CeDell Davis is One of the Last Men Standing
Sad Songs Keep the Devil Away
Posted On August 11, 2015
Three things I love most in this world are catfish, cornbread, and the Delta Blues in no formal order. And I’m of the school of thought that CeDell Davis’ oft out of tune, butter knife fretted guitar playing and perpetual gift of intrinsic lyrical jibber-jabber are pure genius. A man that simply refuses to ever call it a proverbial day at the tender age of 88 years young truly deserves the title of Last Man Standing. As much true in its literary sense as it is tongue in cheek due to the fact that Davis has been wheelchair bound since the latter parts of 1957. That being said CeDell Davis and company had me sold from the opening track, “Catfish & Cornbread”.
Quit is a word that ceases to exist in CeDell Davis’ book. Crippled (only on the outside) by polio at the age of 10 while just grasping a stranglehold on the guitar as an outlet, Davis resorted to whatever method he could muster to play. Opting for a shiny utensil from his Mother’s silverware drawer and fierce desire to make music, Davis made those strings sing in a fashion pleasing to the blues purists yet adhering to no sonic path well-travelled. Quite the opposite, Davis ventured cosmic paths not yet even peered into much less travelled et al. Who’d of thought folks would be emulating his style with kitchenware some 80 years later. Davis rode his inner Blues right through his polio-stricken frame and out through his extremities like an ethereal lightning rod-emitting strength and spirit in roman candle-esque explosions from his frontal lobe.
Last Man Standing finds Davis outside of trusty Fat Possum Records label-wise and backed by a talent rich pool of musicians. Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees/Mad Season fame on the drum throne, Stu Cole on the bass, the great Jimbo Mathus (who has an amazing record out this year too) on guitar, and inspirational father/son axe wielder’s Greg and Zakk Binns. As a newer father myself, it’s refreshing and inspiring to both hear and see the Binns family fighting the “good fight”, a boy and his proud “Big Papa” making a joyful noise behind one of the most identifiable voices in all the Delta Blues. The Binns oversee all facets of CeDell Davis’ well-being including his day to day care whilst on the road out on tour and at home in Arkansas. Just a beautiful story all the way around and thank the good Lord for people out to help Blues legends get what they rightfully deserve instead of help themselves to the dirty dollar they might receive in return. That’s the definition of the “good fight”, in case you were inquisitive.
Recorded at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, MS at the same studio used to record Davis during his Fat Possum days, built and still run by renowned sound engineer and label man, Bruce Watson, Last Man Standing is a step up in the production department. Not at all throwing dirt on previous releases, it’s just that you can’t gather this many highest caliber musicians together around Davis’ trademark vocals and style and not bring your ‘A’ game. They collectively brought A++ on this record. It’s rumored Watson may have sparked the idea of the album name. 13 musical gems coated in Delta dust and 3 spoken word stories over some funked up back beats: Dr. Ross the Harmonica Boss and Tunica, MS, how harp legend Sonny “Boy” Williamson was a natural born thief and would rob you blind while you slept, and CeDell’s favorite topic…Purty Women. He’s truly one of my heroes and this offering easily one of my top-five albums of 2015. Don’t sleep on the Delta Blues, they’re alive and well, and wise nonetheless: Leo “Bud” Welch, RL Boyce, Little Joe Ayers, LC Ulmer, Jimmie “Duck” Holmes, Cedric Burnside, Gary Burnside, Kent Burnside, Duwayne Burnside, Kenny Brown, Eddie Cusic, David Kimbrough, Robert Kimbrough, Kinney Kimbrough, Bill Abel, all kicking ass and taking names in their wake. God Bless, Gentlemen, Long Live the Blues.
(+words: scott zuppardo+)
**It has come to my attention after writing this and literally listening to Mr. Cusic for the better part of the day, that he has passed this morning 8/11/15. Our condolences to his family and friends. Rest peacefully, Mr. Cusic. Thank you.
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