2008-03-14
Markus James has been dubbed "The Unofficial Dean of the Roots-World-Blues Movement." This disc makes him official. Recorded in Mali, the Mississippi Delta and California, James teams with Malian musicians such as Vieux Farka Toure, Tamashek women vocalists from Timbuktu and delta drummer Calvin Jackson to merge American blues with African roots music. The lines are so blurred that you can play this CD as either blues or worldbeat. "Weather Vane" (#7), "O.M. Boogie" (#8) and "Soon" (#15) are examples of brilliant merging of the genres. A remarkable effort that shows the seamlessness of Mali and Mississippi music. MJVD 03/08 B-Roots (or W-Fusion depending on your ears)JANIVA MAGNESS
STRONGER FOR IT
MONSTER MIKE WELCH AND MIKE LEDBETTER
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
LYNWOOD SLIM & THE IGOR PRAD0 BAND
BRAZILIAN KICKS
The McKee Brothers
Moon Over Montgomery
Kelly Richey
Shakedown Soul
PAUL REDDICK
SUGAR BIRD
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