2006 Reviews
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MSG, the Acoustic Blues Trio is combined of Jackie Merritt, Miles Spicer and Resa
Gibbs. They are among the acoustic blues performers who are associated with the
Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation and this writer caught a wonderful
performance by them as well as a nice extended play CD a couple years ago. A mix of
some classic blues, spirituals and ballads with some very strong originals, the trio
brings plenty of warmth and soulfulness to these performances.
I am not sure who first
recorded the Doc Pomus number (although it sounds like something that Solomon
Burke might have done well with), There is Always One More Time, but with Miles
providing a spare accompaniment, Resa delivers the reflective lyric in a spellbinding
manner that illustrates just how good a singer she is with a honey tone yet able to tear
the roof! off at times. Miles co-wrote The Home Coming Song, as Resa sings about it
will be a long, long time before one sees her again as Jackie adds some nice harp here
behind Miles effective accompaniment.
Kazoo and bones are heard behind Miles’
affable vocal on the traditional Frankie and Johnnie, lending this classic ballad a folk,
jug band flavor. Resa is featured again on a terrific interpretation of the traditional You
Don’t Know My Mind, and a spirited vocal on Midnight Special, both with more fine
harp from Jackie. Another original from Miles is his take on the back door man Jody
on his lively Jody’s Got Your Girl. Jackie’s Isabel, sounds like a song written about a
mistreating lover, but actually is a blues about Hurricane Isabel that caused so much
damage several years ago, and unfortunately timely in the light of Hurricane’s Katrina
and Rita with Resa again shining on the vocal.
Like Miles, Jackie is an affable vocalist
and handles the vocal on her Race Track Blues, a short number with a quick rhythmic
accompaniment from Miles. A bit of the spiritual side of the trio can be held on Get
Right Church and the closing acapella Come to Me in Prayer. The music is never less
than tasteful and there are some truly exquisite moments on this splendid release.
I would think this may be available at the Archie Edwards Barbershop.
Ron Weinstock
Editor /Writer of the DC Blues Society Newsletter |
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