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Blues Underground Network |
Tim Woods "The Blues Sessions"
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Simply The Blues, Done Simply, was perhaps all it was meant to be and with Tim Woods release, "The Blues Sessions", we now understand, more than ever, just what that means and what that sounds like. When you try to be to fancy to make a point, that is when you may of just missed the point. Tim Woods, I believe, has always known that and has worked long and hard over his now 25+ years blues journey to offer more authenticity to his sound, then theatrics. One of the ways Woods' achieves this authenticity is simply by the way he plays his guitar and that is by way of also picking with his thumb which of course, like the greats of the past, allows one to play both lead and rhythm. You might say that "The Blues Sessions" was an Album 25 years in the making and you may just be right, especially considering that this is, after all, Woods' Debut Release and what a release it is, considering many of today's Blues Legends were more than willing to be guest artists. In fact their were at least 16 Artists more than willing to join Woods' on his amazing 6 month journey thru Clarksdale, Atlanta, and Chicago and all accomplished via recording the Album in no less than 4 studios, along the way. Artists such as David 'Honeyboy' Edwards, Jack Johnson, John Primer, and Kenny ‘Beedy Eyes’ Smith to name just a few, make the odyssey that is "The Blues Sessions", as special and unique as any Blues Artists could ask for. "The Blues Sessions" consists of 12 Tracks and offers us a Dream Team Mix Of The Blues, with 11 Covers that stick pretty close to their Original Sound and 1 Original at the end, called, “World Comes Tumblin’ Down", closing out the Album in fine Tim Woods style. "The Blues Sessions" is a Album that defines a moment when the blues was the blues and it also defines an artist, namely Tim Woods, whom not only understands the true blues, but he is also one whom is more than able to relay that magic to all of us. This Album shows us the uniqueness of an Artist whom is willing to wait for something really special before making a commitment to share it with his audience, and in doing so has created, I think, a little bit of a very enduring blues masterpiece. "The Blues Sessions" gets my 5***** Rating with absolutely no problem at all... This is an exceptional Album and a must have for any lover of Simply The Blues, Done Simply. Review By John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network) Other Info And Reviews Tim Woods has been singing and playing acoustic and electric guitar for more than 25 years. This album showcases his distinctive style, in which he picks using his thumb, playing both lead and rhythm while interchanging chords and licks. As a young adult, Tim was immersed in the legendary Macon, Georgia music scene, which had a profound, lasting impact on him, influencing his appreciation of the blues. Tim Woods' The Blues Sessions is his musical tribute to masters of the genre. Delta Bluesmen David 'Honeyboy' Edwards, Big Jack Johnson, and Bob Stroger and others are featured guest artists on this debut release. From the pleading acoustic Bad Whiskey & Cocaine, to the rollicking band track Clarksdale Boogie, to the scarcely played (and not recorded since 1942) Wind Howlin' Blues, these recordings take you on a celebrated journey that weaves across diverse fan bases of early Delta, boogie and Chicago-style blues. Amazon.Com
There are traditional numbers, familiar songs from Willie Dixon, a few from David "Honeyboy" Edwards, who appears with Woods, classic urban Chicago blues, and an original. Edwards in particular is a force on this project, singing his heart out on "Drop Down Mama" with Woods and harmonicist Eric Noden, or slow and sure for two other tracks. Classic blues tunes like "Spoonful," "Built for Comfort," and "It Don't Make Sense," penned by Dixon, are lovingly re-crafted, but also Howlin' Wolf's "Who's Been Talkin'" with Woods, keyboardist Allen Batts, Big Jack Johnson, and Terry "Big T" Williams is the ultimate jam for these standout figures. John Primer and Bob Stroger play prominent roles elsewhere, especially on yet another Dixon evergreen, "Do the Do." Every track is precious, every measure full of fun, as Woods shapes these immortal icons of blues into a unified whole that is much greater than the sum of their parts, inspired and loaded with integrity. Review By Michael G. Nastos
Woods has enlisted some genuine heavyweights, including David ‘Honeyboy’ Edwards, one of the last surviving originators of the Delta blues. Also on hand are the likes of guitarists John Primer and Big Jack Johnson, bassist Bob Stroger, drummer Kenny ‘Beedy Eyes’ Smith, and Michael Frank, the man behind Earwig Music, on harmonica. And that’s just the beginning – in total there are some sixteen participants along for Wood’s musical ride. So there’s a great deal of living history involved in The Blues Sessions. Fortunately, Woods has his own ideas, and what could have been yet another dry and dusty tribute is instead a lively and vital collection that respects the music’s origins and originators while adding distinct touches that help carry tradition forward. True, Woods is only responsible for one composition here – “World Comes Tumblin’ Down,” the slithery boogie that closes the disc. But while some covers stick closely to tradition – notably the three Honeyboy Edwards songs, acoustic affairs with Edwards himself handling the vocals – elsewhere there are elements of Woods’ jam-band background to add a somewhat more modern edge. Take Willie Dixon’s “It Don’t Make Sense You Can’t Make Peace” - with its spacey violin (courtesy of Joe Craven) and crunching beat that veers off into psychedelic territory, it’s an arrangement that might well have baffled the composer. And yet it works, as does Wood’s somewhat jazzy rendition of Dixon’s “Spoonful,” here an acoustic romp featuring Woods’ and Eric Noden’s guitars, with Smith adding understated percussion. Dixon the songwriter is well represented here, with Woods tackling “Do The Do” and “Built For Comfort” as well. Other highlights include a romp through Big Jack Johnson’s ”Clarksdale Boogie,” with Johnson himself trading licks with Woods, and Edwards’ “Wind Howlin’ Blues,” a tune last recorded in 1942. Woods is a fine guitarist, and the friends on board all live and breathe this music, so instrumental performances throughout are uniformly first-rate. And Woods is an eminently adequate vocalist, though there are occasional moments when he comes across as a bit more earnest than accomplished. (But then who could hold a candle to the quiet dignity Edwards brings to his two righteously ragged vocal performances?). And Woods’ respect for the music and his energetic approach more than make up for any minor quibbles. A fine and spirited outing that balances sincerity with musical exuberance, this one’s a winner. Here’s hoping we’ll be hearing much more from Tim Woods! Review By John Taylor BC Blog Critics
The CD opens with an old traditional blues (one I hadn’t heard before) called “Deep Ellum Blues” performed by a trio of Tim Woods on vocals and acoustic guitar, with Eric Noden on second acoustic guitar and Kenny Smith on drums – I knew I was going to like this CD within 30 seconds of this track starting. A Willy Dixon track follows, “Do The Do” – electric guitar this time, with John Primer providing second guitar and Aaron Moore on piano. Bob Stroger and Kenny Smith are on bass and drums respectively. This is one of the best versions of this particular track that I’ve heard. “Castle Rock Boogie” keeps the tempo going, with a bit of fun thrown in from Aaron Moore on piano again, and there’s another boogie a little later, the “Clarksdale Boogie” which is even better! It has Alan Bates on keyboards, Big Jack Johnson on guitar (he wrote it), and the rhythm section of Terry Big T Williams on bass and Lee Williams on drums. In between there’s a fantastic version of Willy Dixon’s “Spoonful” (a trio of two guitars and drums) and a Honeyboy Edwards track “Bad Whiskey & Cocaine”. Honeyboy takes the vocals on his own song “Wind Howling Blues”, and he makes it very special indeed, with Tim Woods, Eric Noden and Kenny Smith backing him up. Honeyboy takes vocals later on another of his songs, “Drop Down Mama” with Woods & Noden on guitar and harmonica – lovely stuff! There’s also excellent versions of Willy Dixon’s “Built For Comfort” and “It Don’t Make Sense You Can’t Make Peace”, Howling Wolf’s “Who’s Been Talking”, before the album winds up with a very up tempo jazzy blues “World Comes Tumbling Down”. This is definitely one of the best CDs that I’ve reviewed this year so far! Terry Clear Review By Terry Clear Blues Bytes and Satellite Times/Spain More Reviews Here... Tracklist
1. Deep Ellum Blues 3:29 Listen To Samples Here... About Tim Woods Tim Woods has been singing and playing acoustic and electric guitar for over 25 years, and has long been a fixture on the southwestern Pennsylvania music scene. Growing up in a virtual “melting pot” of music – including having older brothers who exposed him to a wide array of styles, including jazz, blues, bluegrass and rock – Tim’s appreciation of all music took root at an early age. During his formative years, this appreciation grew into a deep love of the blues of Willie Dixon, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. Tim first began performing as a professional with improvisational rock ‘n’ roll bands – long before the “jamband” genre became as widespread and popular as it is today – playing psychedelic blues and, oftentimes, jamming with local players. These influences have each shaped his playing and songwriting throughout his career, and today are at the heart of Tim’s sound. But it’s Tim’s unique and truly original style – in which he plays and picks using his thumb – that enables him to distinguish himself by playing both lead and rhythm while interchanging chords and licks. When Tim turned 18, his family moved to Macon, Georgia. It was in Macon where his immersion in the legendary music scene had a profound and lasting impact on him. Working at a local nightclub promoting and coordinating appearances of national acts, Tim eventually formed lifelong musical friendships. His time in Macon and travels throughout the South were both educational and inspirational. Throughout his career, Tim has shared the stage with many well-known musicians and has opened for music greats, such as Sonny Landreth and Donna Godcheaux (former member of the Grateful Dead). He also frequently performs alongside his very good friend George Frayne (a.k.a. Commander Cody) and his band who even played at Tim’s wedding. From 2002-2009, Tim was a founding member of The Mountain Jam Band that built a regional following playing blues-based jamband rock in the style of The Allman Brothers, the Grateful Dead and others. Unfortunately, they disbanded due the passing of a key member, although the friendships remain and they continue to play together. Most recently, Tim was greatly influenced by his guitar instructor, Ernie Hawkins, an honored Pittsburgh blues musician and world-renowned master of the complicated picking and style of the Reverend Gary Davis, known as the Piedmont fingerstyle. In June 2005, Tim had the opportunity to meet and spend an intimate musical evening with legendary delta blues artists David “Honey Boy” Edwards, Homesick James, Sam Lay and Pinetop Perkins. He was so inspired by their soul and sound that he devoted himself to recording a musical tribute to these legendary masters of the Delta blues. Nearly three decades after his original trip, Tim found himself back in Georgia in the midst of a session tour throughout the blues basin working on his debut release. “The Blues Sessions,” is the realization of a deep and personal commitment to share with others the art and spirit of these seminal musicians. Tim Woods “The Blues Sessions” was recorded during a six-month studio tour of Clarksdale, Atlanta and Chicago, and features, as special guests, Allen Batts, Joe Craven, David “Honey Boy” Edwards, Michael Frank, Shannon Hoover, Big Jack Johnson, Aaron Moore, Eric Noden, John Primer, Bobby Lee Rodgers, Jeff Sipe, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, Ike Stubblefield, Bob Stroger, Lee Williams and Terry “Big T” Williams. The affinity each artist has for one another is clearly evident in this eclectic collection. But, it’s Tim’s fiery vocals and tasteful guitar work that complement them while also shining throughout. From the pleading acoustic, three-piece “Bad Whiskey & Cocaine,” to the rollicking “Clarksdale Boogie,” to the scarcely played (and not recorded since 1942) “Wind Howlin’ Blues,” Tim Woods “The Blues Sessions” takes you on a celebrated journey that weaves across the diverse fan bases of early Delta, boogie and Chicago-style blues. “These sessions would never have happened without the inspiration and kindness of these artists, my own perseverance and a lot of luck. The experience was a thrill of a lifetime that I will always treasure,” states Tim. “It is my pleasure to honor them by enriching others with this great music.” Still residing in southwestern Pennsylvania and playing at many local venues and festivals with a repertoire of more than 200 songs, Tim strongly believes in musicians supporting other musicians and cherishes the moments that he shares on stage with local artists and friends.
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