Search - Various Artists :: Mississippi String Bands 1

You may have never heard of William Narmour, the Ray Brothers, or Floyd Ming, but after listening to this collection of late-1920s Mississippi fiddle bands, you'll never be able to forget them. Individualistic, bluesy, accomplished, archaic, haunting--these are words that usually bring to mind blues musicians from that state, like Skip James or Charlie Patton. Their white contemporaries are here, playing dance music originally performed for parties and the occasional fiddle contest. It's a miracle some of this obscure music ever got recorded and preserved in the first place, and a fortunate event for humanity. Twenty-three years after this material first appeared on LP, it's been completely remastered by Richard Nevins and the result is no less than astonishing. You will never be able to hear these rare masterpieces with more clarity and presence. The accompanying booklet includes priceless photos and interesting background information; even the cover design is much improved. This is clearly a labor of love by folks who know what they're doing. And, as a bonus, six new tracks have been added, including "Saddle Up the Grey" by the Carter Brothers and Son--one of the most exciting and exuberant performances ever committed to shellac. --Terry Zwigoff