Customer Reviews

Jubilee

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Manx and Breit met at a festival in Canada in 2001 and immediately struck up a musical understanding with an inspired improvised live set. A year later, they got together to record Jubilee, which embraces the spontaneity and freshness of a live performance.

The CD compromises a range tracks written by Manx, a couple in partnership with Breit, and notable innovative covers: Danny O'Keefe wrote the laid back "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues"; "Take This Hammer" (Working on a Railroad) is traditional song - also part of the Tom Topping Band repertoire; there's a disarming instrumental version of the Doobie Brothers classic, "Taking It To The Streets"; and an energised reworking of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child".

This is a high quality CD but my favourite track, by a distance, is "Unmoved By Love", the only song written jointly by Manx and Breit. It is simply one of the best ballads ever written and it would not surprise me if it is widely covered by other artists. It demonstrates Manx's understated sensitive vocal attributes, combined with subtle acoustic accompaniment. The final track on the album - "Lastly Tender" - is a seductive instrumental written by Breit, who excels on his Resonator guitar. It rounds off a wonderfully eclectic range of contemporary blues, subtly influenced by Indian rhythms.

Manx's contemporary style and demeanour is reminiscent of what you would expect from Richard Thompson if he had played the blues. He also seems to have acquired Thompson's taste in headgear. I was pointed in the direction of Harry Manx's music by Kristina Olsen, always a fine judge of music. I wasn't disappointed. He has found, in Kevin Breit, a musical soul - or should that be blues - mate.

This is the third CD available from Manx, and it is a bit different from the others in that he is playing as a duo with fellow Canadian guitarist Kevin Breit. The resulting sound is more full and eclectic. Instead of sultry raga blues we have a more American flavoured blues jazz folk sound. The two met in 2001 at the Summerfolk festival in Ontario and played a killer set sight unseen. They teamed up again in 2002 for this live in studio recording, again without rehearsals or planning. The results are outstanding! Their opposite styles (cool and spunky) compliment beautifully. Manx plays mostly acoustic instruments; slide guitar, Mohan Veena, National Steel guitar, harmonica and banjo as well as his warm vocals, while Kevin plays an assortment of electric and acoustic instruments; guitars and bass, resonator guitar, banjo, mandocello, banjolin, mandolin, mandola, organ, bass pedals, guitorgan....you get the picture!

The song selection is a nice mix of originals and covers (Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues is a pleasant surprise). Production and packaging is excellent as well. I love the informative and beautifully done liner notes, clearly a labor of love.

This CD has grown on me (while Manx's other recordings were instant hits with me), and I like the variety and accessibilty. Thanks guys for sharing the magic!

One word: Amazing. Harry Manx is arguably the most unique modern blues player, if not the best. His songwriting shows a great attention to detail and his playing is flawless. The addition of Kevin Breit elevates this recording to a whole new level. The two were born to play together. Their fits so well and the end result is a CD that is playful and adventurous.

This music is absolutely beautiful, brilliant, and I would have to say, the best I have heard this year. I put it up there with Ry Cooder's Mambo Sinuendo. This cd made my year!

Wow, am I glad I bought this. Refreshing and......sweet.

I have all of Harry Manx's recordings but I must say, I did not fully appreciate his talents until this release became available. Manx met Breit in the summer of 2001 at a folk festival in Ontario. The pair was asked to play with a third member forming an impromptu band called "Folk Alarm". After the show, all parties parted as quickly as they came together. A few months later, a friend of Manx asked whether he would be agreeable to recording with Breit. According to the liner notes, the two got together compared song lists, sat down and recorded sans any rehearsal. Given the circumstances, the results are pretty remarkable. The CD consists of 14 tracks of mostly laidback acoustic blues and roots music. Manx and Breit take turns alternating the vocals and playing various instruments in a rather seamless fashion. If there were a flaw in the disk, it would have to be the cover of "Good Time Charlie". While Manx and Breit give it a fair interpretation, it's a song that never had any appeal to me. With that minor exception, it's a very good CD.

Where did it go. I ran to get the third CD, when I put it in I kept waiting for it to start. It didn't for me. Certainly not in any way like the first two did. Harry's got something that's magical why not leave it as it is. He doesn't need a background Strat through a Marshall for enhancement. Too bad.