Stony Plain artist: Rory Block - Shake 'em On Down - New Recording review

I just received a copy of Rory Block's newest recording, "Shake 'em On Down", a tribute to Mississippi Fred McDowell. This release is the third in a series of recordings by Block as tributes to great Blues Masters. The first two, "The Lady and Mr. Johnson, a tribute to Robert Johnson was aimed as being a note for note recreation of Roberts work. The second, Blues Walkin' Like A Man, Block's tribute to Son House began with the same concept but ultimately revised in concept as the session went on. This newest recording takes a different turn on the spectrum. Block explains that McDowell laid down a beat and didn't let up. She began in this manner but after with the repetitive riff but found it necessary to get creative and interject her own style. Only 3 of the 12 songs included on the release are original with one attributed to Sonny Boy Williamson and the balance to Fred McDowell. The recording is masterfully played as Block is a world class guitar player. It should be a welcome addition to any collection of contemporary acoustic blues lovers.
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Rory Block - Tour Schedule

2012 Itinerary

03/30/12 WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY WESTHAMPTON PAC
03/31/12 OLD SAYBROOK, CT THE KATE
04/05/12 FRYEBURG, ME FRYEBURG ACADEMY
04/06/12 COLINSVILLE, CT BRIDGE STREET LIVE
04/12/12 LEXINGTON, KY BEREA COLLEGE - LA GUITARA

HOLLAND & BELGIUM

04/17/12 VEENENDAAL, NL THEATER DE LAMPEGIET
04/18/12 TERVUREN, BEL GC PAPEBLOK
04/20/12 OOSTERBURG, NL LEDEL THEATER
04/21/12 LEEWARDEN, NL THEATER ROMEIN
04/22/12 HOOGLAND, NL DE NOOT
04/24/12 OTTERSUM, NL CC ROEPAEN
04/25/12 SITTARD, NL STADSSCHOUWBURG
04/26/12 EINDHOVEN, NL MUZIEKGEBOUW
04/27/12 BRUGGE, BEL STADSSCHOUWBURG
04/28/12 ZWOLLE, NL ODEON DE SPIEGEL
04/29/12 WAREGEM, BE CC DE SCHAKEL

CANADA

05/12/12 GRAVENHURST, ONT PETERS PLAYERS
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Terraplane Blues - Rory Block

Aurora "Rory" Block (born November 6, 1949, Princeton, New Jersey) is an American female blues guitarist and singer, a notable exponent of the country blues style.
Aurora Block was born in Princeton and grew up in Manhattan. Her father, Allan Block, ran a sandal shop in Greenwich Village in the 1960s, and the influence of the Greenwich Village folk music scene, such as Peter Rowan, Maria Muldaur, and John Sebastian, tempted Block to study classical guitar. At the age of 14, she met guitarist Stefan Grossman, who introduced her to the music of Mississippi Delta blues guitarists. Block began listening to old albums, transcribing them, and learning to play the songs. At age 15, she left home to seek out the remaining blues giants, such as Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis and Son House, and hone her craft in the traditional manner of blues musicians;[1] then she traveled to Berkeley, California where she played in clubs and coffeehouses.

After retiring temporarily to raise a family, Block returned to the music industry in the 1970s with middling success until signing with Rounder Records in 1981, who encouraged her to return to her love for the classical blues form. Since then she has carved out her own niche, releasing numerous critically acclaimed albums of original and traditional songs, including many Robert Johnson covers, such as "Terraplane Blues" and "Come on in My Kitchen". Block has won five W. C. Handy Awards, two for "Traditional Blues Female Artist" (1997, 1998) and three for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year" (1996, 1999, 2007). She also won NAIRD awards for "Best Adult Contemporary Album of the Year" in 1994 for Angel of Mercy and again in 1997 for Tornado.

Angel of Mercy, Turning Point, and Tornado were filled with her self penned efforts. However, Mama's Blues, Ain't I A Woman and When A Woman Gets The Blues, featured songs written by Tommy Johnson, Robert Johnson, Lottie Beaman, and Mattie Delaney.

Block continued to tour, although not as heavily as earlier, and she was often accompanied by her son Jordan Block, who also played on her albums. She remained busy in the early part of the 2000s, releasing six albums, including a live recording. 2005's From the Dust drew decent critical reviews, as did 2006's The Lady and Mr. Johnson.

In 2010 Rory Block released her autobiography in .pdf format titled "When A Woman Gets The Blues" available for download from her website.

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