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Eric Bibb

Eric was born In New York into a musical family. Eric's father, Leon Bibb, is a trained singer who sang in musical theatre and made a name for himself as part of the 1960's New York folk scene. His uncle was the world famous jazz pianist and composer John Lewis, of the Modern Jazz Quartet. Family friends included Pete Seeger, Odetta and actor/singer/activist Paul Robeson, Eric's godfather.

Eric was given his first steel-string guitar aged seven. By Junior High School, Eric was consumed by music. "I would cut school and claim I was sick" said Bibb. "When everyone would leave the house I would whip out all the records and do my own personal DJ thing all day long, playing Odetta, Joan Baez, The New Lost City Ramblers, Josh White."

At 16 years old, Eric's father invited him to play guitar in the house band for his TV talent show "Someone New". Eric's early musical heroes were from his father's band, and included Bill Lee, (father of director Spike) who appeared on Eric's album “Me To You,” years later.

In 1969, Bibb played guitar for the Negro Ensemble Company at St. Mark's place in New York and went on to study Psychology and Russian at Colombia University. "After a while it just didn't make much sense at all. I didn't understand why I was at this Ivy League School with all these kids who didn't know anything about what I knew about."

Aged 19, Eric left for Paris, where a meeting with guitarist Mickey Baker focused his interest in blues guitar. When he later moved to Sweden, Bibb found a creative environment which took him back to Greenwich Village during the heyday of the folk revival. Settling in Stockholm, Bibb immersed himself in pre-war blues and continued to write and perform. "I began meeting and playing with local musicians as well as newcomers from all over the world. There was a budding world Music scene going on before it became a market concept."

The album “Good Stuff” was released in 1997 on Opus 3 and American label Earthbeat! and led to Eric signing to the British based Code Blue label. Eric's only release on Code Blue was “Me to You,” featuring appearances from some of Bibb's personal heroes in Pops and Mavis Staples, and Taj Mahal (who also worked with Bibb on the Grammy- nominated children's record, “Shakin' A Tailfeather”). The album furthered Bibb's international reputation and was followed by tours of the UK, USA, Canada, France, Sweden and Germany. In the late 90’s Eric joined forces with his then manager Alan Robinson, to form Manhaton Records, in Britain. The albums “Home to Me,” (1999) “Roadworks,” (2000) and “Painting Signs” (2001) followed, as did another Opus 3 release, “Just Like Love.”

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Album Review

Eric Bibb: Migration Blues

Read "Migration Blues" reviewed by Chris Mosey


Eric Bibb says in the sleeve note to Migration Blues, his most politicized album to date: “The way I see it, prejudice towards our brothers and sisters who are currently called 'refugees' is the problem. Fear and ignorance are the problems. Refugees are not 'problems'--they are courageous fellow human beings escaping dire circumstances." Not the way Donald Trump sees it. Bibb, probably America's most important folk blues artist, shouldn't have much to fear from ...

2
Album Review

Eric Bibb: The Happiest Man In The World

Read "The Happiest Man In The World" reviewed by Chris Mosey


Like his mentor Taj Mahal, Eric Bibb plays and sings acoustic country blues in praise of the simple things in life. He doesn't go in for flashy solos or what used to be called “the old moody." His career spans five decades and this is 36th album. In “Prison of Time," the best, most heartfelt song on it, he sings: “One day becomes another / So quickly, I'm left behind." His songs are superbly well crafted and ...

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Extended Analysis

Eric Bibb: Deeper In The Well

Read "Eric Bibb: Deeper In The Well" reviewed by Chris May


Eric BibbDeeper In The WellDixie Frog2012As bluesman Willie Dixon affirmed, you can't judge a book by looking at its cover. But you often can from reading the first paragraph. Switching your receptors from visual to audio, so it is with the first few bars of an album's opening track. And as the New Orleans-infused funk of singer and guitarist Eric Bibb's “Bayou Belle" snakes its way out of the speakers, its poise ...

384
Album Review

Eric Bibb/Rory Block/Maria Muldaur: Sisters and Brothers

Read "Sisters and Brothers" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Behold, how good and how pleasant for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity. —Psalm 133.

I will be damned if I know what biblical translation was used for this quote. But that is no matter. Three journeyman artists have joined forces to bring the sensual and the divine together under the same roof and celebrate them. Eric Bibb, Rory Block, and Maria Muldaur cast a new light on the spiritual and mostly with success.

180
Album Review

Eric Bibb: Good Stuff

Read "Good Stuff" reviewed by Jim Santella


Barrelhouse piano, loose acoustic rhythm guitar, stand-up bass, and down home vocals characterize Eric Bibb's 1997 recording. Originally released on the Opus 3 label and recently reissued by EarthBeat! Good Stuff is commonly characterized as “country blues" or “southern folk blues" and centers on Bibb's warm, sincere singing. He's a gentle man with a knack for preaching the blues and insuring that you'll want to listen.

The piano, bass and drums of Janne Petersson, Olle Eriksson, and Bjorn Gideonsson (respectively) ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Migration Blues

Dixiefrog
2017

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Get Onboard

Telarc Records
2008

buy

Sisters and Brothers

Telarc Records
2004

buy

Good Stuff

EarthBeat!
1998

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