Search - Jim Byrnes :: That River

Find this CD!

Catya | Sun Valley | 05/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jim Byrnes is a blues treasure that is worth seeking! You may have to go to the Canadian distributor (Stony Plain Records) to find "That River", or a specialty blues store, since the American distributors have run out of copies, but Jim Byrnes's smooth, deep voice and authentic blues guitar is worth the long hunt. Find this album. Listen to it. "That River" is a blues classic."

Ideal, top-quality blues with heft and substance

Catya | 09/14/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Byrnes has an ideal blues voice -- rich and textured, but with a precision and relaxed ease that let you know that you're listening to someone who knows what he's doing. The band is also top-notch, particularly the brass, which has a crispness and clean-edged quality to it that supports the rough-and-ready blues feel of the rest of the band. All tracks are worth listening to, several more than once. Many CDs are worth buying for only four or five tracks -- "That River" is refreshingly unique in that the whole thing is excellent. Buy and enjoy!"

Stellar modern blues album

Tom Benton | North Springfield, VT USA | 11/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this CD for the same reason everyone else did: I'm a bigtime HIGHLANDER fan. Jim Byrnes' character on that show was a big blues fan; when I learned that Byrnes himself was a blues singer, I had to get this album. THAT RIVER is Byrnes' third album, released in 1994, while HIGHLANDER was in its second or third season. A few of the songs from THAT RIVER actually showed up on the series at one point or another, including "No Special Rider" and "All Over You".



I must admit that I wasn't a huge blues fan prior to listening to THAT RIVER (hey, I was young!), but immediately after giving the CD a spin I came to appreciate blues music. Byrnes' brand of blues is very interesting; it's bluesy, for sure, but there's a lot of jazz here as well, and maybe even a little bit of rock. Perhaps what's so appealing about THAT RIVER is how surprisingly upbeat it is. There's usually a sort of lumbering sorrow to blues music, but THAT RIVER is upbeat, energetic, and damn enjoyable. All of the songs are wonderful; it's hard to pick a highlight, although Byrnes' heartfelt singing on "Every Waking Moment" makes that song especially delightful.



Byrnes' voice is husky and gritty, but it feels more warm than rough. His supporting band is truly fantastic. Especially excellent are Tim Hearsey, who co-wrote many of the songs and plays guitar, and Derry Byrne, who plays the trumpet. Each song is a delight, and the album as a whole is truly stellar. If you're a fan of HIGHLANDER or simply blues in general, I would highly recommend THAT RIVER. I've listened to it many, many times since I first purchased it, and it continues to impress me."