By james art From the venue:
If Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens had a love child, with Rodney Dangerfield as the midwife, the results might be something close to the great Vance Gilbert,” says Richmond Magazine.
Vance’s new album, “The Mother Of Trouble,” features Grammy winner Lori McKenna on background vocals, Juno Award winner and Bonnie Raitt Grammy, hit song co-writer Joey Landreth on guitars, and Americana-roots master mandolin player Joe K. Walsh . With 4 molestations, 4 deaths (3 of them murders), 3 mothers, 2 accidents, 2 blacks, 2 dogs, 1 dog ball and 1 missed flight thanks to gas station sushi, this album benefits from the gifts of time and experience in honing the songwriting skills that put this most vibrant of acoustic storytellers at the top of his game.
Oh, and the manual wants to make sure to tell you that this is the 14th release for this strong acoustic representative.
One of the creators of the finally recognized R&B/Folk/Jazz crossover subgenre, Vance was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. Starting out with hopes of being an R&B and jazz singer once in college, it was there that he discovered his affinity for the storytelling sensibilities of an acoustic singer-songwriter. Word spread like wildfire about Gilbert’s singing and playing as a stage owner, and Sean Colvin invited him to be a special guest on her 1992 Fat City tour, where he took much of America by storm and surprise. “With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil and the guitar playing of a god…” wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.