MARKUS JAMES

Snakeskin Violin

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)

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Blues

  • reviewed 09/2007

    OMAR KENT DYKES WITH JIMMIE VAUGHAN
    ON THE JIMMY REED HIGHWAY

  • reviewed 07/2009

    CHARLES WILSON
    Troubled Child

  • reviewed 04/2009

    ERIC LINDELL
    GULF COAST HIGHWAY

  • reviewed 04/2016

    Jeff Jensen
    The River City Sessions

  • reviewed 10/2009

    Lazy Genius
    Strange Plains, Dark Grooves.

  • reviewed 02/2014

    WATERMELON SLIM & THE WORKERS
    BULL GOOSE ROOSTER

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.