ERIC BIBB, RORY BLOCK, MARIA MULDAUR
''SISTERS & BROTHERS''
FEB 2004
TELARC
52:27
1/Rock Daniel/4:44
2/Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down/Eric Bibb/3:26
3/Get Up Get Ready/Dave Steen/2:09
4/Lean on Me/William Becton / Bill Withers/4:28
5/Bessie's Advice/Eric Bibb / Maria Muldaur/7:17
6/Good Stuff/Eric Bibb/5:34
7/Rolling Log/Lottie Beaman / Lottie Kimbrough/4:06
8/Gotta Serve Somebody/Bob Dylan/4:06
9/Travelin' Woman Blues/Rory Block/4:28
10/Little Rain/Ewart Abner / Jimmy Reed/2:58
11/Maggie Campbell/Traditional/2:49
12/Give a Little More/Eric Bibb/3:02
13/My Sisters and Brothers/Charles Johnson/3:20
Eric Bibb/Vocals, Guitars
Rory Block/Vocals, Guitars
Maria Muldaur/Vocals
Chris Burns/Piano, Wurlitzer
Michael ''Mudcat'' Ward/Upright Bass
Per Hanson/Drums
REVIEW
by Hal Horowitz
As its title implies, this is a spiritually based collaboration from three distinct -- even disparate -- yet surprisingly harmonious voices. Mostly, but not entirely acoustic, the trio of rootsy singers trade lead vocals on smooth jazz/blues ("Bessie's Dream"), folk-blues ("Good Stuff"), Delta blues ("Rolling Log"), gospel (an a cappella version of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "Rock Daniel"), and combinations of those genres. On paper it sounds scattershot, but in actuality this is a thoughtfully paced combination of styles, united by three affecting voices. Eric Bibb's smoother Keb' Mo' approach meshes surprisingly well with Rory Block's more penetrating Delta croon and Maria Muldaur's sassy, sexy, throaty growl. Covers of Jimmy Reed's "Little Rain" and Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" with Bibb taking lead, and Bill Withers' "Lean on Me" (Muldaur and Block) show the disc's wide stylistic range. A musical seminar in how diverse types of music interbreed and influence each other, all three singers are in the moment with nobody commanding the spotlight for long. The barrelhouse honky tonk piano blues of Block's "Travelin' Woman Blues" incorporates both Muldaur's and Block's singing in the album's most convincing duet. Only a few songs such as the closing title track feature all three voices, and the album might have benefited from more instances where they all contribute. But the vocalist's exuberance soars from the grooves and creates a lively yet relaxed vibe that's contagious and often thrilling. The result is a cohesive, soulful, and powerful disc that will hopefully inspire listeners to find more material from each of its headliners.
''SISTERS & BROTHERS''
FEB 2004
TELARC
52:27
1/Rock Daniel/4:44
2/Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down/Eric Bibb/3:26
3/Get Up Get Ready/Dave Steen/2:09
4/Lean on Me/William Becton / Bill Withers/4:28
5/Bessie's Advice/Eric Bibb / Maria Muldaur/7:17
6/Good Stuff/Eric Bibb/5:34
7/Rolling Log/Lottie Beaman / Lottie Kimbrough/4:06
8/Gotta Serve Somebody/Bob Dylan/4:06
9/Travelin' Woman Blues/Rory Block/4:28
10/Little Rain/Ewart Abner / Jimmy Reed/2:58
11/Maggie Campbell/Traditional/2:49
12/Give a Little More/Eric Bibb/3:02
13/My Sisters and Brothers/Charles Johnson/3:20
Eric Bibb/Vocals, Guitars
Rory Block/Vocals, Guitars
Maria Muldaur/Vocals
Chris Burns/Piano, Wurlitzer
Michael ''Mudcat'' Ward/Upright Bass
Per Hanson/Drums
REVIEW
by Hal Horowitz
As its title implies, this is a spiritually based collaboration from three distinct -- even disparate -- yet surprisingly harmonious voices. Mostly, but not entirely acoustic, the trio of rootsy singers trade lead vocals on smooth jazz/blues ("Bessie's Dream"), folk-blues ("Good Stuff"), Delta blues ("Rolling Log"), gospel (an a cappella version of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "Rock Daniel"), and combinations of those genres. On paper it sounds scattershot, but in actuality this is a thoughtfully paced combination of styles, united by three affecting voices. Eric Bibb's smoother Keb' Mo' approach meshes surprisingly well with Rory Block's more penetrating Delta croon and Maria Muldaur's sassy, sexy, throaty growl. Covers of Jimmy Reed's "Little Rain" and Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" with Bibb taking lead, and Bill Withers' "Lean on Me" (Muldaur and Block) show the disc's wide stylistic range. A musical seminar in how diverse types of music interbreed and influence each other, all three singers are in the moment with nobody commanding the spotlight for long. The barrelhouse honky tonk piano blues of Block's "Travelin' Woman Blues" incorporates both Muldaur's and Block's singing in the album's most convincing duet. Only a few songs such as the closing title track feature all three voices, and the album might have benefited from more instances where they all contribute. But the vocalist's exuberance soars from the grooves and creates a lively yet relaxed vibe that's contagious and often thrilling. The result is a cohesive, soulful, and powerful disc that will hopefully inspire listeners to find more material from each of its headliners.
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