Traveling Wilburies

Dom Flemons has built a reputation on presenting 100 years of American roots music, but now, with Traveling Wildfire, his own songwriting prowess comes into the spotlight. Carefully selected from his personal repertoire, these original songs reveal his love of country, western, blues, Americana, bluegrass and folk music as they tell of true love, family legacy, survival, time travel, and the juxtaposition between light and dark. Traveling Wildfire weaves through the themes of hope and humor as it rises above the hard times with strength and lightheartedness.

Three years after the release of his critically acclaimed album Salone, Bai Kamara Jr returns with Traveling Medicine Man, a 13 track collection of afro-blues songs portrayed in Bai’s unique style. In a descriptive, provocative and sometimes suggestive way, the tales of love, life, relationships and politics are meticulously explored by the raconteur.

Lonnie Liston Smith was 32 when, in 1973, he finally got around to recording his first album as a leader, Astral Traveling. By that time, the pianist/keyboardist had a great deal of sideman experience under his belt, and this superb debut made it clear that former employers like Pharoah Sanders, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Gato Barbieri, and Betty Carter had taught him well. One hears a lot of Sanders, John Coltrane, and McCoy Tyner influence on Astral Traveling; Smith obviously shares their passion for all things spiritual. Nonetheless, this LP leaves no doubt that the improviser is very much his own man and has a wealth of brilliant ideas of his own; thankfully, he has a cohesive band to help him carry them out.

It's a beautiful, impressionistic tribute to Miles Davis which extends Wilson's eclectic "folk jazz" approach, itself owing a great deal to Miles' 80s music. Wilson, as producer, should take much of the credit for the coherence of vision. The quintet behind her on Resurrection Blues is entirely different to the one on the following track, Sky and Sea - but the tracks fit together like fine joinery. The core band and all of the guests are superb, as is the production. Everything is crystal clear, but warm.