Cris Jacobs (from the album A Time to Grow

Cris Jacobs (from the album A Time to Grow

Cris Jacobs (from the album A Time to Grow available on Cris Jacobs/Soundly Music) (by Brian Rock)
 
Baltimore Blues boss, Cris Jacobs delivers a study in light and shadows on his fourth album One of These Days. Departing slightly from his previous Rock infused Piedmont Blues, Jacobs recruited The Infamous Stringdusters to add a distinctive Bluegrass backing to this release. The more rural tone reflects a back-to-basics ethos as Cris Jacobs looks back on his own life and wrestles with his personal doubts and demons.
“Work Song (I Can Still Sing)” epitomizes Cris Jacobs’ light and shadow interplay. A gentle rolling Piedmont Blues ode to the crab pickers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore; the song deals with both the hardships of heavy labor, and the easing of that hardship through song. Balancing the two, he sings ‘aching from my temple to my heart, but I can still sing’. The very definition of a great ‘porch song’ the tune blends electric guitar, fiddle, banjo, and dobro in mellow, joyful harmony. Guest vocalist, Lindsay Lou adds a touch of sweetness to the bitterness of the workday as Jacobs reiterates ‘with a song, I lay my troubles down to rest’. The irresistible, toe-tapping melody of the song will drive away the troubles of even the heaviest workload.
“Pimlico” examines the highs and lows of gambling at Maryland’s premier horse racing track. Exuberant banjo, acoustic guitar and dobro mimic the sound of galloping horses. Cris Jacobs feels the rush of beating the odds as he sings, ‘going down to Pimlico, give myself a chance. Coming in at 10 to 1, I might have to dance’. The music races on as greed gets the better of Jacobs. After pushing his luck too far, he ‘came home empty handed. She could see in my eyes. She said, ‘I’m guessing Christmas time ain’t bringing no surprise’’. But, of course, the alure of quick cash keeps drawing him back. The acoustic ballad “Wild Roses and Dirt” explores the polarities of love. Contemplating the purity and passion, Cris Jacobs still can’t tell ‘is it a chemical chance, or a past life’s plan, a totem for the ages, or a one-night stand?’. Even when love endures, the lively Bluegrass rhythms of “Lifetime to Go” examine the struggle between past and future.
Moving deeper into the shadows on “Poor Davey”, Cris Jacobs tells the story of abuse and revenge. Intense acoustic finger picking accompanies the tale of a boy on the run. Jacobs gives clues as to why he’s running, by singing ‘they say the good son is cursed, like a chosen one. But they say other things, like what the daddy done’. Like Guy Clark, Cris Jacobs adds intrigue by what he leaves out of the story. The Stringdusters help fill in the gaps with cinematic scoring that’s frenetic and foreboding. “Queen of the Avenue” also hides its story in the dark recesses of the shadows. Moving from coal mines to unemployment lines, a Baltimore family finds a way to survive on the other side of the law. Backing vocals from The McCrary Sisters adds a soulful resonance, while jazzy syncopation adds a Country noir cloak and dagger feel. “Cold, Cold Walls” gives a glimpse of the potential penal consequence for those who linger too long in the shadows. Turning more personal, Cris Jacobs offers a mournful Delta Blues prayer for his children to return safely from school on “Daughter, Daughter”.
Trying to make sense of it all, Cris Jacobs paints a musical metaphor on “Heavy Water”. Praying for water after months of drought, he is exasperated to receive torrential, flood rains. Asking ‘where is my maker, where is my grace? Blowing down the river at a breakneck pace. Crying buckets of tears on a helpless ground’, Jacobs wonders how to find peace in a world of extremes. Despite the crisis of faith, the music is downright jubilant. With a call and response chorus and rollicking banjo and fiddle leads, the song is a party in a pandemic. The title track continues his agnostic agony. Singing, ‘I can’t live without the tortures of my doubts’ Cris Jacobs affords himself little hope of finding peace. But like the previous song, the music belies a sense of optimism and hope that resides somewhere beyond the reach of his conscious mind. As the spritely, Bluegrass rhythms move merrily along, he confides ‘one of these days, I’ll get knowing… One of these days, I’ll get to praying’. Unable to find solace in a higher power, Jacobs finally finds a measure of peace in “Everybody’s Lost”. Realizing he doesn’t have any answers to life’s big questions, he finds consolation in just knowing he’s not alone. Singing ‘every little person carries a little hurt. Some burdens ain’t easy to see. Everybody’s flyin’ a little blind through the night. Baby shine a light on me’ he finds comfort in community. Hinting that the light we need to overcome our shadows might actually be within us, he sings ‘maybe if we just took a little breath, and admitted that we’re all a mess, and tried to lead with a little tenderness; maybe we’d know where to start’.
Dealing deftly with weighty subjects, Cris Jacobs’ smooth baritone lightens the heaviness of the Blues. Likewise, the elegance of The Infamous Stringdusters smooths the rough edges of traditional Bluegrass. Combined, they make difficult topics a joy to contemplate. Coming full circle to the theme of “Work Song (I Can Still Sing)”, One of These Days is the kind of album that can help ease the burden of your labors; whether they be from work, or faith, or whatever life throws at you. (by Brian Rock)
 
 
Listen and buy the music of Cris Jacobs from AMAZON
 
For more information head over to the Chris Jacobs website