Search - Various Artists :: Afro-American Folk Music From Tate & Pan

Essential for all traditional music lovers

Tony Thomas | SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL USA | 10/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great collection, amplified by the more intelligent than usual notes by David Evans which are worth the price of the CD by themselves. Evans place each performer or group in the real life and times of Hill Country music and culture. He pays good attention to things often neglected such as the Diddly Bow, and gives a very insightful explanation of Lucius Smith's banjo playing.

The treat for me here is the work by Sid Hemphill's band from Sledge Mississippi with Sid playing fiddle on some tunes, quills (pan pipes) on other tunes, with Lucius Smith on banjo and Alec Askew and William Head filling in on guitar and drums on some selections. It is really unfortunate that no one has put out all of Hemphill's recordings in one CD. This great master of both string band and fife and drum band music (and it is said he also led a brass band playing sax!!!!) is just too important to hear across several CDs.

There is too little Othar Turner here, although he has been recorded much more on other labels.

While I may look at this from the standpoint of someone studying Black string band music and idolizing Smith and Hemphill, this is a very enjoyable album. Again, Evan's notes to this album are an important document in the study of Black string band music in and of themselves!"