Bob
Broozman - Blues Reflex
2005 Ruf Records
Blues Reflex is a new and all acoustic
album that features Bob’s jaw dropping talent
on several National guitars, Bear Creek 7 string
Hawaiian guitars, Weissenborn Hawaiian guitars,
a baglama, as well as percussion, vocals and so
much more. This album was influenced by his worldwide
travels yet pays homage to his elders and influences.
This is a disc full of creative styles, tones, and
originality. It’s a nice way to blend the
old with the new Bob Brozman style.
All stringed and percussion instruments
are played by Bob Brozman except the drums on tracks
2, 11 and 12 by Gregg Graber.
1.
DEAD CAT ON THE LINE – starts with 1929 spoken
word prelude by Rev. J.M. Gates, guitar work really
gets cooking about mid way through and the song
leaves you wanting more
2. RATTLESNAKE BLUES- some guitar slapping and sliding
and moaning make you feel like you’re hearing
it live
3. ONE STEADY ROLL- a wild combination of a waltz
and a shuffle blended with scat lyrics and two National
Tricones going in sega rhythm
4. DEATH COME CREEPIN’– a reinvention
of Tommy Johnson’s classic with a 1997 Baritone
Tricone and a 1929 Tricone – would have enjoyed
just one guitar but that’s just me
5. VIEUX KANYAR BLUES- Creole phrase which means:
“old musician – wildman”, this
is a masterful modern day blend of two Kona Hawaiian
guitars, the National Baritone Tricone and percussion
all played by Bob
6. POOR ME- original slow style of Charlie Patton’s
classic with new lyrics and completely different
guitar sounds, some crazy slides and eerie guitar
licks in there, really enjoyable!
7. CYPRESS GROVE BLUES- Skip James classic played
in Bob’s blended upbeat shuffle style
8. LITTLE TOUGH GUY BLUES-a raw bar like solo played
on the Kona, lap style with one finger that is unbelievable!
9. NEW GUINEA BLUES- travel inspired original with
a weird 5 guitar Papa New Guinea plucking style
– different yet interesting
10. IT’S MERCY WE NEED- deep minor blues all
solo on the National Baritone Tricone, reminded
me of a Harry Manx creation in a way
11. MEAN WORLD BLUES- a modern day reworking of
Tommy Johnson’s “Canned Heat Blues”
with new lyrics, very enjoyable!
12. MORE ROOM AT THE EDGE- a trippy, worldly creation
that has every instrument listed above being played
at some point and even some Chinese temple blocks
to boot-
13. WORKMAN’S SONG- a folky Hawaiian sounding
gem that had me totally spacing out
Bob is also an Adjunct Professor
at the Department of Music, Macquarie University,
Sydney, Australia. Go check him out on the web at:
www.bobbrozman.com
If you’re a fan of acoustic
blues check it out and hear something fresh and
out of the ordinary. I give this disc 4.0 out of
5 on my STLBluesometer rating.
Joseph
"UJ" Miller
email :: uj@stlblues.net
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