End of the year reviews

Various artists, American Roots Music, Palm Pictures

This four-CD box accompanies the recently aired PBS documentary of the same name, and offers a breathtaking overview of the rich panorama of roots music that comprises the American musical experience. You won’t find any early rock ‘n roll or jazz here, as those styles were musical offshoots, but timeless examples of early country, blues, gospel, folk, Cajun/zydeco, Tejano and Native American music abound, featuring artists like Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, Bessie Smith, Son House, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Staple Singers, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Flaco Jimenez, R. Carlos Nakai, Robert Mirabal and many others. There are a few questionable tracks, including those by James Cotton (who can no longer sing above a hoarse whisper), Bela Fleck and The Flecktones and Keb’ Mo’, but all in all, this is a memorable collection of indispensable American music; an excellent holiday gift for the roots music maven in your life.

Mick Jagger, Goddess In The Doorway, Virgin Records

Although Mick Jagger’s fourth solo effort has been touted as an “intimate collection of songs based around an acoustic guitar,” don’t be fooled into thinking this is some sugary ballad-fest. No way. While Jagger’s vocals and guitar lines are prominent, this is a fine set of contemporary rock and R&B tracks that feature guest shots by Lenny Kravitz (the incendiary “God Gave Me Everything”), Pete Townshend, Joe Perry, Wyclef Jean, percussionist Lenny Castro and ace drummin’ man Jim Keltner. Jagger, at age 58, sounds energized and youthful and the material is uniformly strong. Other critics have praised Goddess In The Doorway and guess what? They’re right. It’s a terrific effort from a Rolling Stone who refuses to gather no moss.

North Mississippi All Stars, 51 Phantom, Tone-Cool Records

What’s this? Three young men, black and white, who play and sing modern blues? It can’t be true. The North Mississippi All Stars finally blow the “young kids don’t like the blues” myth straight to hell, on this, their second release. Using a stripped down, three-piece guitar-bass-drums format, with added percussion, piano, background choruses and modern techniques like hot production and tape loops, the Dickinson brothers and bassist Chris Chew pay homage to the droning northern Mississippi blues tradition and manage to bring the music into the new Millennium with style. Cane fife legend Otha Turner even makes a guest appearance. 51 Phantom is an essential modern blues release that also echoes rock icons like Jimi Hendrix, Leslie West and Robin Trower.

Bo Ramsey & The Backsliders, Live, Trailer Records

How do I say this is a great live record in the miniscule amount of space I have left? Ok… Bo Ramsey is my favorite jack-of-all-trades blues/rock/Americana guitarist, a funky singer and an arresting, stylized singer. This disc was recorded over two live gigs in 1994/95 and has been re-released by popular demand. Buy it. Bo is baaad! ‘Nuff said?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, from the Cianci family to yours.