After the first few notes of the Carolina Chocolate Drops's "Cornbread, Butterbeans," I was hooked. "Cornbread, butterbeans and you across the table/eatin' them beans and makin' love as long as I am able . . ." Not only does the song title elicit pleasant memories of one of my favorite comfort meals (and my grandma making it!), but the band's instrumentation is **tight.** It includes banjo picking, fiddling, bones playing (Yes! Band member Dom Flemons plays the rhythm bones! No -- more aptly, he works them bones!) and jug blowin.' And floating above that are beautifully sung harmonies that are emblematic of mountain music and bluegrass.
As the band's name might suggest, its three members are African-American -- Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson. They are making a nice splash with their recently released album titled Genuine Negro Jig. I really like this band all around, but must say that watching Rhiannon Giddens play the fiddle and the banjo is so sweet. She also plays the kazoo! The video below gives you a sampling of the band's talent. If you want more, Genuine Negro Jig is available on iTunes. You have to hear the band's rendition of Blue Cantrell's "Hit 'Em Up Style" (the YouTube video version features the band performing live with Justin Robinson offering up a little human beat box). I also really like "Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine" and the instrumental "Peace Behind the Bridge." Check 'em out.
NAOMI!!! Thank you so much for posting this!! I LOVE Bluegrass! I love anything that has a "fiddle and banjo" in it. One of the things that drew me to Led Zepplin! LOL!
Thank you again! This is awesome! I think that my all-time favorite is "You and Me, and the Devil Makes Three". I do not know who sings it but I love when it comes on Sirius.
Posted by: Lesa Nelson | 05/01/2010 at 07:21 AM
Lesa! I am a bluegrass fan, too. Alison Krauss, Del McCoury and Earl Scruggs (I love the old school "Foggy Mountain Breakdown") are my favorites. I think the song you are thinking about is on the "O, Brother Where Art Thou?" soundtrack performed by Alison Kraus, Emmylou Harris and Gilian Welch. What a trio! That's a good soundtrack. Alison Krauss' "Down to the River to Pray" is just terrific and so is "I'll Fly Away" on that album. Thanks for your comment! Do check out the Chocolate Drops. I think you'll like them. Naomi
Posted by: Naomi | 05/01/2010 at 07:46 AM