Blues Society of Western PA - Newsletter

“For me, it’s about the feeling, and connecting with people. Me and my band play real blues, loaded with feeling. And it ain’t about technique either, it’s about truth, connecting to the truth and communicating with people. I call this ‘music from the heart’.” ~ Charlie Veteran performer, Charlie Musselwhite, was last at the Rex Theater in the early spring of 2009. His crisp shirt, combed back hair and lean stature belied the friendliness that this man oozes. His smile mesmerizes and his low profile demeanor welcomes you to a performance that is easy and natural but packed solid with great harp playing. The combination of his smooth, resounding music and his smooth, bluesy voice definitely leaves an impact. Just when one would expect that the “smoothness” would soon become boring or tiresome, Charlie revs up the crowd for a grooving good time. After each show, Charlie welcomes everyone over to say hello. …Even if you did not buy a CD or shirt, he takes the time to speak with each and every one of the fans in line. You walked away knowing that you had just spoken with a man that truly loved the music and loved sharing it. After seeing the live, stage performance, Charlie’s live album does not disappoint. You feel like you are right back there in the audience…listening to his quips and hearing why he wrote some of the songs.

Right out of the starting gate on the first cut of “Rough Dried,” it is a smooth, rocking harp song that draws the listener in and makes you want more. Charlie does not throw tunes at you but shares them with power, pleasure and a comfortable zing. “River Hip Mama” shows his driven harp interludes. “Long, Lean, Lanky Mama” was a fun, upbeat satire on life. “Wild Woman” was a slow, smoking “blues burner.” Movin’ and Groovin,’ a swing song, highlighted his ability to produce “trumpet like sounds” on his harp. He sang about long, tall, lean, spirited women. His title cut, “Rough Dried Woman” talked about a woman who left everything half done. There was definitely a lot of livin’ behind those songs.

My favorite selection on the CD was an upbeat, bluesy Latin song, “Feel It In Your Heart.” This selection was based on a type of North Brazilian music known as Farhall. Charlie explained that it was a fun type of music that the Brazilians sing in the streets, on the corners, and at flea markets. The younger Brazilian Blues men have started to “mix” Farhall up with blues. With a chuckle, Charlie lamented that when the Portuguese translated their “mix” of music that it simply meant, “My baby left me.” He then added, “No, ...Blues is world wide.” (I replayed that song several times. I moved the furniture, started to salsa and wore myself out. Actually, I thought of booking a flight to Brazil.) Some of the words of Charlie’s Farhall song were: ‘Feel it in your heart’… ‘They can jump to it in the streets and rock the dance halls’… ‘Music is meant for all, music can bring you together’… ‘Farhall is played from the heart and is to put a smile on your face.’ This was certainly unexpected listening treat.
(An after thought-Charlie, you are too focused on all of those long, lean, lanky and ‘leavin’ ya’ women. No wonder you sing the blues. There are a lot of short legged, stubby women out there that can be just as cantankerous and challenging.) Seriously, it is a fun CD and very enjoyable from the beginning until the end.