Eric Bibb's Telarc debut, Friends, is a heartfelt acoustic blues record that showcases Eric Bibb's unique understated vocals with some of his friends who just happened to be some of the most talented musicians from across the world.

"Ribbons and Bows" is a reflective love song bathed in Byron Myhre's fills on the violin and mandolin, and "Lovin' in My Baby's Eyes" features Mali's Mamadou Diabate on a 21-string West African harp-lute called a Kora. Eric joins Mamadou on his 12-string, and the results are a fingerpicker's dream. Eric's duet with Guy Davis in the set's opener, "99 1/2 and a Half Won't Do," is a delight for fans of Gospel-influenced blues with Eric and Guy Davis trading 12-string parts. I can feel Eric's enthusiasm for sharing the microphone with one of his early muses, Odetta, on her guest spot on "'Taint Such a Much" as Levi B. Saunders' banjo and Bill Lee's upright string bass add a rootsy feel to the song.

You won't find Eric Bibb moaning at midnight like other blues singers, because he tends to generally be more upbeat and positive than most. While I enjoy the considerable sampling of world beats and positive blues messages on Friends, Eric's "Six O'Clock Blues" with Charlie Musselwhite or "Goin' Down Slow" with Taj Mahal on guitar and vocal and Michael Jerome Brown on fiddle are two of my favorite acoustic blues songs I've heard this year.

Track List:
99 1/2 Won't Do (With Guy Davis) * Six O'Clock Blues (With Charlie Musselwhite) * Goin' Down Slow (With Taj Mahal) * Lovin' In My Baby's Eyes (With Mamadou Diabate) * For You (With Ruthie Foster) * The Cape (With Martin Simpson) * 'Taint Such a Much (With Odetta) * Needed Time (With Harry Manx) * If I Stayed (With Kristina Olsen) * Connected ( With Michael Jerome Brown) * Ribbons and Bows (With Byron Myhre) * Just Look Up (With Michael Jerome Brown) * Cowgirl Queen (With Led Ka'apana) * Kulanjan/Sebastian's Tune (With Taj Mahal and Djulimady Tounkara) * Dance Me to the End of Love (With Jerry Yester)

Reviewed by Eric Steiner

Eric Bibb on stage at the Maryport Blues Festival 2007. Wonderful stuff.
I'm told he is playing a Fylde Guitar. Nice one....

Official Eric Bibb Website

Telarc International