Austin, Texas-based blues guitarist Ben Bowen King resurrects sidewalk saints on his recent CD of the same title.  Armed with a dobro (resonator) guitar and backed by Covita Moroney on odds & ends percussion and "vocal moans," Bowen King performs some old blues standards by Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt and gospel by Bashful Brother Oswald and Loretta Lynn, the Carter Family, Fred McDowell and others.  Although the music on this disc contains no words, listeners can still witness a religious experience.  As well as, learning a little something about a gospel music tradition that once flourished on street corners of Texas and the South during the 1920s and '30's, according to the liner notes. 

Although this tradition had faded by World War II, it had left an imprint on Bowen King by his father and grandfather who recalled the legendary sidewalk saints playing their worshipful music to earn their bread and butter, and in the case of country music founder, Dock Boggs, "gas money."  The music itself, a marriage of gospel and Delta blues possesses so much spunk listeners will find themselves playing drums on any piece of furnishing available and perhaps learning some of those vocal moans.  Certainly a masterful bluesman, Bowen King sails through Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Will The Circle Be Unbroken, In the Sweet By & By, Amazing Grace and other must-hear classics. 

Special treatment and extraordinary guitar playing is given to Preacher's Hell Bound Train.  "Because of the different sounds afforded by the resonator guitar some performers developed the 'six string sermon' where a gospel message was delivered via sound effects on music.  As on the cut...'Preacher's Hell Bound Train' the guitar describes the hedonistic life of the blues and where it leads."  Hopefully the track will just lead listeners to enjoying the vibrant sounds of a resonator guitar played extraordinarily well. Sidewalk Saints might just be God-sent.  Talking Taco Records

PLH (02/10/07)