As legendary bluesman go, Mississippi John Hurt isn't as well known as larger-than-life figures such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, or Howlin' Wolf. A simple Mississippi farmhand, Hurt's musical career was shorter than the lifespan of the typical chart-topping boy band, yet his influence can be felt more than thirty years after his death. Featuring a number of talented artists, Avalon Blues is a musical tribute to the simple genius that was Mississippi John Hurt.
The Music of Mississippi John Hurt
An insightful songwriter and an unusual guitarist with a unique fingerpicking style, Hurt was "rediscovered" after better than three decades of obscurity by record collector and blues enthusiast Tom Hoskins in 1963. At that time, Hurt was known primarily for a handful of songs recorded in 1928 for the Okeh label. It was from one of these ancient and fragile 78-rpm records - "Avalon Blues," written about Hurt's hometown - that Hoskins found the clues that led him to the Mississippi Hill Country to find Hurt. Hurt's subsequent stunning performance at the 1963 Newport Jazz Festival would make him one of the most celebrated of the "country blues" or "folk-blues" artists until his death in 1966. During this period, Hurt would record several critically acclaimed albums for Rounder and Vanguard.
Avalon Blues – A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt
As tribute albums go, Avalon Blues is better than average, with the participants sharing a love of and reverence for Hurt's musical legacy. The entire project was put together by musician and producer Peter Case, who collaborates with Dave Alvin here to contribute a solid rendering of Hurt's "Monday Morning Blues." It's Case's ability as a producer to coax great performances out of such a disparate group of talents that is impressive, however. The artists contributing to Avalon Blues run the gamut from blues and folk to rock and country.
The high points on Avalon Blues include Chris Smither's guitar-driven version of "Frankie & Albert," Taj Mahal's spirited take on "My Creole Belle," and John Hiatt's inspired acoustic reading of "I'm Satisfied." Lucinda Williams' enchanting vocals on "Angels Laid Him Away" and Gillian Welch's delightful, subtle interpretation of "Beulah Land" are both breathtaking performances. Bruce Cockburn, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Steve and Justin Earle, and Ben Harper also deliver appropriately stirring renditions of Hurt's songs.
The Reverend's Bottom Line
A couple of clunkers prevent Avalon Blues from being a top-notch tribute. Case's friend Victoria Williams butchers "Since I’ve Laid My Burden Down" with her froggy vocals and overzealous instrumentation, while Beck's contribution of the traditional "Stagolee" - recorded back in 1994 - seems like it was shoehorned in to give the project some quick street cred.
Those minor objections aside, Avalon Blues is nevertheless a fitting tribute to one of the lesser-known great talents of the blues. If just one listener is weaned off watered-down pop music to rediscover Mississippi John Hurt, then Peter Case and all of the talents that contributed to Avalon Blues have done their jobs well. (Vanguard Records)
