BRIGITTE DeMEYER —ROSE OF JERICHO (Self-released) and UK Dates start this week

[Maurice Hope]

www.brigittedemeyer.com

 After working out of San Francisco’s Bay Area for her first four studio albums Brigitte DeMeyer has for this one not only recorded in Nashville but also relocated there. Why not! For it is after all where she is able to call on the wealth of talent on this country and blues steeped roots pop-infused collection. That she co-produced with Emmylou Harris’ Spyboy drummer, Brady Blade, who played on her second album and produced the next two to make it another first for the singer-songwriter.

Blade and DeMeyer work superbly well together, so wonderful and varied is the sound garnered. Some could argue and not without substance that she could hardly fail with pickers Chris Donohue (upright and electric bass), Will Kimbrough (electric, acoustic guitar and banjo), Sam Bush (mandolin, fiddle), Mike Henderson (electric, acoustic guitar, harmonica), John Deaderick (Hammond b3 organ, piano, keyboards), Al Perkins (lap steel guitar), Doug Lancio (electric guitar) horns and ace harmony vocalists (Mike Farris, Regina, Ann and Alfreda McCrary) in your corner. But as you all know you have to have the songs, vocals and correct feel to make a good record. DeMeyer has all that and I can think of a bunch of named artists unable to hold a candle to her in all departments. Such is the music sampled, very southern in texture DeMeyer starts away with the fiddle and mandolin warmed Gretchen Peters-esque ‘One Wish’ followed by the busy lap steel etched ‘This Fix I’m In’ and bluesy, piano garnished moody 1930s club land gem ‘Alright A-Comin’. Slap down funky. As its chugging rhythm is guided faultlessly along the tracks by a selection of horns and vocal harmonies strong enough to take the listener to the black quarter.

 

‘Miss Johnson’s Honey’ is something Patty Griffin or Allison Moorer would thrive on. Not that Brigitte doesn’t, for the song blossoms like the honeysuckle from whence it originates. As for the remaining tracks there is a feast of splendid cuts to savour as she draws on gospel blues for the funky ‘Amen Said The Deacon’ and is in Bonnie Raitt territory for ‘Jeremiah’s Blues’. Fuelled by swampy electric lead guitar, fiddle, Hammond b3 organ and the McCrary harmony vocals it reaches deep into the soul. A good slice of the music has blues influences, none more so than the title-track ‘Rose of Jericho’ that plays second fiddle to the innovative, rag-time-ish ‘Say Big Poppa’. Great stuff. Follow this anyone, and I am not just talking about the horns, piano, acoustic guitar but DeMeyer's jaunty vocal stance.

To close the record we first have the slumbering gem ‘West Side Mama, South Side Me’ and the grand finale ‘Somebody Please’. A wonderful a cappella piece it has DeMeyer and the McCrarys produce a soul searching, pleading ‘prison-like work song’ enough to have the hairs on the back of your neck stand up on end. Seriously. Watch this girl go and for live gigs.  

 

                                                            Maurice Hope

Bridgitte is on tour with Will Kimbrough & Chris Donahue

02/09/12	SURREY	St. John’s Church, In Farncombe, (Near Goldaming)	UK
Add	Time: 7:00pm. Address: St. John St., Farncombe, Surrey GU7 3EH.. Brigitte UK tour with Will Kimbrough and Chris Donohue. Brigitte Demeyer in Farncombe (near Godalming), St. John’s Church, St. John’s Street, Farncombe, Surrey GU7 3EH. Time of concert is 7.00 pm
02/10/12	Framlingham	The Crown	UK
Add	Time: 7:00pm. Brigitte with Will Kimbrough and Chris Donohue. Details TBA.
02/11/12	Tingewick (near Buckingham)	Tingewick Village Hall	UK
Add	Time: 7:30pm. Brigitte U.K. tour with Will Kimbrough and Chris Donohue.
02/12/12	London	The Green Note	UK
Add	Time: 9:00pm. Address: London, NW1 7AN. Venue phone:            020 7485 9899      . Brigitte plays as a trio with Will Kimbrough and Chris Donohue.
02/14/12	Kelvedon, ESSEX	HOUSE CONCERT	UK
Add	Time: 7:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Brigitte plays with Will Kimbrough and Chris Donohue Acoustic trio. For more information contact: James Partridge at: [e-mail]
02/15/12	Belfast	The Errigle Inn	IE
Add	Time: 8:00pm. Admission: £12 @ p.p.. Address: 312-320, Ormeau Rd, Country, Antrim BT7 2GE. Venue phone: Tel:            028 9064 1410      . Brigitte DeMeyer with Will Kimbrough and Chris Donohue play as acoustic trio. BUY TICKETS
02/16/12	Newcastle, ENGLAND	The Cluny2 Theater	UK
Add	Time: 7:00pm. Brigitte U.K. tour with Will Kimbrough and Chris Donohue.
07/21/12	Telluride, CO	Sheraton Opera House-Co-Bill with Ray Wylie Hubbard	US
Add	Time: 8:00pm. Co-bill with Ray Wylie Hubbard