History Rhymes
Out of the Past Music
Guitarist and vocalist Steve Howell continues his activities in reviving the music of an earlier era on this latest album with bassist Weinheimer. Joining them are Dan Sumner on guitar and David Dodson on banjo and mandolin. Howell has recently published a guide, "Fingerpicking Early Jazz Standards," and the repertoire on this album includes early blues, traditional folk, and older jazz standards. The performances are similar to those on the previous record by Howell and Weinheimer, "A Hundred Years From Today."
Howell is a genial, adept fingerstyle guitarist who sings in a neutral, dispassionate fashion. Weinheimer and company ably support Howell. The strength of the recording is the broad swath of material they interpret. Ranging from "They'll Be Some Changes Made," to Bukka White's "Pine Bluff, Arkansas," they play an easy to listen to set of performances. On few albums will one find the Academy Award-nominated "Blues in the Night." The traditional "Jack of Diamonds" is taken as a folk waltz with a nice vocal and lovely mandolin in the accompaniment. The lilting "Frosty Morn" is a charming interpretation of an old fiddle tune.
"If I Had My Way," is derived from Reverend Gary Davis and Howell's vocal is more animated than he exhibits elsewhere. The light swing and amiable vocal on "Everybody Loves My Baby" lacks the vitality of the original Clarence Williams Blue Five recording with Eva Taylor's vocal and Louis Armstrong's cornet. Howell's, almost whispered, singing is more convincing on his version of the country classic "You Don't Know Me," while the performance of "I Got a Right to Sing the Blues," has a definite allure to it. There is also the traditional "Texas Rangers - The Falls of Richmond," that he dedicates to his father and Rangers of earlier generations.
Those who have enjoyed Steve Howell's prior recordings may have an idea of what to expect concerning these well-performed songs. Listeners may differ in how they react to Howell's dispassionate vocals, but indeed his efforts to update older songs merits appreciation.
I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the September-October 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 386). Here are the two performing "Everybody Loves My Baby."
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