Eric Bibb: Good Stuff

Barrelhouse piano, loose acoustic rhythm guitar, stand-up bass, and down home vocals characterize Eric Bibb's 1997 recording. Originally released on the Opus 3 label and recently reissued by EarthBeat! Good Stuff is commonly characterized as "country blues" or "southern folk blues" and centers on Bibb's warm, sincere singing. He's a gentle man with a knack for preaching the blues and insuring that you'll want to listen.

The piano, bass and drums of Janne Petersson, Olle Eriksson, and Bjorn Gideonsson (respectively) back the singer up on about half the session. Born in New York, the son of folk singer Leon Bibb, this guitarist / singer / songwriter moved to Sweden and has released several albums. More about Eric Bibb can be obtained athttp://www.mic.stim.se/svensk/6/facts/ericbibb.html .

With an acoustic bass riff, embellishments from a bass kalimba, slide guitar, and banjo-mandolin, Bibb's voice rings clear on "Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your (Spirit Down)" complete with blues harp accompaniment from Derrick Walker. The verbal messages are simple and direct, as the pleasant and natural accompaniment causes the listener to become more receptive. Jenny Bohman's harmonica and Christer Lyssarides' mandolin grace "Nothin' Like You Used To Do" along with Bibb's reverse message relating how his soulmate loves him much more now than she ever used to. A true New Orleans shuffle rhythm provides the session's highlight on "Happy Home Recipe," where Bibb offers his advice for doin' things right in a family sense. "New World Comin' Through" adds the vocal harmony of Derek Huntsman, Andre De Lange, Bob Manning, and Paris in an a cappella 5-part setting accompanied by Bibb's solitary 12-string guitar. While several selections, such as "Where the Green Grass Grows," "Simple Song," and "Blacksmith Island" stand out as church and folk offerings, Good Stuff comes from the heart of a soulful singer who chooses his accompanists carefully. Recommended.