The Whole Music Experience

Harry Manx Isle of Manx The Desert Island Collection Dog My Cat Records/World Village I had the pleasure of meeting Harry Manx at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in 2003.   And Manx introduced me to the music of Pandit Mohan Vishwa Bhatt (inventor of Indian slide-guitar), while also reacquainting me with American blues.   Manx created his own sound that combines the spiritual sounds of India with earthy blues.   But more than that, Manx is a born-storyteller, traveler, and a Canadian bluesman.   I allowed too many years to pass by, before revisiting Manx’s songs and then Isle of Manx (a best of album) arrived in my post office box. My favorites, Coat of Mail , Don’t Forget to Miss Me , Bring that Thing , and Lay Down My Worries appear here, along side songs I’m hearing for the first time.   Indian slide guitar, warm acoustic guitar, and American slide guitar frame Manx’s folk-blues vocals.   Sadly, musician credits don’t app...

Doug Cox & Salil Bhatt Slide to Freedom 2 Make a Better World Northern Blues In 2003 I interviewed Canadian bluesman Harry Manx at the Vancouver International Folk Festival. As we sat in the gorgeous Jericho Beach park (Vancouver, Canada), and the sun washed over us, Harry and I discussed his unique blend of American blues and classical Indian ragas. I was also introduced to the music of Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, founder of the Mohan Veena. As synchronicity played its role, I received 2 albums by Vishwa Mohan Bhatt shortly after that, which I enjoyed immensely. Fast forward to the present where I am listening to Vishwa's son, Salil Bhatt, also a Indian slide guitarist, team up with Canadian slide guitarist Doug Cox on Slide to Freedom 2 (Make a Better World). You'll find nothing short of high-vibrational music on this disc. Blues pieces sung by John Boutte mix with ragas. I especially like the blues piece, I Scare Myself and of course, the rousing For You Blu...