Acoustic Disc 58
Livin’ With the Blues finds veteran fiddler Vassar Clements supported by a host of musicians
who can't keep up — and Bob Brozman. Vassar isn't the world's best-loved
fiddle player for his flash or his technique but for his stark
individuality, his inability to approach a tune predictably. He may not
play the prettiest solo, but you'll always know it's Vassar. Umpteen years
into the game, he's still wildly expressive, challenging, and unique. It's
a shame then that of the eleven other players on the disc, only Brozman
brings a similar originality.
Thrice, the two play as a duo (once again with
a harmonica), and the results make you wish the ten other players would just
go away and leave these two alone. The disc is littered with staid,
anesthetized, and ultimately forgettable vocal numbers. (Special mention
should be made for a predominately instrumental duo with David Jacob-Strain,
whose guitar work seems to bring out the best in Vassar.) Beneath and
between, you'll find Vassar's fiddle and Brozman's "regular' and baritone
tricone Nationals working hard to pull the load. Brozman's moments on the
Stax standard "Green Onions" are particularly exquisite, but the original
"Fiddlin' and Faddlin'" finds the pair at their best. Vassar swaggers and
swings along while Brozman literally smacks his National around. The two
work so well together that the remaining tracks (barring "Rube's Blues" with
Jacob-Strain) become skippable nuisances as you sit there, crossing your
fingers for a Clements/ Brozman Duos record.
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