Blues 'n Bones

Guitarist Archie Edwards, one of the rare blues ukulele players and surviving Piedmont stylists, didn't have an abundance of recordings in print when he stepped to the microphone in 1989 for this session. But the few dates he made had long ago outlined his boisterous style, exuberant manner, and defiant attitude. These qualities help make Blues 'n Bones something more than just a respectful date; it's got a vitality and freshness that are even more apparent when harmonica player Mark Wenner steps forward and provides some youthful energy and enthusiasm, along with the resourceful drumming of Vernell Fournier. The prickly, dry, rhythmically terse sounds Richard Thomas gets from his "bones" are alone worth the price of the platter.