by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
Over the years, Charlie Musselwhite’s legend has grown in importance. The man, his harmonica mastery, and songwriting skill have propelled this righteous blues cat into icon name recognition. He has done it all, he has been everywhere, he has played with anyone who is anyone, and he has continued to release hit albums. At age 62, when most road dogs have left the gypsy lifestyle, Charlie stays on the road bringing his original music to the people. Today, Charlie is touring to support his new CD, Delta Hardware–a seminal work of deep soul searching-- a tribute to New Orleans’ post Katrina aftermath.
So when I heard that Charlie was performing at Café 11 in St. Augustine I traveled down there to catch his set. Inside Café 11’s intimate setting, the place was packed when I arrived–standing room only, where Charlie launched his set with his red hot touring band. He performed songs from Delta Hardware and a cross-section of his massive repertoire of mostly original material. Of course, Charlie is recognized as a master harmonica player, but he is also a guitarist, singer, and savvy songwriter, who writes about a variety of subjects set to diverse grooves.
Delta Hardware features Black Water, Charlie’s haunting tribute to New Orleans. The song has a killer groove, like a serpent rising from the cesspool of Katrina’s flood waters. The other songs on the album are keepers with infectious hooks and Charlie’s gritty voice bringing it all back home with soulful clarity. Charlie delivers his version of the blues further out, that is, music with feeling that transcends the limited concept of twelve bar blues.
More significantly, Charlie is a exceptional songwriter who, like Bob Dylan, keeps his style of music alive with new material that is both topical and soulful, Yes, Charlie has jammed with many famous musicians and carved out his niche in blues history as the grand master of harmonica, but to me, his songwriting keeps him in the forefront of modern blues.
“Live and let live...because church is out!” Charlie sings on Church is Out. Yes, each song on Delta Hardware presents a different catchy groove. From the traditions of Mississippi delta blues to Eric Clapton’s modern rock blues, Charlie remains a leader in melding roots’ genres into his own distinct style. In many respects, Delta Hardware may be Charlie’s best album to date. It encapsulates his long career into a condensed collection of ten songs each one of which is a classic. Hey, I put my money where my mouth is, as I write this piece I’m downloading Delta Hardware through Rhapsody to be a prominent part of my blues collection.
At Café 11, Charlie and Company sounded great, with a perfect mix. As, I made my way to the front to take photos, I noticed the audience was an eclectic bunch, from old hippies, bikers to young people. Charlie was wailing on harmonica using a variety of sounds, from slide guitar like tones to gritty blues licks. His voice sounded clear and seasoned, like fine wine. Since most of the original greats of blues have passed, Charlie keeps the blues modern by moving it into new modes and grooves. There is never a sameness when listening to Charlie. His material is full of surprises. His music never sounds the same.
“My music comes from my heart,” Charlie said on his website www.charliemusselwhite.com Clearly, Charlie speaks the truth. His Café 11 set exuded soul and professionalism. Charlie’s lead guitarist was smoking, inspired by being on stage with the master. Then, when I consider what Charlie’s known for–his harmonica playing, he gets tones from this simple instrument that no one else can duplicate. Then on Just a Feeling, its relentless descending scale hits me in the solar plexis with penetrating force. Charlie is singing about unrequited love on You’ve Been Gone Too Long. Ah, yes the road is never ending. Charlie lives moving forward and the world is his address. “Good bye baby, I hope we meet again some day... but you’ve been gone too long.” Oh yeah, Charlie is speaking for the “invisible ones”-- the forgotten poor who are “the invisible ones left outside.” Amen, church is out. Charlie Musselwhite just preached the gospel.
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