Jim Dickinson – Fishing With Charlie And Other Selected Readings
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Posted On January 1, 2007
Fishing With Charlie shows another side of Jim Dickinson, as the veteran producer/sideman steps away from his piano for an album of spoken-word recordings. A natural raconteur in interviews, Dickinson brings a warmth and intimacy to his readings in a voice that captures the listener’s attention.
He conveys a sense of drama with rhythmic cadences on “The Congo”, by Vachel Lindsay, reflecting his theatrical training in college. “Tom’s Closing Speech”, from The Glass Menagerie, captures the frustration of the character in Tennessee Williams’ classic tragedy.
Musical themes are explored in “Weary Blues” by Langston Hughes and “Coming Through Slaughter”, a fictional biography of jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden. The title track, drawn from an essay by Larry Brown, is the album’s emotional centerpiece, a nine-minute reflection on the life and death of a friend gone too soon. Fishing With Charlie is a revelation, adding storyteller to Dickinson’s impressive resume.
