Live

Eric Bibb: Cadogan Hall London 09/06/2008

It is truly heartening to see the great blues tradition experiencing a glorious renaissance at present...

Young gifted and black performers such as Alvin Young Blood Hart, Corey Harris, Guy Davis, Keb Mo (and the jewel in the Crown) Mr Eric Bibb are trailblazing masters of their generation. Valuable and worthy additions to the blues Canon

The magnificent church like Cadogan Hall with it’s incredibly stylish Art Deco interior, was the perfect setting for this cool, self assured, brown eyed handsome man. The Chelsea flock were eager to hear the new prophet of the blues comm-ence. And be rest assured, a performance by Eric Bibb is an all encompassing experience-both musically and Spiritually.

Bibb’s voice is a sweet, velvet baritone, and his exceptional finger-picking style is a constant joy throughout. EB has no problem at all fusing the old with the new. It's refreshing to hear a man so rooted in the old tradition but versatile enough to add a contemporary sensibility filled with enriched harmony and melody creating a new world blues genre all by himself.

Bibb introduces all his songs with anecdotal reflectiveness and you soon find your-self hanging on every word he says! At the start of 'Get Onboard' (the title track of the new gospel infused album) He announces ”A song that came out of the ether on a night when I needed it big time arriving like a private gift in my hour of need” and with the gloriously entitled 'Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down' Bibb tells the Chelsea set “A song my mother advised me never to leave out of the show!” There’s no question that the term 'Legendary' is overused in this case. Eric is a highly skilled, grammy nominated international troubadour. The amount of soul he puts into his music rubs off on all who listen to his distinctive voice, enriched with a mellow rasp and echoes of Son House.

He confesses ”I have showbiz lines in my pocket but they’re not coming out now.” What comes out is the truth and nothing but the truth and Bibb’s backing band punctuate all of Eric’s nuances and deftness of touch. Occasionally Eric let’s them off the leash and it was good to hear a band “rocking out” on 'Angels'. Which saw Eric wailing the poignant “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child” effusively at the start of the song. Tune after tune poured out gospel tinged country soul all adding to his wondrous blues style- this was an extraordinary insight into the workings of a highly polished individual.

Bringing us down gently, Eric finished the concert solo, with his pretty and talented daughter Yani joining in on vocals. So with his beautiful sounding hand crafted Fylde guitar in hand, ringing out sonorously with the classic 'In my Father’s House' the journey was complete.

Here is a man overflowing with emotional intelligence who operates at an extremely advanced level of artistry- Eric has glimpsed the promised land and he’s trying his damnedest to take us with him so get on board and take some soul from his dustbowl. This was an enriching evening in the presence of a special master whose sole purpose is to spread peace and harmony. His music does just that………
Words Emrys Baird