| CD
Review
| Randy
Wood
| Round
Dance Blues
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RANDY WOOD
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Round
Dance Blues
Canyon Records
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In title alone this record has a very real American-rooted
heritage. Wood is a founding member of the respected Northern Cree
Singers, his beautiful round dance singing is known throughout Native
North America and earned him a Grammy nomination in 2003.
What makes his singing so poignant on this release is his respect and
dedication to the roots of musical structure. Similar to the native
songs of the Sea Islands and the slave songs of the South, Woods
arrangements have a thick history and are delivered with convincing
authority.
Opening track “As I Walk Alone” is as moving as a black spiritual.
Centered around a central drum beat and embraced by a set of harmonized
vocals, the song tell the story of love lost with Wood taking the lead
verse lines. Wood’s technique of expanding his dynamic octave range
cries out in a full moon howl then slides to a deep baritone reminiscent
of what a young Elvis did with the blues. His vocal style can take on a
sense of celebration as in “Rainbow” – God’s way of saying
hello, which has a Polynesian ring to it or the comical “My
Chevrolet” to the Gospel-fused “The Meaning of Life”.
To the untrained ear, many of the song fuse together. The drum sets the
beat but it is the inflection and personality of the vocals harmonies
that distinguish one song from another. Listen close and you can hear
the difference. An evangelist of sorts Wood uses his voice and those of
his native brothers in much the same way as Blind Willie Johnson or
Mississippi Fred McDowell - to capture an emotion and create a mood. The
results are intoxicating and speaks volumes of what Wood is capable of.
Website: www.canyonrecords.com
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