George Hector’s Son Jim Amazed by Jackie Washington
I called Jim Hector in November about a matter not music related but found him still excited by a TV concert he’d seen days before. Jim is one of the late George Hector’s sons, NB’s legendary banjo man, “Had I heard of Jackie Washington?” he asked.
“The other night there was this guy Jackie Washington singing a song I never heard anyone else but my father sing..Save The Bones For Henry Jones. I never thought I’d hear it again!” Jim is a blacksmith who travels the province, when able, shoeing horses at riding stables, race tracks, and at many private owners barns. And although semi-retired due to a severe back problem he still manages to keep active. In fact, for decades Jim has been almost as popular with equestrians as his father was by music fans.
“Mose Scarlett,” I said. “There’s a guy with a white beard usually with them, too…Ken Whiteley. But Jackie’s the only one, I guess, owns a razor.“ “He was there too,” Jim said.
“They record for Borealis,” I said, “Canada’s leading folk and blues label. They’ve CDs out solo and as a trio.” Jim’s enthusiasm rekindled mine. This trio of folk-blues singing musicians are so infectious, I’ve long intended reviewing their CDs but never, until now, found a window to do it.
Jackie Washington has recorded two CDs at the Borealis Toronto studios.
One titled Midnight Choo Choo includes such vintage favourites as: Street Of Dreams, Little Dutch Mill, Dinah, Triscadecaphobia, Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go (With Friday On Saturday Night?), Alabamy Bound, Save The Bones, the title song and ten more that, probably have haunted your dreams for years!
And, although Jackie does all lead vocals, his trio partners contributed their multi- talents along with 14 other musicians including J.P. Cormier on fiddle. His other Borealis CD, Keeping Out of Mischief, is a 19-track album, also, that includes such nostalgic hits as: At Sundown, Girl of My Dreams, Foolish Questions, Blue Turning Grey Over You, Drifting,Old Folks, Take The ‘A’ Train, the title song, a powerful version of Everybody Will Be Happy Over There, and 11 more. Ken backs him on guitars, mandolin, organ, piano, harmonies, Mose guitar, and another 13 musicians that include Nashville’s sensational dobroist, Jerry Douglas.
Mose Scarlett CD
Mose Scarlett is one of a kind! His self-taught guitar finger-picking defies categorization or comparison. Dubbed ‘stride guitar’ by experts, it’s so syncopated it beguiles. And over and under it slides one of the most unique, emotional bass baritone voices you’ll ever hear. It can reach to the basement of the vocal registry, yet come up floors so effortlessly without a pause.
Mose’s Borealis Precious Seconds CD, is a 15 song album running a time line from 1912’s the I Used To Love You But It’s All Over, to 1917’s Darktown Strutter’s Ball, 1918’s Somebody Stole My Gal, 1921’s Anytime, 1925’s Bye Bye Blues, 1927’s My Blue Heaven, 1935’s Lulu’s Back In Town, up to 1975’s Don’t Go Lookin’ For Trouble and Mose’s own catchy Muscatel Tale. In between are wedged Sweet Lorraine and four others including the longest version of He’s In The Jail House Now, I’ve heard.
Ken Whiteley CDS
Ken Whiteley is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording history is long, both as a solo artist, dueting with brother Chris, in trio with Scarlett and Washington, or with Gospel choirs. Ken plays mandolin, piano, ukulele, washtub and acoustic bass but the magic instrument in his hands is his National steel body guitar with its haunting dobro sound. He has a wonderful natural singing voice, that he can turn into a forceful gospel or blues instrument. Of three solo CDs he’s issued on Borealis my favourite is Musical Mystery Machines, a project of Mariposa In Schools that matched him with children performers to create learning programs for school curricula. Ken uses only his natural voice on this CD, enhanced by intriguing sound effects and a thrilling child chorus.
Another, Gospel Music Makes Me Feel Alright, recorded Live, into which he poured his soul. is emotional. You can feel the prophetic fervor of a Billy Graham in his voice on such songs as Let My Life Be A Prayer, the title song, Voice Of The Lord and Wilderness. But Traveling On sung in his natural voice is my favourite.
The Trio ‘s Borealis CDs
The trio’s three Borealis CDs … Where Old Friends Meet, We’ll Meet Again and Setting On A Rainbow…are the most beautiful and captivating folk blues I’ve heard. Their blended talents make rarities like Lady be Good, Mood Indigo, When You’re Smiling, Wait ‘Til The Sun Shines Nelly and dozens more, sparkle like new, take your breath away.
To learn more visit www.borealisrecords.com or phone 1-877-530-4288. Check out Ken Whiteley’s new One World Dance CD, too.
Guitarist Mark Hill’s Up Home Tonight audition in the mid-80’s probably still exists in the dark recesses of some ATV film vault. What is not recorded on it is went on behind the camera such as that query by producer/ director Barry Bramhill.
It’s that rare dexterity of mind and hand that Mark exhibits playing his interpretation of Moulin Rouge, its fingered melody with the thumb picking that sounds like an overdub so exquisite I nearly forget how beautiful Zsa Zsa Gabor looked singing it in the original 1954 movie of the same name. It’s one of twelve instrumentals on his new CD A Mark In Time he took copies of to the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society (CAAS) Convention at Sheraton Music City Hotel near Opryland this week, July 9-12.
