Charlie Barath – Issaquena Getaway
This showcase was recorded in Clarksdale, MS, the legendary blues town & produced by Charlie Barath (vocals/Hohner harmonica/percussion) & Gary Vincent. There are 14 fortified Delta blues spirits sewn into this album with wisdom, confidence & brawniness. What you’d expect from a craftsman who understands the genre.
The music begins with the vintage, antiquated, delightful sound that even Bob Dylan had on his albums (“Time Out of Mind,” “Love & Theft” & “Modern Times”). Charlie continues this tradition with a confident set that’s consistently strong & versatile. Good storytelling, great groove & tasty soloing that doesn’t upstage a thing. They’re not playing to an audience – they’re playing to their souls.
Some tunes are haunting in their musical structure but not scary, just reminiscent. Nostalgic. “Renee” is superb as is “Waiting For the Queen,” — a narrative similar to tunes done in the late ‘50s & ‘60s by lesser artists. It’s an effective genre, & Charlie punctuates it with the clarity of his harmonica. The music that makes up Issaquena Getaway (Drops Feb. 27/Independent/59:14) is a smart collection of imaginative retro blues without the heartache & whining but shaped with respectable smoothness & charm. Not much grittiness, but with a song like “The Best Thing You Can Do,” I hear Billie Holiday. And that has a wow factor.
The openers “I Gets Around” & “The Weekend Song” are drenched in that old-fashioned instrumental sound & they have the necessary blues nutrients with all the fat trimmed off. Even the instrumental “Cuban Getaway” sweeps in with a Spanish rhythm, but it’s overlaid with New Orleans piano & guitar weaves. Not quite the blues, but it has tang.
The recording is made with a nod to the warmer process of recording of the 1920s-30s. The traditional seeds are planted, but the sprouts are modern-day shoots. Dylan knew this & Charlie still pours the Miracle-Gro over each planted melody. His harmonica is an extension of this fertilizer. Charlie does not go through the menu but offers specials, cooked fresh & garnished with hip values. “I Might Fall In Love” is like a cherished musical memory.
There are a few sharp pieces, often quite original, owing to Barath’s versatility as a player of traditional styles like Chicago blues, rural country blues, Honky Tonk, western swing, with some dips into funk & jazz idioms & folk forms. It’s all engaging, definitive, & despite its aged musical form, there’s no tarnish on any of these gems.
Highlights – “I Gets Around,” “The Weekend Song,” “Waiting For the Queen,” “Cuban Getaway,” “I Might Fall In Love,” “The Best Thing You Can Do,” “Renee” & “Honey I Got No Money.”
Musicians – Johnny Burgin & Andrew Sherer (guitars), Mark Yacovone (piano/organ), Mike Law (bass), Danny Banks (drums) & Shari Richards (vocals).
Color image courtesy of Charlie’s Facebook. CD @ CD Baby & https://charliebarath.bandcamp.com/album/issaquena-getaway