Erin Harpe Meet Me In the Middle

Erin Harpe
Meet Me In the Middle
Juicy Juju Records/VizzTone

The daughter of a gifted blues interpreter and painter, Erin Harpe, has developed into quite a blues singer and guitarist. After several successful albums with her Delta Swingers, he new album is an album of duets with her husband Jim Countryman who plays ukulele bass and adding backing vocals. She is a fine guitarist and singer. Her vocals are sweet and sassy, being more Bonnie Raitt than Joanne Kelly, but delivered with a natural, unforced quality.

A relaxed, back porch feeling characterizes these performances, whether the traditionally rooted originals like "Hard Luck Woman," or a heartfelt cover of Sippie Wallace's "Women Be Wise." She is a marvelous guitarist, and her slide playing evokes the late Alan Wilson of Canned Heat fame on an assured rendition of "Rollin' and Tumblin'." Other standout tracks include her revival of Lucille Bogan's "I Hate That Train Called the M&O," and the minstrel-rooted "Pick Poor Robin Clean."

Harpe also does justice to her rendition of Memphis Minnie's 'What's the Matter With the Mill" before closing this recording with an old-time country-styled gospel original "One Fine Day." Erin Harpe, a first-rate interpreter of traditionally rooted blues, has produced another gem of a recording.

I received my review copy from Vizztone. Here is Erin performing "Rollin' and Tumblin'."