Jason Ricci — “Behind the Veil” — Gulf Coast Records
Jason Ricci is simply one the best harp players on today’s music scene.
His latest, and very fine album recorded with his band, the Bad Kind, is “Behind the Veil,” and it provides ample evidence of Ricci’s prowess in both its musical excellence and its heady eclecticism.
This edition of the Bad Kind includes Brent Johnson, who replaces John Lisi on guitar, Jack Joshua on bass and vocals, and drummer John Perkins. Singer (and Ricci’s wife) Kaitlin Dibble wrote two of the songs, handles a couple of vocals, as well as backing vocals. Joe Krown guests on piano and Hammond B3, Lauren Mitchell provides backup vocals, and guitarist Joanna Connor shows up on Dibble’s “No Way.” And, of course, Ricci on harp and vocals, as well as songwriter on two tracks.
The album opens with an unusual but elegant waltz, Ricci’s original “Casco Bay,” with a gently swinging harp intro and which gives us the title: “I set sail cross the water dark and black from behind the veil….” Dibble’s background vocals give it a majestic choral feeling.
That’s followed by “5-10-15,” a tough version of the 1952 R&B classic “5-10-15 Hours,” written by Rudy Toombs and recorded by Ruth Brown. Dibble’s vocals with Ricci’s soaring harp solo take no prisoners on this rocking remake.
Ricci says that “5-10-15” was the spark for this entire album: “Singer Kaitlin Dibble has been singing this number for a few years and the wheels in my mind started turning on how to capture it the way I heard it so many times on Bob Murret’s WWOZ show. I love the New Orleans R&B feel and I really think we captured it here thanks to Tony Daigle, Kid Andersen and the band, of course. The whole reason we recorded this CD live in one room was centered around this number.”
That’s really a sweet inspiration!
“Baked Potato” is another Ricci track, an instrumental that gives him a chance to stretch his considerable harp skill. “Cirque du Soleil” is another rolling R&B cut, richly flavored with the sound of Ricci’s current home, New Orleans.
“Wrong Kind of Easy” is a Dibble original, sparkling with her vocals, offering more New Orleans flair. That’s paired in a medley with “Nobody But You,” with a tasty Ricci/Dibble duet. “Ain’t She Fine” is a funky take on the Bobby Rush tune, with strong Ricci vocals.
The dirge-like classic, “St James Infirmary” is eloquently done here, with heartfelt Ricci vocals, and a sensitive guitar solo. Of this track, Ricci says: “This old standard is almost the ‘Mustang Sally’ of New Orleans music, so if I didn’t think we had something really special here I would have never let it on stage – much more this record.” And it is indeed special.
“Why Don’t We Sleep On It” is an enthusiastic vocal romp with Ricci and Dibble trading lines over a sharp guitar solo, adding some B3 power to the mix. Ricci says: “Kate and I were having a rare argument and the band was in need of some more music. So I sat down to write a tune about how much better I would be doing without her and then kept hearing her voice or my own telling me the truth or her side… So I wrote both our parts; she loved it; we made up and had this fun duet. “
“Terrors Of Nightlife” is a powerful ballad, again with Dibble’s tasteful backing phrases completing the ethereal sound. “No Way” is another excellent contribution by Dibble, both writer and singer; her wordplay conjures a potent tapestry of images. “Shipwreck” (“Can I shipwreck on you some night”) rides a stinging guitar behind Ricci’s vocals.
“Hip Hug-Her,” takes the Memphis soul of Booker T. & The M.G.’s. chestnut, adds Ricci’s melodic harp lines over the deep bottom, and rides this session to a rousing close.
This is an excellent Jason Ricci outing, drawing not only on his own formidable skills, but adding an excellent cast around him. Its fresh, authentic sound is a tribute to recording the album live, in one room, as Ricci has noted. An outstanding session.
Here’s an interesting recent interview with Ricci on Blues Gr, the Michael Limnios blog.
“St. James Infirmary” from the album:
Tracklist & credits:
Casco Bay – Jason Ricci
5 -10 -15 – Rudy Toombs
Baked Potato – Jason Ricci / Stachurski Shawn Dustin
Cirque du Soleil – Jack Joshua
Wrong Kind of Easy / Nobody But You – Kaitlin Dibble (Wrong Kind Of Easy) – Walter Spriggs (Nobody But You)
Ain’t She Fine – Bobby Rush
St. James Infirmary – Irving Mills / Don Redman
Why Don’t We Sleep On It – Jason Ricci (Lyrics & Music) / Brent Johnson (Music)
Terrors Of Nightlife – Dax Riggs
No Way – Kaitlin Dibble
Shipwreck – Jeff Turmes
Hip Hug-Her – Booker T. & The M.G.’s. (Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Al Jackson Jr., Booker T. Jones)
Blues Roadhouse 