CD Review
Janiva Magness
Bury Him At the Crossroads
(Northernblues 002)
by Gary Tate
Review date: November 2004
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award"
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Janiva Magness is a Blues treasure poised for widespread acclaim. Colin Linden brought her to the attention of Fred Litwin of NorthernBlues, which eventually led to ‘Bury Him At The Crossroads’, a voyage of sorts back to roots-oriented intimacy--putting it in contrast to Janiva’s earlier releases that tended to showcase her blues shouter persona. Great things have been predicted for her, but getting Linden as producer and lead guitar player was a move that guaranteed impeccable authenticity. Linden is virtually peerless in understanding roots history, and his credibility has been confirmed repeatedly on brilliant productions over the years.
Magness has a wonderfully elastic vocal instrument, so the sparse production and small ensemble were perfect in unveiling its many shades, emotions, and nuances. The covers, though not necessarily obscure, are enshrined in the ethers of the Soul, Blues, and R&B canons, such as the glorious “Soul Of A Man”, written by St. Louis legend Oliver Sain. Backed up by the little else than Richard Bell’s piano, it’s an emotionally charged love song, and Magness caresses it with tender mercy. Soulful majesty! J.B. Lenoir’s “The Whale Has Swallowed Me” is another wonderful discovery, and Magness sublimely captures the Gospel interior lying just below the Blues surface. Inspirational! The great Sam Cooke is honored on “Lost and Lookin”, a widely overlooked nugget from one of the founding fathers of Soul music. I wish I knew more about the origins of “That’s No Way To Get Along”, but it’s another humdinger of a tune, full of heart and soul, and another righteous vehicle for showcasing the phenomenal range of this beguiling chanteuse. There’s even a touch of Motown on “One More Heartache”, while Magic Sam’s classic “Everything Gonna Be Alright” is given a stripped-down treatment that glows in the dark like a candle. Eternal magic! Delbert McClinton’s “Ain’t Lost Nothing” is a throbbing slice of roadhouse Blues, featuring Janiva at her tantalizing best.
As for the originals, the title track packs an emotional wallop as it harkens back to Delta blues mythology. “Eat The Lunch You Brought”--written by bassist/rhythm guitarist Jeff Turmes--flips the coin back to fun-filled silliness. The nostalgic “I’m Leaving You” goes down as easy as a glass of iced tea on a hot summer’s day. Congratulations to everyone involved in this first-class effort. As for the final judgment on this Magness/Linden debut, I have but one word. Encore!
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