Hats off to Mr. Taylor
E. Taylor Atkins | Sycamore, IL United States | 07/07/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a fan of Otis Taylor's music since White African and Respect the Dead. Those albums had a raw power that was missing from so much contemporary blues. Taylor combines the best aspects of the blues at its most "primitive" musically and lyrically, as exemplified by John Lee Hooker -- wicked riffs and dark grooves, relatively stark and simple lyrics that search out new wrinkles and nuances with each repetition. To these he added new instrumental textures (electric mandolin, for instance) and a sophisticated command of African-American history, with which he constructed story-songs. With each subsequent album, he has pushed himself as an arranger and added new instrumentation: cellos, violins, cornet, organ, trap drums, and here on Pentatonic Wars, African hand drums. This tendency always makes me approach a new Otis Taylor album with trepidation. I'm not always sure I like it as instantly as I did White African. BUT repeated listens have always proven Mr. Taylor's genius. By the third listen, I'm totally in awe of his abilities to maintain those core elements that first drew me to his music, while still expanding his range as a musician and arranger.
I used to DJ a public radio blues program in downstate Illinois. Whenever I played country blues or piano blues, someone would call in and complain; they had a very narrow sense of what "blues" is, meaning they insisted on loud electric guitar solos and thought Chicago blues was all there was. If you are one of "those" people, don't bother with Otis Taylor. But if you can accept blues as a sensibility rather than a "genre" of music, Otis Taylor is your man. I will continue to give him my money and let him guide me on his blues journey."
Absolutely Incredible
H. Carson | Crawford, CO | 06/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The title (AFI) says it all. Otis has done it again. Though he describes his music as "Transnational Blues," it's more "Trans-Galactic Interspatial Harmony." Some of the sweetest but heart-breaking music, followed by tunes that may me want to pay tribute to him as the Pharaoh Sanders/Sun Ra of the banjo Gary Moore on lead accompanies on many of the songs. I have had the pleasure of seeing him and his daughter Cassie (bass player and vocalist with the sweetest voice imaginable) here in Paonia at the Paradise Theater (he'll be back Aug 1). I play him regularly on my jazz and blues shows on the local public radio station at kvnf.org.
Hugh Carson
[...]"
Simply Beautiful
R.L. Marcus | Roseville, MN USA | 09/12/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This cd has some of the most beautiful music I have heard in a long time. And if you have a CD player or receiver that decodes HDCD it is even better (yes, it is recorded in HDCD but not labeled as such - at least with my eyes). The music is dreamy, the sounds float in and out and tickle your brain. I have 4 other CDs and to me, this is the best yet. I saw Otis and band at the Bayfront Blues Festival in August - Otis, Cassie Taylor, Anne Harris and Chuck Campbell. It was a highlight of the weekend. I did not know this CD was released before that. So glad I found out. Amazing live, amazing recorded."