Jim Byrnes
My Walking Stick
Black Hen #7502093642
If you are looking to take a refuge from over-driven blues rock that can very well put your sanity on the line, no greater comfort zone could be found than in the solace of Jim Byrnes My Walking Stick CD.
Byrnes may be a Vancouver native, but the music that comes off My Walking Stick is an American roots oriented blend of swamp water, New Orleans hoodoo, folk, country and blues that is just as easy going as a hot summer day in the Southeast corner of America. The musicians backing Jim aid his visions in creating classic musical literature.
Spooky mysticism permeates "Walk On Boy" turning it into Red Light District darkened mojo. The title track "My Walking Stick" synthesizes Mexican flamenco and Calypso driven by Jesse Zubot's sensual violin runs.
Jim has no problems tackling The Band's "Ophelia" and morphing it into Depression era ragtime music coming from an age of Old Vitrolas and bootleg whiskey. Byrnes' deep soulful vocals backed by Steve Dawson's pedal steel guitar country-fry the jazzy "Lonely Blue Boy." Byrnes can be just as good as anyone in creating lustful moods and does it perfectly in the after hours glow of "Drown In My Own Tears."
Working with the gospel group The Sojourners of course is the right decision in the old time religion standard of "What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?" Opening track "Ol Rattler" takes you into the heart of Southern voodoo country with Chris Gestrin's organ textures.
Ending track "One Life" composed by Jim Byrnes and Steve Dawson is the perfect bookend to a CD of roots music that paints a picture of an Americana that has dwindled down to nothing in the present century.
- Gary Weeks -
Southwest Blues CD Review - October 2009
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