Otis Taylor: Absinthe

If you want to check out the new masters of acoustic blues, go no farther: many of them are on this track. Here we find Keb Mo (and his son K2), Alvin Youngblood Hart, and above all the amazing Otis Taylor. No one can vamp with more hypnotic intensity than Mr. Taylor, and on "Absinthe" he demonstrates again his ability to craft a powerful performance out of the simplest musical materials. Not since John Lee Hooker, has a blues player been so totally in the groove. "Absinthe" is part of Taylor's banjo project, which is a fine release. But if you haven't heard this musician before, start out with some of this guitar work - for example, his great "My Soul's in Louisiana." But do check this artist out.