American Music, Texas Style

1	Rock My Blues Away 3:10
2	Half Steppin' 2:57
3	Hootie Blues 4:57
4	Front Burner 5:29
5	I'm Beginning to See the Light 4:32
6	Swamp Ghost 6:46
7	Without Me Baby 3:41
8	Gate Swings Again 2:55
9	Strange Things Happen 5:07
10	Don't Get Around Much Anymore 4:42
11	Guitar in My Hand 5:10
12	Jumpin' the Blues 2:53
13	Things Ain't What They Used to Be 4:42

Barnes & Noble

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown opens AMERICAN MUSIC, TEXAS STYLE with "Rock My Blues Away," but the legendary Texas bluesman doesn't spend much time rockin' or twangin'. Instead, the 75-year-old multi-instrumentalist swings hot and heavy, returning once again to the jump blues that he began his recording career with in 1947. Like his acclaimed 1997 GATE SWINGS, this set features the New Orleans legend Wardell Quezergue as conductor and arranger. Quezergue works his magic in many ways. He tightens up tunes while still leaving space for the Brownian motion of Gatemouth's guitar on songs like the slow blues "Swamp Ghost" and the jumpin' "Gate Swings Again." He also brings crack talent to the proceedings in the form of illustrious sidemen like trumpeter Nicholas Payton and saxist Wes Anderson. Also, Quezergue's arrangements provide a smooth cushion for Brown's gruff vocals on Percy Mayfield's "Strange Things Happening" and "Guitar in My Hand," which, incidentally, was also on Brown's debut release. Over 50 years later, it still cooks. AMERICAN MUSIC, TEXAS STYLE will keep you swaying way into the night -- and marveling at this septuagenarian's sassy swing music. Roberta Penn

All Music Guide

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown was 74 when he recorded American Music, Texas Style, and the Texas bluesman made it clear that he still had plenty of energy. On this CD, Brown really emphasizes his love of jazz. Young hard bop players like trumpeter Nicholas Payton and alto saxman Wes Anderson are on board, and the veteran singer/guitarist offers no less than three standards from Duke Ellington's repertoire ("I'm Beginning to See the Light," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," and son Mercer Ellington's "Things Ain't What They Used to Be") and two classics from Charlie Parker's years with Jay McShann ("Hootie Blues," "Jumpin' the Blues"). Meanwhile, the jazz influence is hard to miss on such fast jump blues as "Rock My Blues Away" and "Without Me Baby." Brown's voice is thinner than it used to be, but his guitar playing is as energetic as ever. While this CD isn't definitive, it's a good, solid effort that Brown can be proud of. Alex Henderson