Canadian Paul Reddick and record producer Colin Linden share a distinct love for pre-war blues. That love is more than apparent on Riddick’s latest release for North Blues music, Villanelle. Villanelle represents a fine follow-up to Reddick’s 2002 release Rattlebag which receive a W. C. Handy Award nomination and broke new ground by incorporating an updated blues feeling with the traditions of pre-war blues.
During his career, Reddick has proven himself to be a soulful vocalist who gives listeners an intimate view of his feelings through his insightful lyrics and his harmonica which blends complex rhythms, a dynamic range, and solos that demonstrate unique tone and phrasing. Through his recent work, Reddick has made something of a name for himself not just as a bluesman, but a blues poet.
Of the fifteen songs found on Villanelle, ten represent collaborations between Reddick and Linden, with five songs written by Linden alone. In addition to Reddick on vocals and harmonica, the band for the recording includes Colin Linden (guitar, bass, mandolin); Bryan Owings, Gary Craig and Stephen Hodges sharing duties on drums; John Dymond and Larry Taylor providing bass tracks on six songs; Richard Bell playing keyboards on four tracks; and Kathleen Edwards providing some nice violin on the title track, “Villanelle.”
Listening to Villanelle offers an amazing feeling that Reddick has managed to capture the traditional sound of American blues, reflecting the sound of his blues influences, including the music of Sleepy John Estes, Mississippi Fred McDowell and the field recordings compiled by Alan Lomax. Songs like “Winter Bird,” “Waves,” “Dog Catcher” and the title track have a notable traditional country blues feeling. “Luck In Love” is a driving blues number that gets into a strong groove with nice harp fills throughout the song. “Blue Eventide” sounds like something that would have fit well as part of the movie soundtrack for a southern juke joint scene. My two favorites on the CD are “Hook’s In The Water” and “Blue Indigo,” Both of which possess a unique sound, while keeping an underlying traditional feeling. Villanelle starts strong and ends strong with another fine country blues entitled “Some Afternoon Alone.”
Anyone who enjoys traditional blues, particularly if you are interested in new material rather than reinterpretations of blues classics, is guaranteed to enjoy the music on Villanelle, another in a long line of fine releases by the Canadian label, Northern Blues Music. To find out more about Villanelle or other Northern Blues recordings, visit their website at www.northernblues.com.
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