John Sinclair & His Boston Blues Scholars: Steady Rollin' Man (2002)

Matt Robinson

Recent articles (86 total)

Published: January 25, 2003

John Sinclair & His Boston Blues Scholars: Steady Rollin' Man

Recorded live at various venues, including John Sinclair's annual birthday show at the Press Room in Portsmouth, NH, Steady Rollin’ Man updates and introduces Sinclair’s fans to his latest tributes, rants and observations. Backing Sinclair's sit-and-listen prose are the free-form swirls of Devil-ish guitarist Ted Drozdowski, spiritual drummer Eric Austin and roadhouse bassist Mike Yocco, all of whom fall in and out in a mutually-supportive group dynamic. From excerpts of Thelonious Monk (whose wild key style is loosely interpreted by Matt Jensen) to biographical tributes to Sunnyland Slim, Robert Johnson and the late Henry Normile, Sinclair soars and dives through basic roots and existential questions, his gruff roar rasping away at the ears and collective consciousness of his arrested listeners. Taking words and inspiration from musical neighbors like Mac Rebennack, Ray Charles and Charles Neville, Sinclair puts history and music across in a new way, taking it all down a long and loose Bayou-bound track.

Track Listing: 1. Bruce Pingree's Introduction 2. Monk in Orbit 3. Humphf 4. Double Dealing 5. My Buddy 6. Just Don't Say No 7. Sunnyland Train 8. Hellhound on My Trail 9. Louisiana Blues 10. History 101 11. from "Homage to John Coltrane"

Record Label: TriPup
Style: Blues