Search - Chris Thomas King :: Rise

Moving Post Katrina Blues and More

R. Weinstock | Falls Church, VA USA | 09/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chris Thomas King, the Baton Rouge born son of Tabby Thomas, has issued a most impressive recording reflecting on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, "Rise" (21st Century Blues). From the opening "What Would Jesus Do?" to the closing "What a Wonderful World," Thomas interprets classic songs associated with New Orleans and gives us originals covering a wide range of musical styles, although not the incorporation of hip hop that King has utilized on other recent recordings. He is on an almost traditionalist mode here. The CD's tracks include several where Thomas plays all the instruments along with several musicians assisting Thomas. These include Mike Finnigan and Tony Braunagel of the Phantom Blues Band, and drummer Jason Marsalis.

There is country flavor to the opening "What Would Jesus Do?," as he sings "Tell Me America, What Would Jesus Do (2x) If he had to walk a mile in my shoe," with haunting lyrics. There is a bit of modern gospel-soul flavor in the backing for "Faith" told from the standpoint of someone on a rooftop waiting to be saved. "Baptized in Dirty Water" is a modern electric guitar blues as he shouts in the manner of a young Buddy Guy or Otis Rush (and the song suggests Rush's "I Can't Quit You Baby"), "When the levee broke down baby and dirty water came rushing in (2X), it washed away my happy home, I hope it washed away my sins," with a tough guitar solo followed by the wistful "Flow Mississippi Roll", singing about having no place to go and wanting to drown on my own tears as a businessman is making plans for his land. St. James Infirmary is handled as a modern blues with more fine guitar as King updates the lyric as he asks that they "put a good jazzband on my tailgate to raise hell as we roll along." a jazz band and a second-line as his body is taken to its grave. Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," I believe was recorded a few days before Katrina in New Orleans, and Thomas' performance makes the lyric "Don't you know what you got `til its gone, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot," prescient in terms of the destruction of wetlands that helped contribute to Katrina's devastation.Its not the only tune that is so in place even if not directly alluding to Katrina, as does the gospel number Deepest Ocean. His rendition of the Irish ballad, "`Tis Last Rose of Summer," a tribute to his mother, is full of warmth and tenderness as is the rendition of the closing chestnut, "What a Wonderful World." "Rise" is a remarkable recording that transcends any limitation of genre. Heartfully sung and played with an eye to the losses he and so many others have suffered yet he also has an eye for that part of the human spirit that enables people to work together to overcome such traumatic and devastating natural disasters. It will undoubtedly be on many Best Recordings of 2006 lists."

A Powerful Album

Chad Davies | Barnesville, GA | 08/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rise has got to be one of the most powerfully moving works of music I've heard in a very long time. I can't imagine a more appropriate medium than gospel and the blues to capture what happened in New Orleans and King's expression of the wrenching sense of loss and abandonment in those musical forms is stunningly apropos.



King's compositions look both forward and back, breaking new ground while also honoring the tradition born in the Delta. He freely borrows from the styles of bluesmen of days gone by as well as from those still living in a way that reminds one of the city he implores to Rise above it's tragedy.



As good as the playing is, the lyrics are so moving and challenging as to force the listener to listen to each song several times first to absorb the impact of what was being sung about and then to appreciate the music used to help tell the stories.



The song that sets the tone of the album is "What Would Jesus Do?". In asking, "Tell me America, what would Jesus do?" King engages the listener by asking a question that takes one beyond a "mere" theological debate or pop song to a deep question of what one's conception of the identity of God is and what one might have done when put in the place of the song's subject. It begs forgiveness even while it challenges.



Of all the albums I've heard that commemorate events of their times, this one may be the most powerful because it's the most deeply rooted in the heart and culture of its subject. I would recommend this album to all who love the blues and any who wants to move beyond the sound bites of the mainstream media and the spin of the political machines into the grief of a city destroyed and its heartfelt desire to Rise."

Powerful blues music about the Katrina storm........

Nelson Jimenez | stamford, ct USA | 07/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I never heard of Chris King until I read an article mentioning his album RISE. I ordered it and was blown away by its themes.

Mr.King plays blues guitar so beautifully and the lyrics really dig at your heart. KATRINA was a terrible storm but you saw a lot of goodness come from it with everyone trying to help the residents affected by it. I hope Mr.King sells a ton of this cd and that more people listen to his sweet sounds. Great stuff!!!"