HONEYBOY EDWARDS

Roamin’ and Ramblin’

Earwig CD 4953

by Eric Steiner

Honeyboy Edwards’ fourth CD for Chicago’s Earwig Records pairs this 93-year-old Mississippi Delta original with some of the best bluesmen around:  Bobby Rush, Johnny “Yard Dog” Jones, producer and manager Michael Robert Frank and Billy Branch (solo, without his Sons of Blues).  Each of these masters of the “Mississippi saxophone” joins guitarist/vocalist Honeyboy on Roamin’ and Ramblin.’ There’s also a couple of mid-‘70s recordings with Sugar Blue and Walter Horton, plus song-catcher Alan Lomax’s field recordings from the Delta (on behalf of the Library of Congress in 1942).

Roamin’ and Ramblin’ is a real treat for fans of acoustic Delta blues.  In addition to more than a dozen great songs recorded last year, Bobby Rush and Honeyboy reminisce about Little Water, riding the rails and playing blues shuffles. I wish producer Frank would’ve added more of these conversations among friends.  I’ve listened to Honeyboy tell stories at the Chicago Blues Festival and at his pre-Grammy party at the Blue Shoe Project near Dallas. Each time, I regret, I didn’t bring my recorder.

I like the ensemble-backed “Apron Strings,” “She Worries Me All the Time” and ”How Long” as they feature Honeyboy with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith on drums and Paul Kaye on guitar, with Bobby Rush on either harmonica or guitar, and/or Johnny “Yard Dog” Jones on harmonica.  Each time, they complement each other, and there’s no hint of over-playing; each session is like a jam session in Honeyboy’s living room. It’s a must-have blues CD, if you’re a fan of the acoustic Delta genre.

Honeyboy is gearing up for a European tour this fall. He’ll return to Chicago for the Hideout Block Party on September 21^st with Devil in a Woodpile (and several of these devils play on this CD).   Keep up with Honeyboy at www.earwigmusic.com.

Eric Steiner is President of the Washington Blues Society (www.wablues.org) and a Blues Supporter member of The Blues Foundation (www.blues.org).