Cary Morin Dockside Saints

Cary Morin
Dockside Saints
Self-produced

A member of the Crow Tribal group, Cary Morin came to wide-spread notice as a member of the Pura Fé Trio. Subsequently, he followed a solo career in which his talents as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist showed a performer of great talent. His fingerstyle guitar playing itself was sensational. This writer was impressed by his fourth album, "Cradle to the Grave," in which his blues roots perhaps were more in evidence than this current release, which probably is best described as Americana or roots.

Recorded at Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana, by producer Tony Daigle, Morin displays his versatility and immaculate musicianship and vocals on twelve originals. Daigle put together a remarkable group of Louisiana musicians including bassist Lee Allen Zeno, drummer Brian Brignac, accordionist Corey Ledet, keyboardist Eric Adcock, and electric guitarists. Keith Blair and John Fohl, fiddler Beau Thomas, and Celeste Di Iorio on harmony vocals. Morin fuses Zydeco, Cajun and Creole, Piedmont blues and country, gospel, and folk. This recording reminds this listener of Anders Osborne, who similarly blends a musical stew.

The wide range of grooves and moods starts with the zydeco two-step groove of "Nobody Gotta Know." With Ledet's organ-like chicken fried accordion and a driving rhythm, Morin sings with grits and conviction. It is followed by a haunting country-tinged ballad, "Exception to the Rule," and then the sultry "Prisoner" with a hypnotic acoustic riff. There is another country-tinged song, "Because He Told Me So," with another stunning vocal. He shares a vocal authority in common with such great roots singers as Levon Helm, John Fogerty, Marty Stuart, Bruce Springsteen, and Ruthie Foster. "Jamie Rose" is another South Louisiana to New Orleans groover with Beau Thomas' fiddle adding heat and Ledet's accordion. "Bare Trees" is a hauntingly beautiful instrumental with Ledet and Thomas adding atmosphere.

There is a remarkable song, "Valley of Tears," based on a true story that hishis great-grandmother told him at Morin's Crow naming ceremony. It was a story of her and friends escaping after being kidnapped as a teenager by a neighboring tribe. "When women were kidnapped back then, they were destined to a life of servitude." They escaped, stole their horses, and rode back home. "The moral of the story from my great grandmother to me was that there is nothing in life that you cannot overcome." He performs this without any melodramatics. The simple, honest rendition and the atmospheric backing results in an unforgettable performance.

Among the other musical delights, here is a funky blues-rock instrumental with Morin's electric fretwork, Ledet's accordion playing, and bassist Zeno showcased. Morin's artistry is on full display on the excellent "Dockside Saints."

I received my review copy from a publicist. here is a performance by Cary Morin from 2019 at the Kennedy Center in Washington.