Page 38 - BiTS_05_MAY_2020

Reverend Freakchild The Bodhisattva Blues Treated And

Released Records TNR-012
The Reverend grew up in Hawaii and later gained a degree in
philosophy and religion from the Northeastern University in Boston.

He now resides in Colorado and is currently pursuing a Master of
Divinity Degree at the Naropa University. This is the Reverend’s
twelfth album release and although he is known primarily as a solo
performer, here he has chosen to surround himself with a core band
consisting of musicians that are part of the very extensive Grateful

Dead world: Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia band), keyboards; Marc
Karan (Bob Weir, RatDog, Live Dead), guitar; Chris Parker (Bob
Dylan, John Hammond Jr.), drums and Robin Sylvester (RatDog), bass. Hugh Pool provides harmonica.
RF takes lead vocals and plays slide and rhythm guitars.

With this set-up in place, one should be in no doubt that we are firmly in the grasp of San Francisco
in the mid to late sixties. Virtually all the numbers here possess an enticingly loose-limbed feel, as

satisfyingly displayed on the two splendid opening numbers, Muddy Waters’, 'I Can’t Be Satisfied”
and Jimmy Reed’s, ‘Big Boss Man’. Their raw, urging energy and passion-filled blues is liberally infused
with the looser, laidback rock of that time. The jaunty good-time barrelhouse piano of Scott ‘Shack’
Hackler on Willie Dixon’s jumping ‘Little Red Rooster’, is well matched by a sublime slide guitar.
There are two, almost homage-like, Jerry Garcia penned numbers, ‘Friend Of The Devil’ and the

somewhat sombre ‘Black Peter’. Both numbers have understated mellow vocals and almost reverential
sweetly lyrical guitar work. Lennon and McCartney’s ‘Yer Blues’, is given the full psychedelic blues
treatment while John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, evokes thoughts of a Lou Reed vocal, over a bass-driven
modern-day, smooth R&B ballad.

Greatly endorsed!

Brian Harman

She Shimmy Libby Rae Watson and Bert Deivert Own Label

Well what a delight this is. Delta, hill country and other traditional

blues styles brought together under the expert curation of Libby
Rae Watson from Mississippi and Bert Deivert from Sweden via
Boston and San Francisco. Ms Watson was - as they say - born and
raised in Mississippi, but not in the Delta, on the Gulf coast. That
does not seem to have inhibited her, however, for in her journey

through the blues she sought out a mess of blues folks from all over
the Magnolia State and elsewhere and absorbed their music.
Consequently she plays old style Mississippi Blues learned sitting
at the feet of the old Masters: Big Joe Williams, Furry Lewis, James 'Son' Thomas, and many more.
She was mentored and became close friends with Sam Chatmon, a member of the Mississippi Sheiks.
Bert Deivert started his life in Boston but later moved to San Francisco, where he worked with
troubador Peter Case before eventually settling in Sweden. Bert is a world class blues mandolin player

channeling the work of Vol Stevens, Will Weldon, Eddie Dimmitt, Charlie McCoy, Louis Ford and, of
course, the great Yank Rachel. A mix of talent made in heaven.