always featured prominently in her shows and albums, but an entire album of Son House is quite a treat. Rory grew up with this music at her father's sandal shop in Greenwich Village where lots of the blues and folk musicians of the day would hang out. She learned to play from artists such as Son House and carries on this tradition to this day.

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That Rory Block is an astonishingly capable blues artist has been evident for many years, but with this tribute to the legendary Eddie J. “Son” House Jr., her cache is elevated even further. The shifty and slinky flexible slide work of House, and his preachy, shout chorus style vocalizing is perfectly exemplified on his tunes by Block. What is wondrous is that Block loses nothing of her personal sound and identity, as if she is mystically channeling the acoustic blues icon through some higher powered means. Block’s pure and simple solo persona is electrified through many of House’s classic tunes and some well chosen others, and she does them all proud. Everyone will enjoy and appreciate her spot-on take of “Death Letter,” 12-bar train inspired “Depot Blues” featuring her immaculate slide guitar work, and the inspired devices, phrasings, and fervent singing on the energetic “Preachin’ Blues.” “Grinnin’ in Your Face” is perhaps the most beloved tune of Son House, the tale of two-faced, untrustworthy people she sings with a slight echo or reverb in her voice that is truly haunting. Tales of a bad luck lover on “Jinx Blues” is as deep and personal as authentic blues gets, while the back porch moanin’ “Low Down Dirty Dog Blues” echoes the pre-Howlin’ Wolf style House founded. Listeners need to be advised that Rory Block is not photocopying these songs as much as she is assimilating them with her own voice, but in the pure and unique original voicings Son House invented. The loping “Country Farm Blues” and signature tune “Shetland Pony Blues” show the extreme passion and depth Block feels in this music. There are asides away from the guitar/vocal approach, as overdubbed vocals on “Dry Spell Blues,” the more folksy “I Want to Go Home on the Morning Train,” or an occasional harmonica insert by John Sebastian add a little variety. A most highly recommended recording that easily stands next to her previously recorded tribute to Robert Johnson, Blues Walkin’ Like a Man ranks among Rory Block’s very best efforts in her long, satisfying career, and is a welcome reminder of how a handful artists like Son House truly revolutionized American music. – Michael G. Nastos

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