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Big Joe Williams No More Whiskey (Evidence)
Baaba Maal Nomad Soul (Palm Pictures/Island/Ryko) The first voice you hear on Senegalese star Baaba Maal's latest is not his own but that of one of Sinéad O'Connor's Irish backups, singing "I will follow [you]." It prompts a response of "You too (U2), Baaba?," and leaves no doubt that another artist with Island Records is looking for "world" domination--even more so when the second song is another English duet with reggaeman Luciano. But this is a story of cultural bridges, not betrayal, and Maal walks it well. 7/10 (Chris Yurkiw) Mimi Blais Taxi! (Port-Royal) This Montreal-based pianist has been dubbed the "new queen of ragtime," and here she deftly handles music from that genre, by people like Joplin, Eubie Blake, Luckey Roberts and Canadians Willie Eckstein and Jean-Baptiste Lafrenière. In the novelty department, she does Zez Confrey's "Dizzy Fingers." Blais has technique to burn and also shows off her gentler side and beautiful touch on pieces like "Memories of You" and her own Satie-like "Ma douce amie." 8.5/10 (Len Dobbin)
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With the 12-string savvy of Leadbelly and the rambling boogie of John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Williams not only plays the blues, but is the blues. The production quality has a field-recording feel to it that just seems to let Mr. William's tales of booze, prison and salvation bubble and sparkle. No More Whiskey was recorded on location at his trailer home and that makes this excellent blues document shine without the polish. 9/10 (Johnson Cummins)