Sweet sounds coming to Palmer

March 4, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - World traveler and Grammy-nominated bluesman Eric Bibb is bringing his considerable musical repertoire to Palmer for a one-night-only performance at Vagabond Blues on March 10.

Bibb comes from a family of accomplished musicians, and his respect for the legends who have gone before him is said to be apparent in his own music.

Bibb began playing steel guitar at age 7. At age 11, he had a childhood conversation with Bob Dylan and the subject of guitar playing came up. Dylan advised the young Bibb to "Keep it simple, forget all that fancy stuff."

Bibb played music in Greenwich Village during the heyday of the folk revival but eventually settled in Stockholm, Sweden, where he immersed himself in pre-war blues. In 1980, Bibb returned to New York to pursue a career as a folk singer.

During a five-year stay he opened for headliners, including The Persuasions and Etta James, but found that the sense of camaraderie that had been so strong in the '60s folk community was no longer there.

Moving back to Sweden, Bibb continued performing but also taught music at school. In the early 80s, Bibb signed onto BMG to write pop songs.

Although he found some success, it wasn't long before he wanted to return to his roots.

The sound that emerged was documented on the 1994 CD "Spirit and the Blues," released on the independent Swedish Opus 3 label. Featuring bouzouki, mandolin, accordion and even a gospel group, the album took inspiration from Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal and Leadbelly's recordings with the Golden Gate Quartet.

Bibb's talent for both performing and songwriting has been recognized with a Grammy nomination and four W.C. Handy nominations, and his songs have been widely featured on television shows in England and the U.S.

By melding traditional rootsy American style with subtle contemporary sensibility, Bibb's performances have been described as spiritual and soulful, gospel-infused folk blues.

One critic wrote, "Eric's singing and versatile guitar playing fuses a variety of genres to become a New World Blues."

Tickets for the March 10 performance are available for $15 at Vagabond Blues.

For more information about the concert, call 745-2233.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.