#777
#777
In collaboration with producer/multi-instrumentalist Steve Dawson, Canadian blues legend Jim Byrnes achieves an interesting mix of rural and urban styles on Everywhere West. Actually, although Byrnes is indeed one of the most beloved figures on the Canadian blues scene, he hails from St. Louis, where his love for the blues was nurtured from an early age by seeing such greats as Jimmy Reed and Bobby "Blue" Bland on-stage. Byrnes tackles tunes associated with both of those blues giants on Everywhere West, as well as songs by Robert Johnson, Lowell Fulson, Louis Jordan, and others, but he also adds a more personal perspective to the album by contributing a trio of his own compositions. The most immediately striking thing about Everywhere West is the way Dawson's arrangements toss down-home touches like banjo, mandolin, and fiddle in among the very uptown-sounding organ riffs and rhythm section. One of the more memorable examples of this ear-catching juxtaposition is Byrnes' version of "Yield Not to Temptation," previously recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland, where the banjo picks out a Big Joe Williams-like figure over a decidedly contemporary sonic framework, achieving an almost Tom Waits-like effect in the process. Throughout the album, the mixing and matching of unexpected elements, from Dixieland horn blasts to sharp, stinging electric guitar leads, keep things from ever falling into cliché territory -- no mean feat on a modern-day blues record. At the center of it all, of course, is Byrnes' big, warm voice, whose touches of rumble and rasp are occasionally evocative of prime Joe Cocker, though Byrnes is never imitative of any other vocalist. He rides these tunes just right, with a perfect balance of passion and restraint -- a winning combination in a bluesman of any era.by James Allen from Allmusic
One way or another we all know Jim Byrnes, whether via movies, television series, his charitable work with World Vision Canada and Face The World Foundation and yes lets not forget he is one of the finest blues singers and musicians around, proving that point over and over again as he has churned out musical gem after musical gem since starting in the 80's with the release of “Burnin’” on Polydor, as the Jim Byrnes Band. Now 3 decades later Jim Byrnes once again throws his magic into the ring with his 4th Album for Black Hen Music, "Everywhere West".
Jim Byrnes started his musical career in 1964 with his first professional gig and continued on to play with an immense lineup of greats including, "Furry Lewis, Henry Townsend, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Taj Mahal, Robery Cray", to name just a few. Now into his 46th year of playing the blues he continues to awe and inspire us thru his lyrics, musicianship and his delivery of both.
Collaborating with Byrnes' on "Everywhere West", once again, is Producer/Musician/Singer/Songwriter Extraodinaire, Steve Dawson, one of the most respected and sought after Artist Canada has had the good grace of producing, always bringing his special talents and magic to what ever he touches.
"Everywhere West" consists of 12 Tracks, two of which were written solely by Jim Byrnes (Hot As A Pistol/Me and Piney Brown) and one which was co-written with Tim Hearsey (Storm Warning). Steve Dawson is credited for five tracks, of which he arranged four (Bootlegger's Blues/No Mail Blues/From Four Until Late/He Was A Friend Of Mine/) and wrote one (Walk On). Other Tracks rounding out "Everywhere West" include Yield Not To Temptation (Ralph Bass/Sonny Thompson), Black Nights (Lowell Folsom), Take Out Some Insurance On Me (Jimmy Reed) and You Can't Get That Stuff No More (Louis Jordan/Sam Theard). All the above tracks make for one thoroughly entertaining and diverse Album.
One thing that is certain when you are dealing with a Jim Byrnes Album, is that when you listen to it you are going to be taken away and sent on a incredible journey. "Everywhere West" is absolutely no exception to that rule. Like a grandson who is mesmerized with the story telling of his grandpa, you will be mesmerized with the sounds, lyrics, and texture of "Everywhere West". Not only does Jim Byrnes thrill you with what he brings to the table, you will also be thrilled at all the other voices and sounds you will hear, such as Slide Guitar, Trumpet, Baritone/Tenor Sax, Banjo, Hand Claps, Marxophone, Wurlitzer, Weissenborn, Mandolin, Fiddle, Piano, Trumpet, National Tritone, Mandotar, Acoustic Guitars, Pump Organ, Mellotron, Pedal Steel, Dobro, Tenor Banjo, and the heavenly voices of Jeanne Tolmie, Geoff Hicks, Keith Lowe, and Steve Dawson. Are you starting to get the picture on how special "Everywhere West" is? Thought you might be.
"Everywhere West" is one of those special Albums that seems to come out of nowhere and hits you up the side of your head with its shear brilliance, easily cutting threw yesterdays mediocrity. Jim Byrnes continues to impress us with not only his amazing skills, but his instinct of whom to bring to the table when he gets that hankering to serve us all one of his bountiful musical treats.
"Everywhere West" easily receives my highest rating of 5*****. Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed...Review By John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
At the risk of invoking a sort of Billy Bob Thornton wrath, the first time I came across Jim Byrnes was on Highlander: The Series playing Joe. Now Joe was a Watcher, a member of a secret organization charged with “watching” the Immortals. Joe’s “cover,” I guess you could say, was as a bookshop clerk in Seacouver.
Byrnes himself is clearly a Watcher, but more importantly he’s a damn good listener.
With Everywhere West, Byrnes latest recording, the blues musician proves his knack of hearing and feeling the raw, real, dirty blues and delivers the goods through a dozen gratifyingly gritty cuts. His tenacious, mean, ugly-in-a-good-way voice blends with his precise guitar to produce the ultimate blues and roots engine.
Everywhere West is the fourth collaboration between Byrnes and producer Steve Dawson, the president of Black Hen Music. A host of other musicians fill out the vibe, creating a nice packed sound to the record that contrasts impeccably with Byrnes’ modest style.
The Juno-winning Byrnes gets off to a raucous start with “Hot As a Pistol,” a searing track that more than earns its namesake. Dawson lays out a thick slide guitar as the cut deliberately chugs through its muggy paces. Byrnes’ vocals rock as he articulates the meaning of the blues and alternates between speaking and singing with just the right trace of sandpaper.
The rendition of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Yield Not to Temptation” is one of my favourite tracks. Dawson brings the banjo out on this barnstorming gospel number. Jeanne Tolmie and Byrnes blend handsomely and the call-and-response of the chorus had my hands reaching for the skies. The track is either a robbery or a revival. Maybe both.
Byrnes has dedicated Everywhere West to “all those who have gone before” and there are hints of homage everywhere. His love for the art form shouted and stomped from wooden floors and broke-down stages is apparent with every holler and sneer he ecstatically delivers.
“Deep down, blues is an acceptance of life,” Byrnes says. “You stand in front of life and life says ‘that’s the way it is baby.’ To play the blues, you take all the bullshit that’s been piling up and you channel it through your guitar and voice. You let the pain go and turn it into a good feeling.”
Whether he’s digging deep into a Byrnes original like the first-take recording of “Storm Warning” or piling it all on to a sweltering version of Jimmy Reed’s “Take Out Some Insurance on Me,” Byrnes is letting the pain go and giving the listener an opportunity to do the same.
Everywhere West is every bit the revival and the robbery, that’s for damn sure, and Byrnes is still every bit the Watcher.from Music Review
Some music simply can’t be played in the background. The first note catches you as the rest of the world melts away and you’ve got no choice but to stop what you were doing and listen. Jim Byrnes’ new album, “Everywhere West” catches you that way. Listen closely and you can hear the wind blowing through the floorboards of long abandoned roadhouses. Wind that lifts up the dust ground down by the stomping feet of Saturday night dancers hurting, forgetting and testifying while Jimmy Reed hollered down the devil and ghosts of done me wrong romance. Open the door a little wider and some of that dust gets down your throat and all of that trapped passion and good time hurting becomes a part of you – just like the music of Jim Byrnes does.
For more than thirty years, Jim Byrnes has woven roots so deeply into the Northern Blues scene that it’s difficult to remember that this quintessentially Canadian icon was raised in St. Louis and that his instantly recognizable gruff as sandpaper, sweet as honey voice was not always an essential part of the country’s musical landscape.
“Everywhere West” marks the fourth collaboration between the multi Juno Award-winning Byrnes and musician and producer, Steve Dawson. Fans of their previous work can rest assured that the intricate acoustic melodies, dirty blues guitar, funky organ and passionate interplay that we’ve come to expect when the two men get together in the same room are here in spades. If anything, the conversation goes a little deeper this time around and the playing is more assured and trusting than it’s ever been before. Listening back to some of the tracks from the album, it’s obvious that Byrnes is thrilled with the results. “...with Steve, it’s so much fun making a record. It’s just a bunch of guys sitting together and playing the music we love – with the tapes rolling.”
As we’ve come to expect, the musicians who support Byrnes on this effort have been selected from the country’s best with Dawson studio regulars Keith Lowe and Geoff Hicks laying down a rock solid rhythm section while Jeanne Tolmie offers her usual heavenly back up vocals. Special guest Keith Bennett turns in some tasty harmonica parts while Canadian fiddle and horn legend, Daniel Lapp, blesses listeners with some absolutely inspired performances throughout the album.
Whether Byrnes is singing a Mississippi Sheiks chestnut like “Bootlegger’s Blues” or wailing his way through a stripped down banjo driven version of Bobby Bland’s “Yield Not To Temptation”, he effortlessly inhabits every syllable and corner of this music. Testifying with a poise and authority that few can muster, he adds weight and depth to a Dave Van Ronk inspired take of “He Was a Friend of Mine”. Three Byrnes originals round out the album – “Hot As A Pistol” – a passionate straight up blues rave, “Storm Warning” – a first take recording, and finally, “Me and Piney Brown” – a lovely ‘autobiographical dream tune’ that evokes an imaginary journey to Kansas City in 1938.
As Jim writes in his liner notes, “Everywhere West” is dedicated to ‘those who came before’, but this music doesn’t belong in a museum. As Byrnes notes, “Deep down, blues is an acceptance of life. You stand in front of life and life says, ‘that’s the way it is baby’. To play the blues, you take all the bullshit that’s been piling up and you channel it through your guitar and voice. You let the pain go and turn it into a good feeling. That’s the blues – pure and simple.”
Pure and simple doesn’t get any better than this. When you hear Jim Byrnes pour his whole soul into singing a line as simple as ‘One sunny day, I’ll be home to stay’, you’ll instantly know that this is the kind of music you’re going to want to listen to forever – and that nearly fifty years after first wondering ‘how blue can you get?’, Jim Byrnes has found his voice and is just hitting his stride.from CDbaby
