Several years ago, I was lucky enough to review a CD called Skin and Bones by a 15 year old guitar phenom by the name of David Jacobs-Strain. Now, nearly six years later, David Jacobs-Strain is a 21-year old Stanford University student who has just released his second studio recording for Northern Blues Music entitled Ocean or a Teardrop.
Musically inspired by a visit to a Taj Mahal concert at the age of nine, David Jacobs-Strain grew up in Eugene, Oregon after being born on the East Coast. Ocean or a Teardrop is Jacobs-Strain's fifth CD, including three independent releases and his two Northern Blues Music recordings. Unlike many of his peers in performing in the blues genre, Jacobs-Strain performs on an acoustic guitar. Performing in a style that is uniquely his own, listeners will find opportunities to compare Strain with the likes of the late, great Michael Hedges, Keb’ Mo’, Kelly Joe Phelps and any number of classic acoustic blues performers.
Ocean or a Teardrop contains ten great songs, including seven originals and only three covers that are performed in a style that makes them original in their interpretation. Of the acoustic blues classics on Ocean or a Teardrop, “Kokomo Blues,” “Girl I Love” and “Soul of a Man,” only “Girl I Love” is performed solo and in a style that is remotely reminiscent of the Sleepy John Estes original. The opener, “Kokomo Blues, is performed with a full band, featuring backing vocals by Anne Weiss. The arrangement takes the song in an unexpected, yet entertaining direction from the original. The other cover, “Soul of a Man” includes more backing vocals by Weiss and some interesting backing instrumentation including chains, wash tub drums, shakers and “trash can” vocals by Peter Joseph Burtt.
In addition to the well done title track, “Ocean or a Teardrop” (an anti-war song), one of the more ear-catching tunes on the CD is “Take My Chances,” a great song that has an uncanny resemblance to the music of another Northern Blues artist, Otis Taylor. Taylor and Jacobs-Strain have one commonality that suggests the reasons for the similarity, that being the fact that they share the same producer, Kenny Passarelli, who also plays bass on several tracks. The lyrics for the songs are unique as well, describing a person who grows marijuana in the redwood forests of Northern California.
On the road, Jacobs-Strain usually performs as a solo artist, but the extra instrumentation on this recording makes it all the more interesting. Despite added instrumentation, Jacob-Strain’s guitar work on the instrumental, “Yelapa Breakdown” and “Earthquake” with its Latin style still stands out as one of the highlights of the recording.
With the release of An Ocean or a Teardrop, David Jacobs-Strain has created a very impressive new CD. His mixture of the blues with other genres and added instrumentation makes the CD interesting and entertaining listening from start to finish. Jacobs-Strain's vocals, guitar prowess and the creative ideas he brings to the music, make this a fine effort by the young bluesman. With his fine guitar and distinctive songwriting, An Ocean or a Teardrop is definitely recommended listening. To learn more about this and the many other fine recordings from Northern Blues Music, visit their website at www.northernblues.com.
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