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Thus, for these talented young black musicians to take up the struggle for continuity is a natural. One answer that I came up with was the talented Woody Guthrie devotee Alastair Moock. I have noted previously that in the 19th century the closeness of black and white variations of rural music were quite common and, in some cases, mutually shared. I have also posed that same question here in regard to the folk music movement that now is seeing more than its fair share of old time performers pass from the scene, most recently the likes of Odetta and Utah Phillips.
Here I pose the same question in regard to another important form of American music, bluegrass (or more generally, mountain music). Obviously the classic "Sally Ann" that like "John Henry" has had a million incarnations. Hats off also to "Little Sadie" and "Black Annie". However, if you only have time to listen to one give a listen to the title track "Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind" then you will know why the old bluegrass tradition like the blues and folk ones are still in capable hands. Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind, Carolina Chocolate Drops (Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens, Justin Robinson and the spirit of fiddler Joe Thompson), MusicMaker, 2006.Recently I posed a question in this space about who would continue the blues tradition today, now that most, if not all, of the famous old blues singers are dead or retired. One answer that I came up with was the talented Keb' Mo'. As previously, the role of succession begs an important question now that many of the best of this genre have also passed or retired. That is not nearly inclusive enough.
I admit my error. And this CD proves the point. Kudos, Drops. So what is good here. Who would, if anyone, continue that old tradition.That is where the artists under review, Carolina Chocolate Drops, come into the picture. Enough said.
There are others I am sure. I then gave, as an example, the classic song "John Henry" done by both races in many variations. More generally though I think of Ralph Stanley, Doc and Merle Watson and other white musicians from the mountains. Again, there are others I am sure. When I think about Carolina, in this case North Carolina, I think of the famous black women virtuoso blues guitarists, Elizabeth Cotton and Etta Baker, whom I have previously reviewed in this space.
But that's only if you use high-quality speakers. The album offers a nice mix of instrumentals, and vocals drawn from traditional Southern styles, both white and black.
Let's hope the CCDs will come out with another album soon.Amazon, why don't you offer the album "Colored aristocracy" done by this band with Sankofa strings. Of course, 90 years ago it was harder to distinguish between the two, so in some ways this album is a blast from the past, before radio promoters began to artificially genre-fy the music.
I don't care how cold and bleak it is outside, you hear a song like black-eyed Daisy, shut your eyes and its a late summer morning with a hot sun overhead, corn-blue sky and green underneath, smell of mud and rain in the air, hot fields, lazy cows, in the distance a hazy patch of woods beckons to you with the promise of shade and breeze, and the only sound is a train chugging away somewhere beyond your sight.This album is to be recommended for expats from the South suffering from homesickness. Love the percussion, and the fiddling is top notch.
Folks, it is an album worth getting. As another reviewer mentioned, there are some issues with sound quality.
That said, the music more than makes up for any minor issues.
They inject the songs with their own personal joy. The only thing better than listening to the Chocolate Drops is seeing them live. I'm a trad die hard and I love this group. This is the first new group whose recordings I have bought in ages. They perform a variety from tunes to classic ballads. The solos are strong and in the band pieces they are learning to meld egos and make the music shine.
great album - just go find it from their own website where it is only $12 and not $50 to $150 like some sellers want to overcharge you.
Otherwise, I am hoping this amazing group, that is keeping to the true old-timey music tradtions, will continue to prosper and perform. The vibrancy of their stage performance and vocals is just not captured in this recording. I guess my complaint really is about the recording and sound quality issues. Having seen this talented group, I was eagerly awaiting this CD to arrive in the mail. I gave it three stars due to sound quality. It has a flat somewhat muffled sound, making it sound like it came from a do-it-yourself garage studio. Unfortunately, the recording quality is, to my ear, poor. Maybe that was done on purpose.
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