Davis, MorganBlues Medecine1999Electro-Fi RecordsElectro-Fi 3362

Davis, Morgan - Blues Medecine - 1999 - Electro-Fi Records - Electro-Fi 3362

Written by Calvin Daniels

Morgan Davis is a blues veteran with a lot of miles on the odometer, gigging all over with a variety of bands or as a solo act throughout the years. In fact, he first hit the recording studio in 1982, with his CD I'm Ready to Play on the Bullhead Record label.

On his latest CD, Blues Medicine, you gain immediate insight into what all those miles have meant to him. Life experience tends to add richness to blues music and it's not a coincidence that Blues Medicine helped earn Davis the 1999 Maple Blues Award as SOCAN Songwriter of the Year.

Among the 15 cuts are a dozen penned by Davis, and they exhibit a style that says "well traveled". There is maturity to the music, yet he makes it clear he can still smile. That combination, in many ways, exemplifies the best of the blues and is illustrated on the lead cut, Reefer Smokin' Man.

The three covers Davis chose include Keep it Parted in the Middle by Washboard Sam, If I Get Lucky by J.B. Lenoir and Good Time Tonight by W. Broonzy.

You can draw parallels between the circumstances behind the recording of the CD and Davis' history as a performer. He started his career in the United States but was forced to interrupt it and migrate north to Canada when it became clear his views were different from those behind the American war effort in Vietnam.

Part of Blues Medicine was actually recorded in 1997 by Colin Linden in his apartment building. After a lengthy interruption, Davis and Alec Fraser completed the remainder of the album at Fraser's brand new Liquid Sound Studio in the spring of 1999. Both venues worked for Davis, as the recording melds together flawlessly between the two sessions.

Davis is backed by Fraser on bass, Al Lerman (of Fathead fame) on harmonica, Mark Mariash on drums, and Tyler Yarema on piano. They all do a nice job of complementing Davis' fine guitar work. There is no denying he knows his way around the strings, and the songs he has penned are, of course, well suited to his sound.

Picking the best of a solid effort is always tricky, but you get a good feel for Davis' guitar work on Special Boogie. Other standouts include What's the Matter Now, Somnambulatin' Mama, and Older and Dumber (which might serve as a personal theme song since I've just hit my 43rd birthday).

Blues Medicine is certainly easy medicine to take and is definitely worth picking up. It's a very pleasing effort from a seasoned bluesman.

Copyright 2003. Review by Calvin Daniels.

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