Fruteland Jackson Good As Your Last Dollar

Fruteland Jackson
Good As Your Last Dollar
Electro-Fi

Blues advocate, educator and acoustic blues artist Fruteland Jackson returns with this new album. He is heard singing as well playing acoustic guitar, National Resonator guitar, and mandolin. Fruteland is supported by Harrison Kennedy, who supplies backing vocals on three selections; guitarist Jack de Keyzer; pianist Julian Fauth; bassist Alex Fraser and drummer Bucky Berger. These four also provide backing vocals where heard.

There are some interpretations of classic blues as well as original, sometimes topical songs. Discussing the title track, Fruteland says "I learned during the Great Recession, that no matter how long you've had a relationship with a utility or cable company, if you are late or unable to pay, you become only as "Good As Your Last Dollar." Nothing more, nothing less. Living through the Great Recession was a time of Economic and Psychological depression. For some an unscripted test of survival." The songs and the performances resonate with Fruteland having lived much of the music.

It has been several years since Fruteland's last recording. It has been worth the wait as he sings with authority, while forcefully playing resonator slide guitar on "Two Steps To Hell." It is a blues about the hard times while also being two steps to hell and one step from his baby's door. The delta blues approach of that number contrasts to the small group backing (Fauth's piano is impressive too to the gospel performance of "Death Creep." Here there is a blend of fingerstyle guitar and slide guitar, and an uncredited harmonica player (Harrison Kennedy?). The title track is a haunting performance as he remembers when one's word was bond, but now cash in hand beats a payment plan. Fruteland's interpretation of "Careless Love" uses a fresh arrangement for a heartfelt vocal. Harrison Kennedy adds vocal asides on a standout performance.

Fruteland observes that "It's odd isn't it that so many Blues songs are written about a spouse or lover breaking one's heart, while so few Blues songs are written about our parents." "All the Daddy I Had," set against a Muddy Waters styled backing is a song about a father breaking his heart. It is a moving performance with Fruteland wondering if Daddy loved Fruteland recalling that his daddy never said a kind word to Fruteland. "All Pain No Gain." is another engaging performance as he sings of trying to survive during a bad economy. "Damaged Goods" is a relaxed shuffle about having his heart and self broken by an ex, but noting that we are all damaged goods. Also of note is Fruteland's performance of "Love in Vain," where he pays tribute to Robert Johnson and playing original instrumental touches as well as a terrific vocal. Again there is some fine harmonica heard here.

"Good As Your Last Dollar" is a gem of acoustic blues with compelling performances of intriguing original blues songs and fresh, choice interpretations of classic blues songs. It has been way too long since Fruteland Jackson's last album, and this is a more than welcome addition to his body of recordings.

I received a digital download from Fruteland Jackson. Here is Fruteland performing "Midnight Special."

Rip Lee Pryor - Nobody But Me

There is nothing fancy about the new CD by Rip Lee Pryor, Nobody But Me (Electro-Fi). Pryor is the son of the late blues legend and blues harmonica pioneer, Snooky Pryor, but started learning to play harmonica when his father had dropped out of music. He played with his dad for a time, but in recent years had walked away from music, and recently resumed after bouts with gambling problems and cancer (now in remission). On this Rip Lee plays harmonica (using a rack) and guitar with Alex Fraser or Bucky Berger adding drums on several selections.

His father and John Lee Williamson (the first Sonny Boy Williamson) are obvious influences on his playing especially on the opening Shake Your Boogie that both Sonny Boy I and Snooky recorded. His guitar playing is pretty bare, just laying down a bare bass riff on most selections over which he sings and plays his crying harmonica. He is a very expressive singer (like his take on Elmore James’ You Gotta Move, but also handles the humor of Rice Miller’s rendition of an old English folk song, the delightful Wake Up Baby, with Fraser’s bass and circus drum adding support.

The title track is an original with Rip Lee laying down some boogie guitar to get a rocking groove which underlies his driving harp solo. Another original Lonesome, is a moody slow blues with some strong harp to accent his pleading vocal. Heard The News, credited to Snooky, is an easy boogie shuffle that incorporates Good Rocking Tonight, I Feel So Good as well as Snooky’s own Boogie Twist. Stuck on Stupid is a Rip Lee original with a Jimmy Reed boogie groove. His father’s Pitch a Boogie Woogie has Berger’s drums which helps propel the easy rocking boogie performance here with some real fine harmonica here.

The music here is pretty straight-forward and as Scott Bock observes in his liner notes, Rip Lee has a pretty stripped down sound. Nothing fancy perhaps, but Rip Lee Pryor proves he doesn’t need Nobody But Me for a straight dose of classic Chicago blues that is increasingly rare.

I purchased this.  Here is a video of Rip Lee Pryor in performance and he will be at the Pennsylvania Blues Festival this July and the link is to my Festival preview.