The
Frank Burkitt Band
Raconteur
Frank
Burkitt Music
Versatility
in music style and instrumentation is the distinguishing feature of The Frank
Burkitt Band who are based in New Zealand.
I was awestruck by the command of blues, jazz, Americana, folk and swing
they serve up on their third album Raconteur. I’ve not heard such effective variety on one
album since Elton’s Goodbye Yellow Brick
Road.
Frank
Burkitt, vocalist and guitarist, also writes as well as Bernie Taupin. On bluesy opener Work So Hard with banjo and
Hammond setting the scene, he drops the grenade “If you’re happy with a little,
you don’t need to work so hard”. The
jazz-suffused Simple with double bass and cello is about the difficulties of
living with an opposite and features the vocals of partner Kara Filbey who also
plays the flute on several songs.
Title
track Raconteur reveals slow Rhodes piano, acoustic guitar and trumpet while
Frank sings as confidently as James Taylor or Glen Campbell, “You always held
the room, in the palm of your hand.”
Paint
the Town is just as much fun as Paolo Nuttini’s Pencil Full of Lead and if
given the same airplay as the current infuriating Baby Shark, it would smack it
right out of the water! (I’ve never taken to novelty, sorry).
The
song Albert Woodfox tells the true story of 43 years of solitary confinement
for murder despite no physical evidence and a discredited witness testimony. Mourning cello and flute accompany Frank’s
tenor voice - “Who did you talk to 23 hours of 24, you staring at a closed door.”
The
Gypsy Barber features Django Reinhardt-style guitar and clarinet with its
clever lyrics set to swing – “He’s been known to cure disease and broker peace
in The Middle East. The Gypsy Barber every week tries harder to make a living
going from town to town.”
Folk-fringed
Walkin’ Right could have been penned by fellow Scot, Bert Jansch and the a cappella
of My Heart Waits completes this album of breadth, depth and talent. Put me down for their next, please!
NE
