Jimmy LaFave
Cimarron Manifesto
Red House Records – 203
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also available on amazon
One of the finest of the songwriters that seem to pop out of the red dirt land of Texas and Oklahoma from time to time and actually one who expresses clearly the pain of loss and the mournful pull that is tinged with the delight of the open road. He uses this disc to pay homage to all that he has garnered from the Cimarron River country, that runs from northeastern New Mexico to Tulsa, OK, the land and the people who shaped him. The music is both a celebration of and drawn from the earth and evocative of its nourishing value. His music has always provided the perfect backdrop for the open road and those long road trips that are so crucial for spanning the great distances necessary for getting from here to there, miles seem to fly by with a smile.
He has a few new people playing with him on this disc, but he has kept his long time drummer, Wally Doggett, and keyboard player, Radoslav Larkovic. A couple of key additions that really flesh out the sound are John Inmon on electric
guitar and lap steel and also Andrew Hardin, adding his electric guitar work. The band is tight and gives the songs the space and consistency they need to break from the mold and come alive.
He wrote 9 of the 12 songs and on this one there is one by Dylan, “Not Dark Yet,” a great take of Donovan’s “Catch The Wind,” and an often overlooked gem in Joe South’s tune, “Walk A Mile In My Shoes.” A disc that is sure to put a smile on your face and make the dreary miles just melt away.