Mike Barris & Delta Sunrise:

Swingbilly Blues

Mike Barris & Delta Sunrise: Swingbilly Blues (Pannahill Records) is a rollicking good album of roots-swing music played unpretentiously with just an acoustic guitar, upright bass, snare drum and bongos.

Think of Hank Williams colliding with the very early Beatles -- with Les Paul sandwiched somewhere in between -- and you'll have an idea of what Mike Barris & Delta Sunrise sounds like.

Running the gamut of roots-music styles, from bluegrass to blues, rockabilly to skiffle, western swing to Cajun, the band does surprising covers of classic songs (Steppin' Out With My Baby becomes a bluesy campfire song, for example; Home On The Range gets new life as a rhumba), as well as lively originals like Talkin' Turnpike Blues, a kind of rap-swing ode to life in the not-so-fast lane of the New Jersey Turnpike.                                                               

Adding to the organic flavor of the CD is the fact that the performances were recorded live in the studio, with no overdubbing.

Yet the band sounds extremely full, as if it were staffed by an additional three musicians.

Making the CD was a labor of love for Mike.

Experimented with Sound

The band's orchestration is based on "songs I had been doing as a single performer," Mike says. "I had to figure out how to accompany myself, which instruments to use."

Figuring out the lines for the upright bass was easy, since he already ran bass lines as part of his guitar style, he says. Working out the percussion part was harder, he admits.                    

"I experimented with a tape recorder and a washboard for weeks until I got the sound I wanted," Mike says.                                

"I was going for a kind of Cajun, hillbilly, swing-blues kind of thing. I figured the band's persona should be tough guys with a sensitive soul."

"I tried to make each song worthy of the audience's attention," he says. No wonder Matt Moore of The Associated Press says each tune could well anchor a CD all of its own.

The only real studio work took place in the mastering session, when engineers added "a bit of polish" so the recording wouldn't sound too
home-made, Mike says.

"I'm pleased with how full the band sounds," Mike comments. "It's hard to believe just an acoustic guitar, a bass and a snare drum/bongos are producing all that sound."                                       

To the music historian, this guitar-oriented record might be appealing as a tribute to the legacies of Doc Watson, Chet Atkins, Little Walter, Count Basie and a host of others.

But for simple music lovers, it's just wonderfully breezy and fun.

Click here to hear audio samples from the CD!

Click here to order the CD!

Reviews

"As cheerful and refreshing as a glass of just-squeezed orange juice, the music of Mike Barris & Delta Sunrise will brighten your day and fill you with Vitamin C."

"All the songs on this compact disc are worthy of anchoring an entire recording on their own. To have them here, in one centralized location, is more of a gift than a well-executed plan...."

"Some of the finest swing blues/roots music in New Jersey. And made by a guy who was born and bred in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Lucky for us, he now calls the Jersey Shore his home. …. A journey of original instrumentals, traditional music, and original compositions that show a wry sense of humor. …Great musical chops…you’ll be tapping your fingers and toes."

(Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation)

Jersey Shore Jazz/Blues Foundation lauds ‘Swingbilly’

'Turnpike Blues' hits the road in 4 states

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MIKE BARRIS & DELTA SUNRISE: SWINGBILLY BLUES

• How to order
• Audio samples