Customer Reviews

Baton Rouge

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just keep playing this CD over and over. He has a voice that can be best described as real. It ain't polished but what great blues man counts on polish? The track "High on Music" is one of my all-time favorite tunes. It has a reggae-blues riff and great volcal delivery by Garner that makes it infectious. The CD mixes classic slow and dirty blues tunes like, "BLues play my Way," and "New Bad Habit" and adds in great uptempo tunes like "Baton Rouge" and Help Yourself" that will have your feet tapping and you cranking up the volume. And there is even a catchy country-style lyrical tune 'Have's and the Have Nots" that show off his great song-writing. I love it.

I have been a serious blues fan since 1967 when I first heard an Otis Spann and then a Paul Butterfield album. For the past 34 years I have listened to thousands of blues recordings. However, over the past few years, I have been unable to locate hardly any musician who caught my ear. I thought I had heard it all and was just jaded. I bought the Larry Garner CD because it was on sale, basically. After listening to it a few times, I decided that it was prety good-nothing spectacular. However, it sneakily became the one Cd that I have listened to more than anything else I own.
Mr. Garner is a true bluesman in an age of several teenage, and/or pseudo musicians who play flashy, soulless blues. Garner is a solid guitarist who knows WHAT notes to hit, and even more importantly, when not to play. His singing is smooth and well phrased, too. Perhaps the best feature of this album is his ability to breathe life into standard blues progressions. The man can play--period.

Larry's blues stand out because he knows how to construct a story around an experience he's had, and wrap it up as a tasty blues song. 'Jook Joint Woman' is a good example, which describes the antics of 'a fun-loving' fan at one of his live shows. 'Shut it down' (on the double dues album) is another good example, which begins with his kid having a bad day at school, and ends up with Larry getting quite philosophical about life. Larry also knows how to play guitar to great effect, sometimes reminiscent in style to fellow Louisiana bluesman Buddy Guy. Presented here are original and sometimes hilarious blues songs. This album is an appetizer for catching this fine entertainer live for a GREAT night out.

Although I also have Larry's "Once Upon the Blues" in my CD collection, "Baton Rouge" remains my favorite of the two. His lyrics are atypical of most blues material heard today. Larry shares his insights and rich experiences with us in a refreshing and humorous fashion. Not only do I enjoy listening to his recordings, but he far surpasses even these when performing live. As a seasoned and frequent festival goer I have been fortunate to catch Larry & the band four times this year! Witty, insightful lyrics make this CD a must-have!