Elly Roberts reviews
Bert Jansch: Black Swan
Distributed by
Sanctuary Records
- Released: September 2006
- Rating: 10/10+
Never one for hogging the limelight, Bert Jansch continues to plough his solitary path, with some additions.
Since his eponymous debut in April 1965, Jansch has influenced musicians all
over the world, and enthralled everyone with his guitar wizardry such as
Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page.
For Black Swan he’s enlisted the diverse talents of fans
Devendra Banhart, Noah Georgeson, Devendra’s bassist as co-producer/mixer
and Brit singer Beth Orton. This superb collection of eight originals and
trad covers is his best in a long time. Recorded at his home studio over
2004/5 this wonderful album has all the hallmarks of his penchant stylistic
fusions - folk, blues and jazz, as he continues to cast his magic spell at 63.
Black Swan is a clever blend of Jansch ‘gig intimacy’ (that he’s made
his living from for the past 30 years) and ‘enhanced’ gems with an Americana
feel using slide guitar, cello, synths, bass and percussion, featured on
atmospheric classic A Woman Like You, which he used to sing in his
Pentangle Days.
Best track, jaunty Watch The Stars which he sang (with his girlfriend)
when he was sixteen, now has Beth Orton doing the vocals, and it’s a
masterstroke.
Duelling banjos by Jansch and Paul Wassif, with Maggie Boyle on Bolivian
flavoured flute, turn the sparkling Magdalina’s Dance into an instrumental
wonder.
With all contributors doing a fine job, it’s still the Jansch solo digital
workouts that never fail to impress - High Days, Hey Pretty Girl and
trad The Old Triangle. Bob Dylan may have influenced Texas Cowboy
Blues, because sure as hell sounds like him, with rhythm sectioners
Noah Georgeson on bass and drummer Pete Newsom providing a neat shuffle.
This year MOJO magazine awarded him the highly prestigious Merit Award for
his awe-inspiring contribution to music. He’s now inspiring a new generation
of musicians, and wowing music critics, including me.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
