Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Branch, Cotton, Musselwhite and Norcia: Superharps
Branch, Cotton, Musselwhite and Norcia: Superharps
Except for one solo cut apiece by Norcia and Cotton and an overlong slow-blues jam that closes this CD, Telarc assigned these four harmonicats to various duo formats, thus giving each player ample room to maneuver. The pairings spur the artists to some creative instrumental exchanges and spirited vocal performances — even by Musselwhite, who’s never been known for his vocal dexterity.
Superharps' 11 tracks touch a wide range of blues styles, including acoustic ("If I Should Have Bad Luck" with Musselwhite and Cotton), swing ("Route 66" with Branch and Norcia’), Chicago-style electric ("I Put My Baby Out," again with Branch and Noricia), and boogie-woogie ("T.D.’s Boogie Woogie" with Cotton and Branch). Norcia’s smooth vocals and deft harp playing are most prominently featured, but all four players deliver the goods.
Lively backing is provided by some New England-based bluesmen, including three former members of Norcia’s old band Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, ace boogie pianist Dave Maxwell, and drummer Per Hanson. Norcia’s nasty original "I Put My Baby Out" and Musselwhite's rollicking "Blues, Why Do You Worry Me?" are two of the standout tracks.
Superharps is a diverse showcase for the instrument most often associated with the blues. And unlike many all-star releases, this one’s a true collaboration.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Superharps | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Telarc Records
About Branch, Cotton, Musselwhite and Norcia
Tags
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Become a Sustaining Member
Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.
Help Build the Future of All About Jazz
Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.
Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.
Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.
