Durham, NC based guitarist, singer/songwriter and preservationist Jake Xerxes Fussell has lived a minstrel’s life, previously living in Georgia and Mississippi as well as growing up traveling with historian father on trips across the American South and touring with popular acts like Wilco. The follow-up to Fussell’s 2017 acclaimed What In The Natural World, Out of Sight was developed out of informal sessions with local musicians covering Curtis Mayfield, doo-wop groups, and fiddle tunes. Here Fussell is joined by a full band featuring Nathan Bowles (drums), Casey Toll (bass), Nathan Golub (pedal steel), Libby Rodenbough (violin, vocals), and James Anthony Wallace (piano, organ). Album highlights include: the beautiful opening track “The River St. Johns”; a warm interpretation of Thomas McCarthy’s “Michael was Hearty”; the somewhat humorous “Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues”; a mellow cover of Jean Ritchie’s “Jubilee”; the languid waltz of “The Rainbow Willow”; and the fishermen’s shanty/gospel song “Drinking of the Wine.” Jake Xerxes Fussell’s Out of Sight is another excellent album on his collection and if you haven’t checked out his two previous albums, then you are really missing out. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | The Delines, Andrew Combs, Hiss Golden Messenger, The Milk Carton Kids, Dave Rawlings