Chasin' Gus' Ghost
The "Gus" referred to in the title of this labor-of-love recording isGus Cannon, who, in the 1920s, led Cannon's Jug Stompers, one of America's premier jug bands at a time when jug-band fever was heating up dance halls from Alabama to New York. Of course, times have changed since Cannon made a name for himself with songs like "Minglewood Blues" (better known as "New Minglewood Blues" by theGrateful Dead). But while the jug is no longer pop music's instrument of choice, the J-Band work up a fair amount of good-time heat of their own. Led by John Sebastian ofLovin' Spoonfulfame (and featuring Fritz Richmond on jug and washtub bass and country-blues guitaristPaul Rishell), the J-Band revive classic '20s jug-band standards ("Stealin'") and toss in some worthy originals ("Got No Automobile"). As a special treat,Yank Rachell, one of the original jug-band pioneers, performs a few numbers. While this release probably won't ignite a jug-band revival, it certainly proves that some ghosts are worth keeping around--Percy Keegan