It seems only appropriate Rory Block makes mention of John Hammond in the liner notes of her latest release The Lady and Mr. Johnson. As I was listening to her singing and playing his music for the first time, the thought flashed through my head that I've never had anyone but John Hammond hold my attention for so long playing solo acoustic blues.
I recently wrote how Hammond had the unique ability to climb up on stage and mesmerize an audience with guitar, voice, and harmonica, and I couldn't think of anyone else who could accomplish that feat. Well, I can now add the name Rory Block to that list, and she does it with just guitar and voice.
I had heard Rory before on a couple of compilation discs, and been impressed with her acoustic Blues. But it's hard to make a judgment on someone's ability when you hear only one track, and one surrounded by other people's music at that. I find on compilation albums it usually takes me about a minute into a song to shed the previous performance and just as I'm getting into the new groove, it's over and done with and I'm on to the next.
On The Lady and Mr. Johnson the Mr. Johnson of the title is Robert Johnson, the man considered the father of Mississippi Delta Blues. He was the one who went down to the "Crossroads" and sold his soul for the Blues and set the standard against which everyone is measured. Rory Block tells in the liner notes how it was in 1964, she was 14, when she picked up her copy of Mr. Johnson's album. Her life changed forever.
While that might sound trite coming from the mouth of someone else, it has an air of authenticity from her. She left home when she was 15 to begin her long odyssey to the point where she felt comfortable and confidant enough to make this tribute to her inspiration.
And pay tribute she does. This is an extraordinary recording. There was a remarkable amount of bravery involved for one person, let alone a woman, to go into a studio armed only with voice, slide, and guitar and record. No other musicians to hide behind or blame. While the spotlight can be good for the ego, it also leaves you alone and naked with no margin for error.
From the opening bars of the aforementioned "Crossroads" to the final resonations of her Martin guitar on "Kind Hearted Woman Blues," the only thing the spotlight reveals on this album is the fact Ms. Block is one of the best Delta Blues slide guitar players I've ever heard. Only John Hammond can match, or surpass her sometimes, in dexterity, precision, and most of all passion.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
Block is great, isn't she. what's interesting is that she just doesn't look like somebody who's gonna play the blues....doesn't look like somebody who'll give a short talk about Son House and then go on to blister your mind with that guitar.
i saw her live once and it was pretty danged phenomenal.
2 - Douglas Mays
Absolute! And she has this endearing type quality to her presentation. I saw her once back in about 1986 in Santa Fe, NM. Yeah, quite a talent. On such an unsuspecting level.