One Mississippi

Expatriate blues singer/songwriter Eric Bibbs catalog (thus far) consists of 37 albums over nearly 50 years. Since the pandemic, hes released three excellent studio albums: Dear America (2021), Ridin (2023), and In the Real World (2024). The latter marked his debut with Londons Repute Records. 2026s One Mississippi also on Repute, reflects his remarkably consistent late career run. One Mississippi was recorded, written and produced in Uppsala by longtime collaborator Glen Scott, who also plays a truckload of instruments. While standard instrumentation governs the session, there are also two harmonicists, hardanger, and octave fiddles. In reverently transforming traditional blues forms, Bibb still frames their origins in suffering. Hes a conduit, a western griot, telling their stories, sounds, and emotions. His voice has lost none of its smooth elasticity. The modern production perfectly balances folk-blues traditions and Americana with funky soul and gospel. Aside from the title track which was written by Janis Ian and Fred Koller, Bibb and Scott composed all 13 others. The songs are naturally socio-political; Bibbs father and greatest influence Leon Bibb was a folk singer and activist who marched with Dr. King. For him, civic engagement is organic. The opener and cover is a folk-blues with gorgeous slide guitar courtesy of Robbie Mcintosh (Paul McCartney, John Mayer) atop swirling Hammond B-3, Wurlitzer, acoustic piano, and octave fiddle. "Muddy Waters" choogles with the keyboards and clavinet, adding a snarling Southern soul quotient via gospelized backing vocals. Bibb sings as an itinerant bluesman who juxtaposes his traveling conditions with iconic blues pioneer Muddy Waters. First single "This One Dont," and "Didnt I Run This Time" are also naturally funky but in different ways. The formers choogling groove is appended by slide, fiddle, harmonica, keys, and gospelized backing vocals. The latter is a swirling 21st century folk-blues with a killer bassline, souled-out chorus, banjo, slide, and fiddle as the lyric details an escaped slaves journey. "Crossroads Marilyn Monroe" is a set highlight that revisits the tragedy of Emmett Till, who in 1955 at age at 14 was murdered after being falsely accused of looking at a white woman. "Its a Good Life" and "While Youre Free" follow suit; both are hymns and/or prayers of gratitude while reflecting on those less fortunate, sans artifice or platitudes. "Change" revels in bluesy funk with sonorous backbeats and soulful vocals; it exhorts listeners to stand up for one another. It showcases a jazzy McIntosh solo above the fantastic backing vocals of Sara Bergkvist Scott and Shaneeka Simon. "Waiting for the Sun" is a committed call to nonviolent activism with McIntoshs tough slide work. Just before the record closes, Bibb delivers the tenderest cut, the beautiful ballad "Show Your Love." Across the board, Bibbs 2020s work has been excellent. On One Mississippi, the songs, production, and inspired performances offer honest emotions and direct messages, elevating this record above his other recordings, and most 21st century albums in the genre. ~ Thom Jurek