Review: These days, Pennsylvania-based John Wesley Dickson is an academic and classical guitarist. Back in the late '70s and early '80s, though, he spent much of his time playing in soul, funk and rhythm and blues bands. "Barrows Blues" was recorded and released in limited quantities during that period (1977 to be exact) and is a terrific example of the artist's blues-influenced blue-eyed soul-jazz sound (think Terry Callier mixed with Morrison Kincannon, and you're close). As with the original release, the brilliant title track is accompanied by mellower B-side "High & Dry". This is a more pastoral sounding song that boasts particularly hard-hitting lyrics from Wesley Dickson.
Review: Tramp Records' Praise Poems series has so far delivered four essential volumes of deep and soulful 1970s jazz. Predictably, this fifth instalment in little over two years is every bit as good as its predecessors. Highlights come think and fast, from the bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed shimmer of Gunn High School Jazz Reunion's "Red Clay" and the hazy, sun-kissed West Coast rock/deep soul fusion of Robert Cote's "Move On", to the sprawling big band jazz-funk of Magic's "Sunshine", and the vibraphone-powered shuffle of Ulysses Crockett's "Funky Resurgence". We're also really enjoying Charlie Chisholm Boss-tet's wild and spaced out cover version of Ramsay Lewis standard "Wade in the Water". As the well-worn cliche goes: all killer, no filler.
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