Norman Blake
Blackberry Blossom

First-rate guitarist, unmatched in the rendition (both vocal and instrumental) of the old-time melodies of the Southern States (particularly Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama), a skilled multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, mandolin, dobro, and banjo are the other instruments he handles with ease), and a highly acclaimed songwriter, Norman Blake can boast a discography as rich as it is unknown, due to the objective distance of his entire repertoire from the tastes of the average Italian listener.

Those who have purchased the soundtrack of the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" will find him masterfully performing "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow," but above all interpreting with infinite taste and love the sweet ballad "You Are My Sunshine," where he is accompanied, a unique case in his entire extensive discography, by multiple instrumentalists.

Otherwise, Norman Blake's fame in Italy is limited to his role as a sessionman for much more well-known artists such as Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan (his is the guitar ride in the album Nashville Skyline).

Yet, among the discography of this reserved but incredibly likable seventy-year-old, there stand out some gems whose brilliance transcends any musical boundary and can rightfully be included in an ideal anthology for guitar of the '900s. This is the case, for example, with "Blackberry Blossom," recorded in Chicago in the now distant 1977.

Still fresh and current despite being over thirty years old, the entire album clearly reflects the particular state of grace of the Artist, who the previous year had published the hugely successful "Whiskey Before Breakfast," as well as his first and only live album "At McCabe's."

It begins with "Are You From Dixie?", an explicit title. Voice and guitar, the song is set in the era of the Civil War (1860-1865), faithfully reproducing the accent and slang of the time. The mastery and technical perfection of our artist are immediately highlighted from the first note. The solo dividing the two verses is applause-worthy, recreating the melody in flatpicking with additional nuances.

While it remains difficult to choose one track over another (from the delightful "Foggy Valley", with a wonderful mandolin pizzicato, to the melancholic "Lonesome Jenny", with a mournful cello accompaniment emphasizing the sadness of the story), I feel compelled to recommend listening, paying attention to the guitar's intricacies, especially to "Railroad Blues," eight minutes of acoustic blues at a stratospheric speed, with a clarity of touch and sound that leaves one astounded.

For acoustic guitar enthusiasts, one last note: Norman exclusively uses a 1934 Martin D-28 here, at the time chosen from his personal collection of vintage Martin and Gibson guitars, instead of the more traditional D-18, much more used by the Chattanooga Artist in his other works.

Happy listening!