OTIS TAYLOR
White African (Northernblues)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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On "Saint Martha Blues", Otis Taylor recounts the lynching of his great grandfather, and the effect on his wife. It is a harrowing account, told in a cursing whisper. Like the great songs of Robert Johnson, it tells the story and gets the hell out of there before maudlin emotion gets a chance to ruin the thing. And that's why his record has a direct connection to the great bluesman of yesteryear; it knows it's place. Sounding a tad like Taj Mahal, Taylor also offers tasteful guitar licks reminiscent of Ali Farka Toure. In short, Taylor is easy on the ears, delivering a true blues record without any contemporary trappings.

© 2001 - John Sekerka