Otis Taylor - Contraband 2012

Washington Post

.... Throughout it all, Taylor's captivating arpeggios on guitar and banjo underline his gruff baritone. He repeats his blues mantras to tell the stories of newly freed slaves, love-hungry men, a World War I veteran, spurned lovers and Jim Crow victims. Somehow it all comes together in a cohesive but utterly distinctive sound that gets the point across with a minimum of lyrics.

1. The Devil's Gonna Lie
2. Yell Your Name
3. Look To the Side
4. Romans Had Their Way
5. Blind Piano Teacher
6. Banjo Boogie Blues
7. 2 or 3 Times
8. Contraband Blues
9. Lay On My Delta Bed
10. Your 10 Dollar Bill
11. Open These Bars
12. Yellow Car, Yellow Dog
13. Never Been To Africa
14. I Can See You're Lying

Otis Taylor - The Black Banjo Project

Ten Million Slaves

He is a multi-instrumentalist whose talents include the guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, and vocals. Taylor's eldest daughter, Cassie, is featured on many of his releases. She also plays several instruments including bass and vocals.

By 1977, though, he “retired” from music and had a successful antiques business. He returned to music when he was nearly 50, and having immersed himself in the history of the folklore of the blues, he traced the migration of both the blues and the banjo from its roots in Africa to its “birth” in the American south.

His music is uncompromising and fierce. High octane stuff.

When Negroes Walked the Earth
1. Bowlegged Charlie
2. Country Boy, Girl
3. 500 Roses
4. Cuckoo - Otis Taylor, Traditional, Traditional
5. 12 String Mile
6. They Don't Want Me
7. Cold at Midnight
8. Tight Wire Blues
9. Naggin' Woman Blues
10. 9th Cavalry Blues
11. Tight Wire Blues
12. Pretty Polly - Otis Taylor, Traditional, Traditional





Amazon UK
Otis' Amazon page

New Release - Otis Taylor - Pentatonic Wars Love Songs

I have been meaning to post something about Otis Taylor for a while now. I enjoy his music a great deal and want to introduce him to new fans.

I really like his music because as one reviewer stated;

No one ever accused blues singer/composer/multi-instrumentalist Otis Taylor of overindulging in the brighter and happier aspects of the human condition. His songs are often peopled with characters whose emotional landscape - no matter how raw or dark - is laid bare for all to experience, and the story is often less than pretty.

And his new release gives me such a chance to introduce the raw blues power that he delivers.


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Amazon.com's product review states;

Taylor's new recording, Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs, throws a light on the complexities of love in all of its forms. In addition to Taylor's trademark haunting vocals and simple but stirring guitar riffs - a combination often referred to as trance blues - the album also features guest appearances by Irish blues-rock guitarist Gary Moore (previously heard on Taylor's Definition of a Circle in 2007) and jazz/hip-hop pianist Jason Moran.

Within these songs of love are tales of tragedy and loss, misunderstanding and deception - but often a glimmer of hope as well. "That's just my nature," says Taylor. "I may write love songs, but they aren't always going to be happy and pretty. Look at songs like `Teen Angel' or `Ode To Billy Joe.' Those are love songs, but they aren't exactly happy. So why shouldn't my songs be considered love songs?"

"This is a different kind of endeavor for me," he says of the new recording. "I found myself saying, `What can I do after making a banjo album? What will people want to listen to?' My answer was love songs. I'm doing things here that I didn't have the opportunity to do on previous albums, things that people wouldn't normally expect from me, compared to what I've done so far. I think it's one of my best works because it has such unusual elements."

Otis Taylor @Amazon.com