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Jalopypaint
RONNY ELLIOTT
(Blue Heart)
On his ninth solo album in about as many years, Tampa's Ronny Elliott triumphantly marches ahead with another enthralling collection of bizarre anecdotes and raw confessionals. The 60-year-old's deep voice sounds superbly convincing as he talks and sings his way through songs that clobber the listener with a refreshing dose of lived-in authenticity. As on past recordings, Elliott judiciously accompanies himself on mostly guitar and mandolin, with support from a cast of Tampa Bay's finest offering spot-on rhythm work, fiddle, harmonica, sax and clarinet.
Elliott's first studio effort since 2005's Valentine Roadkill, which British music mag Mojo honored in its Top 10 Americana albums of the year, Jalopypaint starts with the anti-HUAC broadside "Red Rumor Blues." The song builds slowly, settling into an atmospheric country-rock groove over which the singer vilifies the government culprits, honors the blacklisted, and identifies the national mindset that led to the shameful witch hunts of the 1950s.
Granted, it's familiar territory for the singer/songwriter, but few can transform a page from A People's History of the United States into an agreeable tune -- something Elliott's unapologetically excelled at for years. He goes as far as titling Jalopypaint's second number "History Lesson," but rather than set the record straight, he serves up a delightfully lusty, elliptical homage to Marilyn Monroe and all the other kinky thrills of his adolescence. To a steady drumbeat, mandolin, guitar and back-porch fiddling, Elliott revels in lines like: "They don't make dirty movies like that anymore/ A well-hung hero and a big-hearted whore."
On the album's hardest rocker, "When Garlits Raced Malone," Elliott recounts in vivid detail watching Tampa-born drag racing legend Big Daddy Don Garlits battle rival Art Malone in the early 1960s. "Slaves of Gravity" -- another up-tempo number laced with sweet fiddle and co-producer Steve Connelly's fluid guitar licks -- features sing-along lyrics about falling for witchy women and booze.
All the songs on Jalopypaint are new except for "Great Train Robbery." Elliott co-wrote it in 1966 while in the band Your Local Bear. Rewritten for the sake of historical accuracy, it offers a poignant yet grim portrait of the James-Younger Gang.
Elliott closes the album with a tender love song, melting steel guitar proving the perfect counterpart for the singer's ragged but right vocal. "When I sell my memoirs for millions of dollars," sings the rock 'n' roll lifer who's shared stages with everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Rufus Wainwright, "I'll spend it all on you."
Jalopypaint shows that Elliott's gift for engaging the listener with smartly crafted stories, lectures and romantic pleas has not diminished. Whether recalling his favorite pinup or bashing McCarthyism, he manages to entertain in a most gratifying way. Jalopypaint's national release date is Tues., Jan. 15 and can be ordered at ronnyelliott.com. 4 stars --Wade Tatangelo
Cyrus Plays Elvis
CYRUS CHESTNUT
(KOCH )
From the first funky notes of the opening track, "Houndog," it's readily apparent that pianist Cyrus Chestnut is having fun on this collection of Elvis Presley tunes. Fun, or joy, or a sense of celebration is often in short supply when it comes to piano/bass/drums albums, or on pretty much any contemporary jazz album, for that matter. "Houndog" rolls along, evoking the crossover jazz of the '60s by the likes of Ramsey Lewis, Gene Harris and Cannonball Adderley. Chestnut even breaks the tune down in the middle to play a few handy R&B clichés. As is his wont, the pianist brings a variety of feels to his interpretations of Presley classics: wistful and Guaraldi-esque on "Love Me Tender;" pensive on "In the Ghetto;" stately (and subtly Latin) on "Suspicious Minds." Chestnut has his moments of remarkable fleet-fingeredness, but chops never get in the way of feeling. His only miscue was bringing in guest saxophonist Mark Gross, whose bland playing on "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Don't" lends a patina of smooth jazz. Like Elvis, Chestnut has been deeply influenced by blues, gospel and country, and he puts it all on display in this winning set. 3.5 stars --Eric Snider
COMMENTS
RE: Ronny Elliott's triumphant new CD
Posted by Jeff on 02.07.08 @ 02:59 AM
GO out and purchase 2 copies of Jalopypaint