South meets north! Legendary New Orleans musicians Camile Baudoin and Reggie Scanlan (of the Radiators) team up with Twin Cities blues giants Dave “Snaker” Ray and Tony “Little Sun” Glover (the “bluer” two thirds of Koerner, Ray & Glover) for a live acoustic blues record that gives you the chills it’s so good. Here, the Rockers recorded tunes from both ends of the Mississippi, like “Everybody’s Going for the Money,” by John Koerner, and the title track, written in part by New Orleans’ legendary Dave Bartholomew. Also included are blues-laden versions of old favorites like “Cry to Me” and “Mississippi Kid.” Highlights are unnamable since the whole of the record is a gem, dripping with Ray’s chilling vocals, Glover’s intense harp work, and Baudoin’s guitar licks, pulled together by Scanlan’s bass. The conglomerate comes out just like you think it should from these genius veterans—easy.
By the Water was recorded live in Minnesota in April, 1998 at a private afternoon party and a gig at St. Paul’s Turf Club later that same evening, yet, judging from the quality of the music, you’d think it was a well-rehearsed long-term project. Those who witnessed the recording know better. Karl Bremer writes in the liner notes, “…it was like tributaries flowing together to form a new river. The songs rolled forth in swirls and eddies, cutting a deep channel from Chicago to the Delta and beyond to New Orleans. Through riffles and pools, the tunes meandered off into the backwaters, bayous, and bottoms to explore the tangled roots of American blues.”
I have long since maintained that the hallmark of a great artist is not only the beauty of what he shows his public, but also the ease with which he does this. By the Water epitomizes my belief. Nothing on this record sounds practiced, and no one seems to try all that hard, but somehow the final product is just perfect. An audience recording complete with background chatter, you put this record in your player, and out comes the uncut sound of a good old time. It is a rare treat to hear Baudoin and Scanlan lay back from Rads-style rock’n’roll drive and join Ray and Glover in making music that you play on your back porch, by the water, with a few cold beers and the right company.
