The title of the New Legacy Duo's CD aptly sums up where they are coming
from. The duo consist of Freddie Vanderford (harp and vocals) and Brandon
Turner (guitar and vocals). Vanderford is the man who was a student of Peg
Leg Sam (Arthur Jackson), and recently recorded as half of the Legacy Duo
with Little Pink Anderson, the son of Peg Leg Sam's musical partner (Pink
Anderson).
The album kicks off with the first of three Pink Anderson tunes "She Can
Cook Good Sallet," where the need to sing and play the harp fills puts
Vanderford to the test. He comes up to scratch here and elsewhere, laying
down some fine unamplified harp. The sympathetic balance between
Vanderford's harp and Turner's guitar is established on the first track,
and they keep it pretty much right, all the way through.
The second track, Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues," sees the duo become
an instrumental trio for the first of three tracks with the addition of
Todd Scarborough on washboard. Then it is back to the duo, with Turner
taking vocals for the first time on "Gin Done Done It." The quality never
varies as the duo pick and blow their way through the likes of "Mr Ditty
Wa Ditty" (aka "Diddy Wah Diddy") and "Step It Up And Go" (from the same
family as "Bottle Up And Go" and "Shake It Up And Go"), right the way
through to the closing version of "Amazing Grace."
"Piedmont Blues" is a fine example of Piedmont blues. It was somewhat
strange to see the liner notes suggest that there are few people left
playing Piedmont blues. They appear to have overlooked the likes of Cephas
and Wiggins, Larry Johnson, Paul Geremiah and the many followers of the
Reverend Gary Davis, not to mention those who include original Piedmont
style songs in their repertoire, such as Steve James. This is merely an
oversight, however, and fans of acoustic blues, and the Piedmont style in
particular will be pleased with what the New Legacy Duo have to offer. You
can track "Piedmont Blues" down via the duo's web site (www.newlegacyduo.com).
This review is copyright © 2001 by Gordon Baxter, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.