In many parts of the country, the only way you can hear live country style blues is to attend a blues festival where acoustic blues is incorporated into the weekend lineup. Fortunately for the South Florida blues lover, there is The Bamboo Room in Lake Worth, Florida. Proprietor Russell Hibbard is not only a fan of the acoustic forms of the blues, he is committed to booking some of the best acoustic blues acts performing in the world today. On Saturday evening, Alvin Youngblood Hart offered his eclectic interpretation of acoustic blues to a packed house at The Bamboo Room.
The 1997 W. C. Handy Award winner for Best New Artist, Alvin Youngblood Hart made his appearance at The Bamboo Room fresh off a recent tour of Europe. I last saw Hart perform at this year's Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport, Iowa over a steamy Fourth of July weekend.. On the Tent Stage in Iowa, Hart chose to perform an electric set (still solo) that offered a different side of his talents from his presentation at The Bamboo Room. In Florida, Hart's show was all acoustic, with Alvin spreading time between his acoustic 6-string, 12-string and resonator guitars.
The Saturday night show opened with "Alberta," performed by Alvin accompanied by his 12-string guitar. This was Hart's first appearance at The Bamboo Room in a year and his desire to give the audience an excellent show was quite apparent. As he moved from 12-string to his resonator for "How Long Before I Can Change My Clothes," I was impressed by his demonstrated skills on what he referred to as an "incarceration ballad," especially since his exceptional guitar style is completely self-taught.
Performing songs from all of his recordings including his current release, Down In The Alley, Hart moved effortlessly between his three guitars entertaining the audience with a combination of original material like "Some of These Days" ( song about his work in the Coast Guard laying buoys along the Mississippi and Wachita Rivers) and classic covers including Robert Johnson's "Hellhound On My Trail.". The music was so good, it was a surprise when Alvin let everyone know it was time for his first break; it seemed like he had just started the set and it was already over!
Alvin Youngblood Hart's performance was another in a long line of excellent shows I have been lucky enough to see in my visits to The Bamboo Room. For an excellent musical experience in one of the nicest clubs anywhere, check out The Bamboo Room. To find out who will be performing, you can find the monthly schedule at www.bamboorm.com.
Your purchase through this Amazon.com link helps to support this website.
Simply click on the cover at left or the Amazon buy button to order this CD NOW!
"This review is copyright © 2003 by Dave "Doc" Piltz, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without permission."
Copyright reuse notice: If you would like to reprint or use this review please include the above copyright notice, contained within the quotation marks, PLUS this statement: "Used with permission." Then send an email to Ray at: mnblues@aol.com indicating how you are using the review or the website page address it will be appearing on. Thanks!
You can also help support this blues website by making a contribution (click on the banner below for details). Or mail a donation to: Ray Stiles % Blues On Stage, PO Box 582983, Mpls, MN 55458. Thanks!
Web Design SPECIAL, get your own website for just $50.
Web Hosting & Design:
Web Hosting & Design.
Most affordable web hosting and design services available.
Find out how you can host your current site at Blues On Stage, or how I can help you design your own website!
If you would like your CD reviewed, please send TWO (2) copies, along with promotional material to:
Blues On Stage
PO Box 582983
Minneapolis, MN 55458-2983
E-mail Ray Stiles @ mnblues@aol.com with any questions.
We build websites