Fest.
Canadian blues man Harry Manx was already never to be pigeon-holed on his two solo CDs: he writes, plays the banjo, the acoustic slide and the National steel guitar. Apart from that, Indian V. M. Bhatt’s ex pupil also plays the Mohan Veena invented by the latter, an Indian twenty string cross between a sitar and a steel guitar.
At a folk festival he jammed with versatile guitarist Kevin Breit, who played for Cassandra Wilson, Holly Cole and Janis Ian amongst others, but who recorded instrumental CDs solo too, with percussionist Cyro Baptista and with Sisters Euclid.
In these fourteen songs the two found each other: they blend blues and folk with jazz and country, a touch of Indian music and a firm dose of singer-songwriter.
That is because Manx happens to have a supple and emotional alto voice, with which he reaches a level of e.g. Anders Osborne in his own Funny Business and Weary And You Run, but also for instance in Sleepy John Estes’ Diving Duck Blues and Jimi Hendrix’ Voodoo Child (Slight Return).
Breit’s virtuoso solos on all kinds of snare instruments and Manx’ very own propelling play result in swinging melodies, which are at the same time rootsy as well as compelling. In the five instrumental pieces the two challenge and grope each other. In that process searching sometimes is more important than finding, but in the songs the driving, precise play with which the two support Manx’ lyrics is striking. This way, a very eager and personal sounds emerges from this mix of influences.
***1/2
Published on www.popmagazineheaven.nl together with Heaven no. 25, July-August 2003/no. 25