The Skinny
Nugene
Guitarist/singer/songwriter Siegal journeyed from his home country of England to the Hill Country of north Mississippi seeking to alter his musical consciousness – and what a trip it was.
The 2011 British Blues Awards male vocalist of the year convened at late producer/pianist Jim Dickinson’s Zebra Ranch in Coldwater with the “youngest sons”: Garry Burnside (guitar/bass), the youngest son of R.L.; Robert Kimbrough (guitar), of the late Junior; Rodd Bland (drums), of Bobby “Blue”; and Cody Dickinson (drums/bass/Woogie Board), of Jim.
“I was at NAMM (the National Association of Music Merchants convention) in L.A. in January 2010 and attended a charity show as a guest of St. Blues Guitars,” Nugene Records head Richard Pavitt told Good New Music via e-mail. “Cody Dickinson was also there as a guest of St. Blues (who make his electric washboard – the Woogie Board). We had never met before but got talking about the roots music scene. Cody is hugely passionate about music and a very engaging person. While we were talking an idea came into my mind: ‘I wonder what would happen if I put Ian Siegal and Cody together.’
“It was at a time when I wanted Ian to do something different and to some extent take Ian out of his comfort zone and challenge him. Both Ian and I are fans of the Hill Country sound – Burnside, Kimbrough, all those guys – and I could see that influence working for Ian. Cody is a very fine musician but he also loves working as a producer, so I suggested to Cody that Ian go over to Memphis and meet Cody, hang out and see if the creative sparks fly – which they did! That was in May 2010. Ian went back in August (he and Cody are perpetually busy – the hottest month of the year was the only time they could both do it!). Cody recruited the musicians, none of whom had ever heard of Ian!”
Siegal likely meshed with the musicians (dubbed the Youngest Sons during the sessions) in part because Cody had experience working with another accomplished slide guitarist: Luther Dickinson, Cody’s brother and North Mississippi Allstars bandmate.
The seven new Siegal originals on “The Skinny” include the slow-burning title cut (featuring guest Alvin Youngblood Hart on rhythm and second lead guitar); the fife-and-drum number “Devil’s in the Detail” (with Andre Turner on fife, carrying on in the tradition of his late grandfather Othar); and the praiseful “Hopper (Blues for Dennis),” with a guitar-solo finale that cruises off like a chopper down the highway.
Garry Burnside contributes two tracks, the earnest “Picnic Jam” and the unplugged “Garry’s Night Out,” sharing vocals with Siegal on the former and singing lead on the latter.
Rounding out the excellent set is a pair of disparate covers rendered homogenous by Siegal and the boys: swamp rocker Tony Joe White’s wah-wah showcase “Stud Spider” and one of Dallas Frazier’s mid-60s compositions for pre-ballad-mode Charlie Rich, “Moonshine Minnie.”
Tracks
1. The Skinny
2. Stud Spider
3. Master Plan
4. Hound Dog In The Manger
5. Picnic Jam
6. Natch’l Low (Coolin’ Board)
7. Better Than Myself
8. Devil’s In The Detail
9. Moonshine Minnie
10. Garry’s Nite Out
11. Hopper (Blues For Dennis)
Total time: 55:03
External links
artist’s website
amazon.com
