© Bluestronomical Publishing Inc. 2007

Eric Bibb
Diamond Days
Telarc 83660

There’s an old cliché that has often been applied when assessing the potential of an individual and it goes like this, ‘He/she is a diamond in the rough’. There are no rough edges on Diamond Days or Eric Bibb, the blues artist behind this fabulous new CD.

The man is so effortless when he plays that one has difficulty determining where the guitar stops and where Bibb starts. In particular, "Storybook Hero" prompts images of Clapton’s Unplugged (Live) album. "Storybook Hero" is an easygoing bayou song featuring Levi B. Saunders’ banjo backstopping Bibb’s acoustic guitar. Glen Scott’s Doo Wop vocal support is as silky smooth as Bibb’s own voice. Gilles Bouvier’s French accordion creates a quaint personal ambience. Saunders and Bibb combined to write an old-fashioned song about a man confessing his love for his woman.

The earthy "Dr. Shine" is a ballad that allows us to see life through the eyes of a shoeshine man. Bibb has an astounding ability to use words to create portraits of real life scenes. He brings to life the interaction between the traveler and the shoeshine man.

Björn Gidonsson’s uneven drum beats run counter to Janne Peterson’s funky Wurlitzer chops as Bibb strums and sings the faith based "In My Father’s House". The song offers up the hope our Heavenly Father extends to each of us.

Often it is said that an artist must experience heartache and disappointment to give his or her voice the right inflection for singing the blues. Eric Bibb blows that myth away as he tells stories with a positive spin. He has retained the simple, ballad, earthy and acoustic elements of traditional blues, but this ‘ain’t no man singing about how the world dun him wrong’. The bonus track "Worried Man Blues" most emulates that theme.

The CD also has a bonus video included with the 12 tracks on the album and all of them are to be treasured. Honorable mentions need to go to Jim Shearer for his tuba work on "Still Live On", Gary Compton (harmonica) and Paul Waller’s playing of the Hilo Hawaiian Lap-steel guitar on "Worried Man Blues". Numerous other incredible musicians also appear on this project.

- Joe Montague -


Southwest Blues CD Review - March 2007

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