Description
Blues, Ballads & Work Songs is an album I have been working on for most of my life. Its release co-incides with my 60th birthday and it celebrates the music that first inspired me to become a guitar-playing singer. My father, Leon Bibb, was part of a wonderful folk music scene in New York City during the 1950s & 60s and his world became my world when I was very young.I still treasure a copy of one of his early LPs on the Vanguard label, Tol My Captain, that included the work song Take This Hammer.
Most of the songs on B, B & WS were standards of the folk/blues scene I was exposed to as a child. I heard them performed on countless occasions by my fathers friends and colleagues. I often think of this music as part of my DNA. It has a lot to do with who I am today.
Being as passionate about writing songs as I am about singing and playing traditional material, I couldnt resist including the self-penned tunes at the end of the record. These newer songs are the children of the older ones.
A few years ago, Jan-Eric Persson, of Opus 3 Records in Sweden, suggested that I make a solo album with the kind of bluesy, traditional songs that have always been in my repertoire. Since Id been considering such a project for some time, the idea appealed to me although I wasnt sure I was ready for it. I knew that recording a solo album of this material would be an exciting challenge. The trick is to make
it your own, while still honoring the tradition and that takes time.
We agreed that we would record a song or two per session until we felt that the record was in the can. Given a busy touring schedule and numerous other projects, it ended up taking a few years to complete.
Ive known Jan-Eric for thirty-five years. This new collaboration with him is also a celebration of our friendship and combined experience recording music that makes our world go round. If I had heard this record as a child, I reckon it would have been one of my favorites. I sure enjoyed making it.
Eric Bibb
(on a flight to New York)
July 1, 2011
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