Robert Coleman Trussell: Home
Remo Ricaldone's review for www.planetcountry.it!
Robert Coleman Trussell is a Texas singer originally from Kingsville, but currently residing in Kansas City. His debut 2005 “Texas Gothic” CD was a successful Roots and Americana work both in Europe and the States. The acoustic/country “Juice and Jive” has now arrived to continue this folk and blues conversation. Great singing and lyrics stand out in this CD; it's spartan, yet intriguing and timeless. The music is based on acoustic guitar and harmonica, but is embroidered with fiddle, mandolin, and banjo played by co-producer Kelly Werts, as well as with the vocal harmonies of Rachel Ries on three of the songs. In other words, these are stories of outlaws, drunks, the lonely, and all the creatures that have fueled the story of American life 'on the road' so dear to those who love the States. (Translated by Norman Read).
Rootstime (www.rootstime.be) reviews “Juice & Jive”!!
Outlaws come to life again; desperados, drifters, gamblers, and settlers are looked at in this second album from Trussell. After his 2005 debut album "Texas Gothic", Texan Robert Trussell is back again writing and producing Americana/Folk together with violinist Kelly Werts with sixteen songs and one bonus track.
On three of the tracks, Rachel Ries sings backing vocals, like on the nostalgic love song "Goodbye For Now", one of the two songs co-written with Trussell's wife Donna Laura Trussell. The mandolin makes this a particularly lovely song. All the other songs are ballads played on acoustic guitar with accompanying harmonica and were written solo by Robert. Trussell plays both instruments with brio. Kelly Werts give a full accounting on the other instruments and gives a folky flair to his violin, mandolin and banjo.
Among the more country inspired songs are the tender and folky "Hungry Eyes" and the wandering "Everclear". Kelly's lively banjo is a counterpoint to the desolate "Stomping Grounds" depiction of life's pains. Robert Coleman sings his songs with a warm yet rusty, piping voice on tunes like "Forty Notches," about a man with forty notches on his revolver nonchalantly adding another. He plays a very bluesy harmonica on the ballad "Austin Town", a song about a drifter who has nothing in the world but a suitcase full of dreams.
The songwriter has in the past been compared with many singers, especially blues singers, or with Bob Dylan, which amuses him. On this album he sings more in the style of a folk or country music singer. Fair enough, but I have to say that his voice is a cross between Calvin Russell and David Olney, names which so far as I know haven't been compared to Trussell. But Trussell doubtlessly feels at home in the whole range of roots, alt-country, Americana, and even blues standards. "Catwalking" cuts right to the quick.
But among all the various, outstanding songs where he has gone out into the little world of the countryside, I did find a favorite. If I were stranded somewhere, waiting in vain for a cancelled train, then I would request "Walking Feet" with the Kelly Werts' violin that reaches for the sky, as a comfort for my last request.
The songwriter intuitively knows how to use melancholy to connect with the tension/relaxation elements within his songs. The man from Kingsville who now lives in Kansas City should immediately fly over to Belgium, because with his songs, he could easily sing for two hours. And if he and Mr. Werts are scheduled, both of them together on one stage would guarantee an evening full of heartfelt listening pleasure.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juice & Jive is now up on CD Baby!
There's a brand new album in the same roots - urban folk - acoustic - insurgent country - alt.country - Americana - unplugged tradition as TEXAS GOTHIC. That's right! More drunks, more loners, more outlaws, more unhinged men in love.
JUICE & JIVE features Trussell on guitar and harmonica and co-producer Kelly Werts on fiddle, mandolin, banjo and portable USO pump organ. Chicago-based Rachel Ries sings harmonies on three cuts.
JUICE & JIVE has 16 original songs and a bonus track. The CD can be purchased on CD Baby, iTunes and other sites. For a promo copy or more information, drop a line to yonderbob at mac dot com.