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By Frank Götz, 2023
Meet Ian Siegal, among the best up to date bluesmen England has to supply. He’s probably the most versatile and authentic voices on the roots music scene at the moment. Siegal has plenty of advantageous albums out and he excursions commonly, both alone or with a band, and his exhibits are all the time contemporary and steeped in blues custom. It’s exhausting to say what’s extra fascinating, his intestine bucket supply, the instrumental chops or his wry humorousness. One factor’s for positive, Siegal appears equally snug performing with amplified devices as in an unplugged singer-songwriter setting. He has performed and toured with the very best of them, together with Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Shemekia Copeland, and Alvin Youngblood Hart, for whom he opened in 2022.
Siegal’s record of achievements contains 13 U.Ok. Blues Awards, three Mojo Blues Albums of the 12 months, 4 European Blues Music Awards and three U.S. Blues Awards nominations. And that’s simply scratching the floor. But ,whereas the blues present a bedrock for his songs, his performances are all the time a novel and deeply satisfying mix of Americana kinds: people, nation, gospel, soul, rockabilly, early rock ‘n’ roll – this man does all of it, after which some. His covers sound like originals, and the originals will depart you questioning how previous the track actually is. Mr. Siegal merely adores U.S. music, and when he performs, he does it with a swagger that’ll knock your socks off and depart you begging for extra.
All of it started within the Nineties, touring Europe as a road musician, busking his means into numerous golf equipment and festivals. Then, in 2003, the person from Portsmouth out of the blue discovered himself because the opener for ex-Rolling Stone Invoice Wyman and his Rhythm Kings on a significant European tour. That was adopted by an prolonged tour with Large Invoice Morganfield, the son of Muddy Waters. In 2009, he thrilled audiences with The Braindogs, a gaggle performing nothing however Tom Waits songs. He has launched 13 CDs up to now and is in no way dedicated to only one style as his “Broadway in Satin”-project illustrates, a unbelievable Billie Vacation overview with a full orchestra of handpicked musicians. For years Siegal was based mostly in London, however after the hire costs exploded, he moved to Holland and to an undisclosed “island” the place he at the moment resides. He stays a fixture on the European roots music scene, with chosen gigs and small excursions as far off as Canada, South America and East Africa.
So why embrace an artist as eclectic as this in a listing of the standard nation blues? Properly, we have now good and dangerous information. The dangerous information is, Siegal doesn’t play ‘em, not less than not in a superficial means. Anybody on the lookout for note-for-note renditions of old fashioned classics must search elsewhere, as a result of that’s not what this bloke is about. If, nevertheless, you might be prepared to strive an artist who’s proficient and modern sufficient to respectfully push the boundaries of an age-old custom, then this could be your man. Few individuals at the moment are higher than he’s.
You may begin with The Mud, Siegal’s first acoustic blues album on the Nugene label (2008), or soar to his most up-to-date launch, a treasure trove of rootsy gems titled Stone By Stone (2022, Develop Imaginative and prescient Data). Each albums are advantageous choices, completely appropriate as introductions to a musician who, sadly, remains to be somewhat underappreciated within the States, even within the blues group. Standout tracks on The Mud are a gospel-blues tune referred to as “I’ll Fly Away” and the ultimate observe on the disc, an insanely good homage to Howlin’ Wolf. Stone By Stone, then again, is one among Siegal’s best conventional blues outings up to now, with too many highlights to say. Don’t miss “Holler”, a masterclass in blues belting that will’ve made Muddy & Co. proud. But it surely’s not simply Siegal’s sheer vocal energy that makes this so memorable. It’s his guitar work and the groove and the deep blues feeling. If this doesn’t provide the chills, nothing ever will.
Additionally beneficial are The Picnic Classes (2014, Nugene), a form of area recording and collaborative effort with Alvin Youngblood Hart, Jimbo Mathus and the world-famous Dickinson brothers. Kindred spirits for positive, all with their very own profiles on this listing, so in the event you like your blues tough & rowdy, you received’t need to miss this pleasant CD, recorded on the Dickinson’s ranch within the North Mississippi Hill Nation. “We had a blast”, writes Siegal within the liner notes, stating that they minimize “ten songs within the area of two leisurely afternoon periods.” And what an improvisational deal with that is…
“This, very undoubtedly, is old fashioned”, Mr. Siegal explains. “There aren’t any concessions to fashionable know-how; and there was not a whole lot of planning both. Everybody merely grabbed the closest instrument and performed, so you possibly can hear guitars, mandolin, mandocello, and banjo among the many numerous devices used. […] There’s one thing liberating about recording casually with out the stress of getting to supply an album. So don’t anticipate perfection, it’s extra to do with the vibe, which you’ll collect from a few of the banter that ensued between songs. We had a blast, like youngsters set free of sophistication!”
Lastly, we have now Man & Guitar (2014, Nugene), Siegal’s solo acoustic set on the 2013 London Bluesfest. It’s a dwell album, recorded for a BBC broadcast, and anybody nonetheless doubtful about his inclusion right here ought to test it out. The present options an artist on the prime of his recreation, and of all of the CDs coated right here, that is our favourite. Why? As a result of it sounds just like the ol’ busker has come full circle, solely now he’s enjoying the Royal Albert Corridor, probably the most prestigious venues on this planet. It’s a assured, eclectic efficiency that veers from nation, spirituals, people and Tom Waits-inspired ballads to some old style blues tunes with out dropping focus or steam. Siegal’s uncooked, gravelly baritone completely enhances his fierce instrumental work, revealing a shocking slide guitarist and fingerstyle picker within the Delta and Piedmont veins. He does all of it with vigor and reckless abandon, and simply if you assume he may go off the deep finish, Siegal lightens issues up with some hilarious feedback and interludes. Clearly he’s a storyteller and a skillful entertainer as well.
This chap is the true deal, people, so dangle on to your hats ‘n’ hearts. Here’s a world-class participant conserving the nation blues alive as if his personal life trusted it.
“Hand in Hand” – Ian Siegal that includes Shemekia Copeland
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