Corey Harris
Greens From The Garden
(Alligator ALCD 4864)
Corey Harris' new release on Alligator
Records Greens From The Garden, is a truly interesting CD. Drawing on a wide base of
history, and culture for the inspiration, it is hard to pin this CD down in a review. One
theme runs true throughout, closeness to the land: for food (hence, Greens From The
Garden), for inspiration, and for music (very rootsy music). Using recorded dialog and
sounds as segues for the much of the music, many of the songs are set up to create little
pictures of everyday life and the folk art of the blues. This CD feels and sounds like you
are at a friend's kitchen table or on a front porch and music breaks out of the laughter
and conversation. Fueled by Corey's singing and slide playing, the core band, the "5
X 5", are a perfect compliment to Harris' funky, loose approach to his music. Harry
"Pointman" Dennis plays Djun-djun, rainstick, percussion and adds backing
vocals. Most of the rhythms here never take the obvious approach and there are several
really good change-ups that keep the beats interesting. Jamal Millner provides added
texture and color playing rhythm and lead guitars, mandolin, acoustic guitar and backing
vocals. His playing ranges from subtle to all out rockin' blues. The cast of musicians
adding flavor to the various styles is numerous.
Among the standouts are Henry Butler
playing piano on a live version of "Honeysuckle," a slow blues boogie woogie
that would fit perfectly in any smokey roadhouse. Victor Brown plays bass through the
whole CD and adds to the styles. His playing compliments the rhythms that
"Pointman" lays down. Greens From The Garden has a really wide style to it which
flows with the help of segues between the songs. They give direction and flow to the CD as
it changes styles. And it does change style. Influences here are delta blues, Chicago and
New Orleans blues. Also played are Cajun, Caribbean, African, and reggae beats, as well as
dixieland jazz, rhumbas, and even a waltz. So the fare here is as varied as the vegetables
out of a good garden. Corey Harris wrote all but five of the 20 songs on Greens From The
Garden, including the interludes.
Considering how diverse this CD is, he demonstrates
considerable talent for his use of style and influence in his songwriting. This would be
an easy CD to dismiss solely on the low-tech approach of the recording and arrangements,
but on Greens From the Garden, Corey Harris is making a connection to, and a study of, how
our everyday lives connect to the blues. Greens From The Garden probably isn't for every
listener, but it definitely grew on me. If you want to take a side trip down a country
road of the blues, you might just be surprised what you find. Be adventurous.
- Pete Barbeck -
Southwest Blues CD Review - July 1999
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