Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Janiva Magness: Bury Him At The Crossroads

Janiva Magness: Bury Him At The Crossroads

By Jim Santella
September 9, 2004
View read count

Janiva Magness: Bury Him At The Crossroads

The voice gets you right between the eyes. As her powerful interpretation of the blues sweeps you off your feet, Janiva Magness captures your heart and soul as well. She belts 'em out with convincing authority.

Her band provides a little bit country, a little bit traditional Delta blues, deeply passionate moments, and a little bit of modern chemistry. The singer clears the air with her riveting voice and forceful emphasis.

With languorous, back porch, sit-a-spell ditties as well as up-front, dramatic affairs of the heart, Magness puts you right there, in the middle of every blues singer's foray. You can feel her gripping hold on you throughout the session.

She's included a little tongue-in-cheek humor on the album, too. "Wasn't That Enough" ends up abruptly in the middle of a beautiful acoustic guitar refrain. "Less and Less Of You" shuffles off playfully to the caring pleas of a woman who worries about her man. "Eat the Lunch You Brought" reminds us of the blue collar and no collar roots that we've known since the blues was born.

Highly recommended, Bury Him At The Crossroads takes the listener on an adventure through blues history. Audio clips from one of her previous albums are available at JanivaMagness.com .

Track Listing

A Woman Knows; The Whale Has Swallowed Me; Everything Gonna Be Alright; Lost and Lookin'; Wasn't That Enough; The Soul of a Man; That's No Way To Get Along; Bury Him at the Crossroads; One More Heartache; I'm Leaving You; Less and Less Of You; Ain't Lost Nothin'; Eat the Lunch You Brought.

Personnel

Janiva Magness

vocals

Janiva Magness- vocals; Colin Linden- guitar; Jeff Turmes- bass, rhythm guitar, baritone saxophone, banjo; Richard Bell- piano, organ; Stephen Hodges- drums, percussion.

Album information

Title: Bury Him At The Crossroads | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: NorthernBlues Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Exit
< Previous

Eternal
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.