Zac Harmon Enjoys A Mississippi BarBQ

Zac Harmon
Mississippi BarBQ
Catfood Records

It has been over a decade since I first saw Zac Harmon perform. It was on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise after he won the International Blues Challenge and he certainly established himself as a singer, songwriter and guitarist in the blues world at that time. It was at that time he had issued a recording "The Blues According to Zachariah" which included some of the songs he was performing and became a favorite with his covers of "Mannish Boy" and "It Hurts Me Too," the joyous gospel of "The Mighty High" and "Who's That Knockin'," an original that even on CD gave an indication of how good a showman Zac Harmon was and is.

About his 2012 album, "Music Is Medicine," I wrote "'Music Is Medicine' is a terrific demonstration of Zac Harman’s musical healing arts. He is one of the few artists today that can bridge the various blues scenes today, appealing to blues cruisers as well as those who turn out to hear their favorite soul-blues and southern blues acts on the chitlin circuit and this recording can similarly bridge a wide range of listening audiences." This remains true with his latest release, his first on Catfood Records. On 7 of the 11 tracks Zac's guitar and Catfood's house band, The Rays that includes Bob Trenchard (also the executive producer) on bass, Johnny McGhee on guitar and Dan Ferguson on keyboards with a four piece horn section. The other four selections have his own band with Corey Carmichael on keyboards, Chris Gipson on bass, Ralph Forrest on drums and Texas Slim on guitar. Harmon wrote or co-wrote eight of the performances, many with Trenchard.

Those familiar with Harmon's soul-drenched vocals and his excellent, concise guitar playing will find no surprises with the performances on this CD. This CD opens with the Trey Hardin-Sandy Carroll penned "Gypsy Road," where he sings about his restless soul taking a long drive down the gypsy road. Brassy horns lend a Memphis feel to a soul-blues ballad "So Cold" which is about a hot romance going cold with his lover's touch becoming as cold as ice. He sings about a smooth, deceptive lover whose love was fading away, "Smoke and Mirrors." It is followed by the  title song celebrating having ribs, drinking and a summer time party. It has a relaxed, slow-dance groove.

A Chicago blues styled shuffle, "Honey Pleez," has Bob Corritore's harmonica added to Harmon's Band. "Make a Dollar Out of Fifteen Cents," is a song about hard times as Harmon sings about trying to pay his bills because as soon as he gets money is as soon as its gone. His guitar solo on this track suggests the latter-day Johnny 'Guitar' Watson.

Closing this recording, Harmon sings intensely (and takes a searing guitar solo on his interpretation of Bob Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door." It caps this latest excellent addition to Harmon's body of recordings.

I received a review copy from a publicist. Here is a promo video for "Mississippi BBQ."

Barbara Carr Keeps the Fire Burning

The veteran soul-blues vocalist Barbara Carr has a new release on Catfood Records, Keep The Fire Burning. This was recorded in Texas and produced by Johnny Rawls and Bob Trenchard with backing by The Rays, Trenchard’s fine studio band. Carr has for the past 15 or so years been recording primarily for Echo whose recordings on occasion had a mechanical backing, although that did not dampen her strong singing.

This new album with backing by The Rays has a more spontaneous feel throughout, although there is a sameness to the backing compared to other recent Catfood releases indicating the label has a definite studio sound. The opening Hanging On a Thread, displays this and the song is one that could have easily be sung by Rawls. A similar flavor characterizes Come On Home, Barbara still does not believe her man has left and pleads for him to return home. The performance also suffers from the use of synthesized horns. I should emphasize that there is nothing wrong with these performances other than they sound like Rawls’ recent Catfood albums and her vocals are more understated here than on the Echo recordings I have heard.

Barbara Carr at 2010 Pocono Blues Festival. Photo © Ron Weinstock

I Got The Blues has Carr singing about her background and being raised in St. Louis where she heard Albert King and Little Milton growing up. Therefore, when she sings the blues, she knows what she is talking about. The title track is a nice southern soul advice that delivered in an easy, natural fashion. Moment of Weakness is a strong lyric by Trenchard about replacing the man she never should have left as she sings that in a moment of weakness she threw their love away. The mood contrasts with the tone of “Back Together Again,” which celebrates two lovers getting back together after many years.

Hold On To What You Got is a nice duet between Carr and Rawls having a message that a good woman/man is hard to find, so hold on to what you got. More synthesized horns are heard on Rawls southern soul original. You Give Me The Blues, as Barbara’s man gives her the ‘low down dirty blues.” Keep The Fire Burning contrasts with the more extroverted vocals that characterized her Echo recordings. Those recordings were also a bit bawdier as well. In any event, this new release by Barbara Carr is welcome and hopefully will expose a new audience to this singer who really should be better known.

I received my review copy from a publicist for the label. Here is Barbara doing one of her Echo recordings, Bone Me Like You Own Me.