Artist: Harpdog Brown
Album: For Love and Money
Label: Dog House
Release Date: 4.19.2019
This combination of British Columbia’s triple Maple Blues Award winning bluesman Harpdog Brown and Juno-Award winner producer/multi-instrumentalist Steve Dawson proves irresistible, not just because of the talent on hand, but for its unique blending of Chicago blues with the horn-driven vibrant sound of New Orleans. It’s as if you can hear practically a century of blues on just this one recording with echoes of Sun, Chess and artists extending from Louis Armstrong to Louis Jordan to Sonny Boy Williamson.
When asked about the material, Steve Dawson said, “this is totally unique material. Where he’s drawing from is this era of ’40s, ’50s jump blues mixed with some Chicago meets NOLA and the harp stuff is reminiscent of ’50s Sonny Boy-era blues. So you can’t really put your finger on it. And then horn aspect of it is totally unique. I can’t really think of another band to compare that to. ‘For Love & Money’ is less guitar driven than Brown’s previous releases, and is heavier on piano and horns, keeping with the NOLA vibe.”
As you might guess, Harpdog Brown (his legal name) is a larger-than-life character, somewhat resembling Wolfman Jack in looks and likely with a boisterous personality to boot. He recently discovered that he has familial New Orleans roots and, as such, feels deeply connected to the New Orleans blues sound and its historical significance. Brown has been dubbed a “Blue Evangelist,” taking his songs to audiences across North American for nearly four decades. It’s a title he carries with pride, “I do feel like I’m a servant of the people. A missionary if you will. Music can heal people if they pay attention to the messages in these songs.”
Joining Brown on the album is an eight-piece band. In addition to Brown on vocals and harp with Dawson all guitar parts, the band includes youngsters William Joseph Abbott (clarinet/alto sax) and Skye Lambourne (trombone), with veterans Dave Webb (keyboards), Robert (Bob) Vail Grant (drums), Jerry Cook (baritone and tenor saxes) and Jeremy Holmes (bass). The inside booklet provides a short bio on each.
The album is a mix of tunes composed by Brown, one each from band members Webb and Lambourne, and covers from relatively obscure names together with one from Memphis Slim (“The Comeback”) and another by Wynonie Harris (“Buzzard Luck”). Brown’s sense of humor comes through on his standout track “Reefer Lovin’ Woman,” with terrific solos from Abbott’s clarinet and Lambourne’s trombone, as well on the piano-driven “Vicious Vodka” and shuffling “Thinkin’ and Drinkin’.” The album plays for close to an hour over its 13 tracks and should be listened to in its entirety. It’s that good!
Holger Peterson, President of Stony Plain Records and—via his blues shows on CBC—one of Canada’s foremost blues authorities, says, “Harpdog Brown, the modern day wizard of the harp, has recorded his strongest album yet! …This is a joyful and unique album…one of this year’s best.” Praise abounds from Duke Robillard, Jim Byrnes, Charlies Musselwhite, and others. Without a doubt, this is a must-listen for blues fans, especially those that like the seminal sound. It has it all: stellar harp playing, cool songs, second line rhythms, and horns!
—Jim Hynes
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