专辑简介

by Scott YanowThis is an unusual set in which singer-guitarist Joel Harrison says that his goal is to "locate the confluence of Miles Davis and Johnny Cash." The music has country-style vocals from Harrison that alternate rather than blend in with adventurous jazz featuring saxophonist Dave Binney. The repertoire includes country pieces (from Jimmy Webb and Merle Haggard among others), some gospel numbers and a few recent originals. Although country music and jazz had fused together in the 1930s to form Western Swing, this CD has nothing in common with that in that the jazz is quite modern and the country singing is stark and emotional. Does it succeed? It will to listeners who enjoy both idioms of music and want to hear something very different than the usual.