Eric Bibb

Eric Bibb & Needed Time - Good Stuff - 1998 - Earthbeat

This album was recorded live in Stockholm, Sweden, with Needed Time and the Deacons, with the addition of the keyboard talent of Janne Petersson and the vocasl of Paris and Andre de Lange. There are no mind numbing, screaming blues guitar solos here. (I'm sure Eric Bibb could play them), but there are 14 beautiful acoustic blues tracks here with Eric's unique blend of soul, country, folk, and Gospel. A great album, played as usual in Eric Bibb's subtle and understated style. [ N.B: The double vinyl Opus 3 Swedish release from 1997 names Track 13 as "Done Laid Around." On this Earthbeat release, Track 13 is "Gotta Travel On." ]. Buy his great "An Evening With Eric Bibb" album, which was recorded live at the renowned Basement Club, in Sydney, Australia. (Listen to the great classy, and subtly humorous "Panama Hat" track on this album). Info @ EBIBB/AEWEBIBB It is also worthwhile listening to the "Sisters And Brothers" album, where Eric collaborates with two blues legends, Rory Block , and Maria Muldaur to produce a dynamic blues album. Info @ SAB/BIBB/BLOCK/MDAUR

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

Good Stuff - Eric Bibb
Saucer 'N' Cup - Eric Bibb
Shingle by Shingle - Eric Bibb
Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down - Bibb/Höglund
Where the Green Grass Grows - Eric Bibb
Blacksmith Island - Christer Lyssarides, Olle Erisson, Göran Wennerbrandt, Janne Petersson
New World Comin' Through - Eric Bibb
Too Much Whisky - Eric Bibb
Nothin' Like You Used to Do - Wayne Cohen, Eric Bibb
All of My Love - Eric Bibb, Göran Wennerbrandt
A Simple Song - Eric Bibb
Happy Home Recipe - Eric Bibb
Gotta Travel On - Eric Bibb, Traditional
Rough Waters - Eric Bibb

MUSICIANS

Eric Bibb (Banjo), (Guitar), (Lute), (Vocals), (Guitar (12 String)), (National Steel Guitar)
Christer Lyssarides (Banjo) (Bouzouki), (Guitar),(Mandolin), (Slide Guitar),(Cowbell)
Göran Wennerbrandt (Guitar), (Zither),(Slide Guitar), (National Steel Guitar), (Bottleneck Guitar)
Janne Petersson (Organ), (Piano), (Accordion), (Organ (Pump)
Björn Gideonsson (Percussion),(Drums), (Triangle)
Derrick Walker (Harmonica)
Andre de Lange (Vocals), (Vocals (Background)),(Voices)
Bob Manning (Vocals), (Vocals (Background)), (Voices)
Nevada Cato (Vocals (Background))
The Deacons (Vocals (Background))
Joe Watts (Vocals (Background))

REVIEW

Eric Bibb's debut album, Good Stuff, is a clever fusion of contemporary folk and classic country-blues and classic gospel that emphasizes the guitarist's skill at fusing genres, as well as his flair for writing solid bluesy songs. Not all of the material really catches hold, but it all shows promise, and the very best moments on the record confirm that he's one of the more intriguing new bluesmen in the late '90s. © Thom Owens, All Music Guide

ABOUT ERIC BIBB

Eric Bibb's music is a rich blend of the blues with elements of folk, country, gospel, and soul, thanks in part to his being the son of New York folksinger Leon Bibb, which afforded young Eric exposure to a wide variety of music and opportunities to meet performers like Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan. Bibb launched his career in Europe, performing at blues and folk festivals in London, Cambridge, and Dublin, sometimes with a full band and sometimes with slide guitarist Göran Wennerbrandt; he eventually settled permanently in Sweden, where he works as a music and voice teacher when not performing. Bibb's debut album, Good Stuff, was released in Europe in 1997 and the U.S. a year later; it was followed by Shakin' a Tailfeather in 1998, which featured producer Linda Tillery and a guest appearance by Taj Mahal. Home to Me arrived in 2000 and the enchanting Painting Signs followed the next summer. Natural Light appeared in 2003. This album was merely a prep for Friends, a star-studded cavalcade of performers and engineers that included Taj Mahal, Odetta, Charlie Musselwhite, Malian session aces Mamadou Diabate and Djelimady Tounkara, Martin Simpson, Kristina Olsen, Jerry Yester, and others. This record, far from being an overblown affair loaded with guests to cover a lack of imagination in song selection, is instead a virtual blueprint in how these outings should be done in the future. Its intimacy, warmth, and stellar execution make it one of Bibb's best. A Ship Called Love, dedicated to Curtis Mayfield, was released in 2005, and later that same year a single-disc retrospective, Livin', Lovin' and Doin', appeared from Hatman Records. The elegant Diamond Days arrived from Telarc Records in 2007. © Steve Huey & Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

BIO (Wikipedia)

Eric Bibb was born in New York, NY August 16, 1951 is an American acoustic blues singer/songwriter who is based in London, and launched his career in Europe. Eric's father, Leon Bibb, is a singer in musical theatre who made a name for himself as part of the 1960's New York folk scene. His uncle was the world famous Jazz pianist and composer John Lewis, of the Modern Jazz Quartet. Family friends included Pete Seeger, Odetta and actor/singer/activist Paul Robeson, Eric's godfather. Eric was given his first steel-string acoustic guitar aged seven. Growing up surrounded by talent, Eric recalls a childhood conversation with Bob Dylan, who, on the subject of guitar playing advised the 11-year-old Eric to "Keep it simple, forget all that fancy stuff". Eric Bibb remembers from his early teen years; "I would cut school and claim I was sick. When everyone would leave the house I would whip out all the records and do my own personal DJ thing all day long, playing Odetta, Joan Baez, the New Lost City Ramblers, Josh White." At 16 years old, Eric's father invited him to play guitar in the house band for his TV talent show "Someone New". Bill Lee, who played bass in this band, was later to appear on Eric's albums "Me To You" and "Friends". In 1969, Bibb played guitar for the Negro Ensemble Company at St. Mark's place in New York. He went on to study Psychology and Russian at Columbia University, but did not finish these studies. Aged 19, Eric left for Paris, where he met guitarist Mickey Baker who focused his interest in blues guitar. He moved to Sweden and lived in Stockholm, where he immersed himself in pre-war blues and the newly discovered World Music scene, while he continued to write and perform. The album "Good Stuff" was released in 1997 on Opus 3 and American label Earthbeat. Eric signed to the British based Code Blue label, but only released one album: "Me to You", featuring appearances from some of Bibb's personal heroes: Pops and Mavis Staples, and Taj Mahal. This was followed by tours of the UK, USA, Canada, France, Sweden and Germany. In the late 90's Eric joined forces with his then manager Alan Robinson, to form Manhaton Records, in Britain. The albums "Home to Me" (1999), "Roadworks" (2000) and "Painting Signs" (2001) followed, as did another Opus 3 release, "Just Like Love". After that, "A Family Affair" (2002) - the first ever album recorded together by father and son - Leon & Eric Bibb. "Natural Light" then "Friends" - 15 tracks featuring Eric duetting with friends and musicians he has met on his travels such as Taj Mahal, Odetta, Charlie Musselwhite, Guy Davis, Mamadou Diabate and Djelimady Toukara. Eric has appeared on major TV and radio shows including Later with Jools Holland and The Late Late Show. Eric and his band have played at most of the world's major festivals including Glastonbury (twice) and the Cambridge Folk Festival in the UK. He joined Robert Cray on two U.S. tours in 2001 and 2002 and opened for Bonnie Raitt on a recent UK tour, and Ray Charles in the summer of 2002. In 2005 "A Ship Called Love" (Telarc CD-83629) was released and Eric went on another successful world tour, including a major 30-date US tour with John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers and Robben Ford . "A Ship Called Love" was nominated for Acoustic Album of the Year in the 2006 Blues Music Awards. In 2006 "Praising Peace" the Leon Bibb/Eric Bibb tribute to Paul Robeson, was released on Stony Plain Records. While in September "Diamond Days" was also released (Telarc CD-83660). It was produced by Glen Scott and recorded in UK, Sweden and Canada. It includes a live recording of 'In My Father's House' featuring Eric's long-time recording and touring partner Dave Bronze (Eric Clapton Band). As usual, there is a world tour resulting from this release. Eric's talent for both performing and songwriting has been recognised with a Grammy Nomination (for "Shakin' a Tailfeather") and 4 W. C. Handy Award nominations (for the albums "Spirit and the Blues" and "Home To Me"; for 'Kokomo' as Best Acoustic Blues Song of the Year, and for Best Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year). His songs have featured on TV shows such as BBC TV's Eastenders and Casualty, and The District in the USA. Eric's version of I Heard the Angels Singin was included in the feature film 'The Burial Society' and Eric appears on Jools Holland's double platinum-selling album "Small World, Big Band", singing his own composition 'All That You Are'. In Australia, Eric has appeared several times on ABC national television on the 'Live At The Basement' series. Eric has an ability to meld traditional blues styles with more contemporary sounds. As one critic put it "Eric's singing and versatile guitar playing fuses a variety of genres to become a New World Blues". "Eric is one of the new, young singers that has appeared on the scene that, much to my delight, has a great voice, is an excellent performer and has a great knowledge about the roots of this music" - Taj Mahal