Shake It For Me
Music Maker, 2023
9/10
The 78 year old bluesman Clarence Davis was born and raised in the Black Belt of Alabama, and he brings that upbringing into his one man band formula that uses electric guitar and bass pedal alongside his raw voice.
“Not Your Fool” opens the listen with the spirited electric guitar and thumping drums amid plenty of grit and melody in the authentic blues rocker, and “Gotta Rock It”, an original, follows with plenty of rhythm flowing through the bouncy climate.
Further along, the title track recruits a very primitive and harmonic demeanor with its raw recording, while “Facebook Blues”, another Davis original, pairs mesmerizing guitar playing with his expressive pipes in the strong southern influence.
Approaching the end, the dense and powerful “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” is the album’s best and makes for timeless and harmonic blues rock that’s as meticulous as it is infectious, and “Just Gettin’ Good” recruits well timed harmonica for the highly melodic and dynamic musicianship.
Davis and his family spent their days working in the fields for $2.50 a day, and used a battery operated radio to listen to Muddy Watters and Jimmy Reed. An abandoned guitar floated in his family and ended up in his hands, and it wasn’t long until his fingers were too sore from playing to pick cotton.
Davis’ version of the blues as about as genuine as it comes, and his ability to play multiple instruments while singing is nothing short of impressive here.
Travels well with: Gail Ceasar- Guitar Woman Blues; Sugarharp- Sugar Is My Name