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CD Reviews

Jeremy Baum: Lost River Jams
Flying Yak Records, 2002

Keyboardist Jeremy Baum is one of the area’s busiest musicians. He pounds out relentless double-octaves on stage with Soñando. On his cut-down Hammond B-2 organ he tours nationally with The Honky Tonk Gurus, Debbie Davis, and Bill Perry. With his own trio, Baum tears it up nightly from Katonah to Kingston. On his long-awaited solo debut Lost River Jams, he rewards the faithful and sprouts new fans with an irresistible blend of low-down funk, blues shuffle, and Latin surprises.
Baum’s funky originals open with catchy hooks that stick in your head for days. “Take a Walk,” “Stoopid”, and “Oasis Jam” feature Baum or guitarist Chris V. laying down the riff until the ensemble drops in seamlessly. These tracks best capture the group’s live sound, complete with fiery solos shortened just a bit for the recorded versions.

Guest artist Malcolm Gold adds bass—not a standard organ-trio instrument—on these blistering barn burners.

The album beautifully displays the trio’s expansive musical diversity. “The JB Shuffle” swings along in tribute to vintage organ jazz, with Buddy Allen sliding in on tenor sax. On “Goin’ Home,” Baum switches to piano for this warm original ballad. Their version of “Amazing Grace,” as arranged by Baum and Chris V., is practically inspirational. And bluesman Bill Perry, who adds blazing guitar to several tracks, lays down dusky vocals on B.B. King’s classic “Rock Me Baby.”

If that’s not enough, Baum includes several Latin tracks, including “Liberty Street,” a lovely Tony Velez original. (In Soñando, Velez plays tres, the 3/4-size guitar that is a trademark of Spanish music.) For “Liberty Street” Velez plays guitar but returns to tres for “Autumn Leaves,” the Jacques Prevert/Johnny Mercer standard, done here as an upbeat jazz mambo. Drummer Ernie Colon (Pucho and the Latin Soul Brothers) is rock-solid from start to finish, on top of every beat no matter what style. And Baum, a generous bandleader, ends up giving each soloist plenty of room.

Lost River Jams feels like the rhythm of life—a funky caftan woven for anyone to enjoy. Just put it on, and groove.

The Jeremy Baum Trio appears at Oasis Café in New Paltz, Thursday, December 19, 10pm. Join the e-mail list at jeremybaum@earthlink.net.

—Wavy Davy

Five Points Band: Roots and the Spirit
Acacia Music, 2002

Back with its second album, the Five Points Band continues its minimalist fusion of country blues and roots rock with Roots and the Spirit. Robin “The Hammer” Ludwig, Jason “J-Bird” Babcock on drums, and new bassist “Money” Mike Esterson split their time evenly between covers and originals—the trick is, if you don’t know the songs, you can’t tell which is which.

As usual, the band chooses to err on the side of taste and style rather than originality. Songs by Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Willie Johnson, Skip James, Robert Johnson, and Willie Brown blend well with such FPB compositions as “Angel Child,” “Smokin’ Loco,” “J Bird’s Blues,” “TV Preacher,” “Call Me the Hammer,” and “New Special Rider Blues.” The latter owe a heavy debt to Willie Dixon, Howlin’ Wolf, and Robert Johnson, by way of previous blues revivalists like the Rolling Stones. Songs are played loose and lively, the rhythm section creating the perfect backdrop for Ludwig’s slide guitar and Jaggeresque voice. The Five Points Band is a third-generation branch of the blues family tree, and they’ve clearly listened closely to the voices of their elders.

Roots and The Spirit, recorded at The Gallery Studio in New Paltz, will be released nationally on Baby Mack Records this spring. Meanwhile, it’s available at www.fivepointsband.com, or at www.cdbaby.com. You can also pick up a copy at the band’s live shows, of which there are many upcoming. Watch for them December 13 at the Golden Rail Ale House in Newburgh; December 14 at Legends in Woodstock; December 21 at the Hyde Park Brewing Company; December 28 at The Oasis in New Paltz; and December 31 at The Stissing House in Pine Plains. There’s also a live performance planned for the morning of December 13 on WDST-FM; call the station for more information.

—Todd Paul