CD Review
Larry Garner
"Baton Rouge"
Evidence Records (ECD 26106-2)
by Dick Houff
Review date: March 2000
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1999 KBA Award Winner
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by the Blues Foundation
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Some of my favorite blues artists come out of the Gulf Coast area, and Baton Rouge: Slim Harpo, Lightning Slim, Lazy Lester, immediately come to mind. Baton Rouge is also the home of Excello Records. When we were kids we’d have to mail order records from Excello, and the Jewel label in Shreveport, Louisiana. Our music stores didn’t carry them and the distributors were limited to what was currently being played over the airways—particularly, in the Northern States. Years later, in a conversation with Bob Dylan, I found that he was ordering the same records for the same reason! I thought that outside of our own small circle of friends, we were the only people on earth ordering platters. The world really is a very small place, and what you think is uniquely your own idea fast becomes moot. Larry Garner hails from New Orleans, and grew up in Baton Rouge. During his learning process in the blues, he was fortunate enough to play with Silas Hogan, and Guitar Kelly—both from Excello Records. Going to school in the blues was definitely the right choice in Garner’s case, and on this outing it really shows. He hits you right from the start with "Jook Joint Woman," a tough shuffle that jumps up-tempo with Charlene Howard joining Larry on background vocals—my personal favorite song. Garner penned nine out of the twelve tracks, and collaborated on three. What makes this album a true gem is the interplay between Larry and the band—and to think we almost missed having it! Originally recorded in 1995 on the Verve/Gitanes label, it was released in Europe. Thanks to Evidence Records, and their ongoing dedication, we can now enjoy this missing masterpiece. There are no sleepers here—try track #5 with someone special! Highly recommended.
This review is copyright © 2000 by Dick Houff, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
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