Denver, Colorado resident songsmith Otis Taylor is currently banking tour dates under his belt and spreading his story-telling gospel through the Blues In Schools program in Ottawa, Ontario. Otis Taylor speaks to people through his music in the folk tradition, but delivers the emotive content of black history through his revisionist blues. His clever use of other musical forms, external noises, spoken word, and poetic lyricism place him among the avant guard in the genre. Transformation in his music translates laterally to the mindful enlightening that his storied lyrics promote.
This multi-instrumentalist puts alot of play into this effort providing the lead vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, electric banjo, harmonica, and mandolin. Producer/arranger Kenny Passarelli thumps in on the bass and keyboards, while Eddie Turner handles the lead guitar action and Cassie Taylor is heard with the background vox. You'll also hear the use of train noises, babies crying, and even thunder as it approaches, but go with the flow and take it in!
The stark lyrics mark the reality of Taylor's blues. The opening tale of a black hobo mistakenly accused of murder and shot down sets the stage for stories of: suffering, death and The Crucifixion; lack of medicine for the poor; alcoholism among the Navajo; hunger and homelessness, and the strength of his great-grandmother after her husband's lynching. There are songs of "crazy" love, good love, and doing love wrong. Delivered with strong folk and gospel inclinations, Otis Taylor has found his blues formula and it is as potent as any blues elixir out there. Get your mind, body, and soul cleansed with this one, because if you can't feel the hurt, man, you better check your pulse.
NorthernBlues Music, Inc.; 67 Mowat Ave., Suite 233; Toronto, ON; M6K 3E3 Canada;
or, www.northernblues.com
This review is copyright © 2001 by Mark A. Cole, 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.