Blues Roadhouse

Charlie Barath — “Issaquena Getaway” — Self-Release

I was going to write an entire blog post praising “Issaquena Getaway,” the new album by blues harpman Charlie Barath.

Then I found this quote by blues — and harmonica — legend Charlie Musselwhite, which says pretty much what I was going to say.

“Charlie Barath is a friend of mine. He’s not only a really good guy but a fine harmonica player. Charlie has recorded a heck of a good blues album right here in good ol’ Clarksdale, Mississippi. You won’t be disappointed. Take my advice—get ‘Issaquena Getaway’.”

Barath is indeed a fine harp player. And this is indeed a fine album. The music has a down-home, laid-back feel that speaks well of the blues, and a handful of related songs smartly created and wisely chosen for this session.

The band is a small, tight-knit group that sounds relaxed and informal, and doesn’t waste a note in backing Barath, whose fluid harp work is lean without being mean — its power lies in its subtlety and ability to swing effortlessly between styles. His vocals flow like a musical conversation.

Barath handles the harp and vocals, and his bandmates include guitarists Johnny Burgin and Andrew Sherer; keyboardist Mark Yacovone; bassist Mike Law; drummer Danny Banks of the John Nemeth Blue Dreamers; and guest vocalist Shari Richards of Pittsburgh, where Barath could be found until his recent move to Oklahoma. The album features twelve songs by Barath, with two intriguing covers.

They open the album with a relaxed blues shuffle, “I Gets Around,” with an easy-rolling beat featuring Burgin on lead guitar and Barath’s harp swinging in the break, and his wry vocals on display: “Oh I ain’t got no job, but I stay busy all night long / I keep myself occupied with wine women and song.”

“The Weekend Song” is joyfully upbeat with swinging piano from Yacovone: “Well I like my job, but I love it when it’s done.”
Then “Waitin’ For The Queen” takes a deeper blues groove blues behind a swampy beat from Banks. “Cuban Getaway” is a swinging Latin instrumental written by Ike Turner and Joe Josea (who was actually Joe Bihari of the Bihari brothers, who owned multiple record labels). Similar flavors return later in “Can I Have This Dance?”

“I Might Fall In Love” works a snaky midtempo blues groove and the possibilities of romance: “Last thing I wanna do is to fall in love with you / But I just might.” Barath leads with his harp on “The Best Thing You Can Do,” featuring swinging guitar by Burgin and piano by Yacovone, all with a meaningful message: “Life is full of choices / They affect more than just you / So do the right thing, it’s the best thing.” The traditional “Brass Monkey” chills out over his cold, cold woman: “You’re so cold baby, brass monkey gonna stay home tonight.”

“Just Wanna Walk With You” is an upbeat take on an old-fashioned blues theme about his fine woman: “Ever since I first saw you honey, I just wanna walk with you,” with a delicious harp solo. Other highlights include a 6 1/2-minute harp-fueled version of “Sugar,” Stanley Turrentine’s 1971 jazz instrumental, “That Wasn’t Me,” “Renee,” “I’m Gonna Let You,” and “Honey I Got No Money.”

“Issaquena Getaway,” recorded in Clarksdale, Miss., grows from its Delta blues roots and offers the fruits from many of its musical branches. Charlie Barath has harvested some of these fruits to create this gem of an album. It’s filled with an upbeat attitude, joyous music and a refreshing old-fashioned vitality. It’s also a great album!

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If you wanted to take an Issaquena getaway, where would you go? Issaquena County is a small, sparsely populated county deep in the Delta on the western edge of Mississippi, bordered on the west by the river itself, possibly still shrouding the mysteries of the blues. But there’s also an Issaquena Avenue farther to the north, in Clarksdale. Either way, take this music along for the ride

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Here’s a recent interview with Charlie Barath on BluesGr by Michael Limnios 

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“I Might Fall In Love” from the album:

Tracklist:
01. I Gets Around
02. The Weekend Song
03. Waitin’ For The Queen
04. Cuban Getaway by Ike Turner and Joe Josea
05. I Might Fall In Love
06. The Best Thing You Can Do
07. Brass Monkey traditional blues
08. Just Wanna Walk With You
09. That Wasn’t Me
10. Renee
11. Can I Have This Dance?
12. I’m Gonna Let You
13. Sugar
14. Honey I Got No Money

Musicians – Johnny Burgin & Andrew Sherer (guitars), Mark Yacovone (piano/organ), Mike Law (bass), Danny Banks (drums) & Shari Richards (vocals).

Performers by track:

1. Lead – Johnny Burgin (JB)
2. Lead – Andrew Sherer (AS)
3. Lead – JB
   4.1st Lead – AS, 2nd Lead – JB
4. Rhythm – JB, Fills – AS
5. Lead – AS
6. Lead – JB
   WEBLINKS
7. Rhythm – JB & AS
8. Lead (call and response w/ Harp) – JB
9. Lead – JB
10. Lead – JB
11. Fills & Lead – JB
12. Lead – AS
13. Lead – JB