Album Review for Libby Rae Watson & Bert Deivert – She Shimmy – Released via Hard Danger Records.
Now here’s an interesting album, a collaboration between two mighty fine acoustic blues musicians. Deivert hails from Boston, Mass, but has now lived in Sweden for almost forty years with many albums behind him including a few laid-down together with Eric Bibb. Watson, on the other hand, is based in the blues heartland of Mississippi. Together, they mix well with a truly delightful blues vibe.
Vocals are shared between the pair and Deivert features on both guitar and mandolin – his preferred instrument these days and one he champions fiercely and masterfully in the blues world generally.
Watson is a fine traditional acoustic picker who learned much of her craft from the late, legendary Sam Chatmon of the Mississippi Sheiks.
On She Shimmy, they are joined by the ever-wonderful harp-master, Charlie Musselwhite at times, while Eric Bibb also lends his weight at times giving the release a wonderful downtown, back-porch flavour and feel.
In truth, this is an excellent offering with fiery picking, good vocal matches and delivery and great material. Tracks range from I Want You To Know, That’s All Right to Whiskey Blues.
Overall, this is top-dollar acoustic blues from a pairing that was booked for this year’s New Orleans Blues & Jazz festival but were trapped in the COVID-19 lockdown, unable to attend with a festival that was cancelled. Give this one a listen; hopefully, they’ll be working together again before much longer as an acoustic blues pairing well worthy of discovery.
Album Review by Iain Patience
For More Info – Libby Rae
And – Bert Deivert
