Amos Garrett
Make My Home in My Shoes
Stony Plain - 1132
Release - 1989
available on cd universe
This is a classic funky Amos Garrett disc, replete with plenty of his lyrical guitar playing, and his smoky voice holding onto the song. That gliding rich baritone that seems to envelop a song, tie it up in a warm cocoon, and make it all his own. Combine that with his much under appreciated guitar playing, that uses his given gift of taking the tune he is playing making it his own personal piece, and at the same time transforming it into a more dimensional piece than it was in its previous incarnation. He is one of those who is more appreciated by the musicians who he has played with, than by the general public. People such as Paul Butterfield, Ian & Sylvia in their Great Speckled Bird incarnation, and Maria Maldaur
sing his praise. As is usual he has assembled a top-flight melange of players who nourish him sothat he can give us those so melodious solos of his. His home is not so much in his shoes as he says here, rather in the blues. This Canadian is one of the best kept secrets of the Great White North, however the word is out and it probably won’t be that way much longer. He is not breaking new ground, however this disc has the solid feel of a long time bluesman that is playing his heart out for those who care. A sure-fire pleasure is this disc.