Genuine Negro Jig (album)
Encyclopedia
Genuine Negro Jig is the fourth album of the Carolina Chocolate Drops
, one of the few African-American string bands playing today. Its label debut was released on February 16, 2010, while its vinyl version, which included the album on 140-gram vinyl and CD, was released on July 13. This is the first and so far only album the band has recorded for Nonesuch Records
. It was highly successful, reaching the top ten on the Billboard Folk chart and the top of the Bluegrass chart.
Like most of the Carolina Chocolate Drops' work, the album, a mixture of traditional folk songs and recent pieces, is part of the Chocolate Drops' effort to celebrate the string band music of the Piedmont
region of North
and South Carolina
, and the influence of African-Americans on this music. On NPR
, band member Rhiannon Giddens pointed out that "it seems that two things get left out of the history books. One, that there was string band music in the Piedmont, period. (And that) black folk was such a huge part of string tradition.” Although the music the Chocolate Drops play is quite eclectic, the band members claim that early 20th-century African American string bands also drew from a wide range of genres in their musical repertoire. In describing the music, Giddens discusses how she was inspired but not bound by the genres in which she works—"Tradition is a guide, not a jailer. We play in an older tradition but we are modern musicians."
Genuine Negro Jig was well received by critics. Blogcritics
writes that "our ears are all the better for it" and is "hoping that this record will not only put the Carolina Chocolate Drops on the map, but will also draw new listeners in to the genres of old country and blues." The 9513 describes Genuine Negro Jig as "an album of feistily complex, yet endearingly soulful songs that have ages of history behind them and a bright future as well." Paste magazine calls the Chocolate Drops "the genuine article" whose "enthusiasm for the tradition is obvious." The Guardian writes that the album is "well worth checking out."
The album won a 2010 Grammy in the best traditional folk album category, and was number 9 in fRoots magazine's top 10 albums of the year.
Carolina Chocolate Drops
The Carolina Chocolate Drops is an old-time string band from Durham, North Carolina, United States. Its 2010 album, Genuine Negro Jig, won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, and was number 9 in FRoots magazine's top 10 albums of 2010.The Drops are one...
, one of the few African-American string bands playing today. Its label debut was released on February 16, 2010, while its vinyl version, which included the album on 140-gram vinyl and CD, was released on July 13. This is the first and so far only album the band has recorded for Nonesuch Records
Nonesuch Records
Nonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP...
. It was highly successful, reaching the top ten on the Billboard Folk chart and the top of the Bluegrass chart.
Like most of the Carolina Chocolate Drops' work, the album, a mixture of traditional folk songs and recent pieces, is part of the Chocolate Drops' effort to celebrate the string band music of the Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
region of North
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and the influence of African-Americans on this music. On NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
, band member Rhiannon Giddens pointed out that "it seems that two things get left out of the history books. One, that there was string band music in the Piedmont, period. (And that) black folk was such a huge part of string tradition.” Although the music the Chocolate Drops play is quite eclectic, the band members claim that early 20th-century African American string bands also drew from a wide range of genres in their musical repertoire. In describing the music, Giddens discusses how she was inspired but not bound by the genres in which she works—"Tradition is a guide, not a jailer. We play in an older tradition but we are modern musicians."
Genuine Negro Jig was well received by critics. Blogcritics
Blogcritics
Blogcritics is a blog network and online magazine of news and opinion. The site—a self-proclaimed "sinister cabal of superior writers"—was founded in 2002 by Eric Olsen and Phillip Winn...
writes that "our ears are all the better for it" and is "hoping that this record will not only put the Carolina Chocolate Drops on the map, but will also draw new listeners in to the genres of old country and blues." The 9513 describes Genuine Negro Jig as "an album of feistily complex, yet endearingly soulful songs that have ages of history behind them and a bright future as well." Paste magazine calls the Chocolate Drops "the genuine article" whose "enthusiasm for the tradition is obvious." The Guardian writes that the album is "well worth checking out."
The album won a 2010 Grammy in the best traditional folk album category, and was number 9 in fRoots magazine's top 10 albums of the year.
Track listing
- Peace Behind the Bridge (Etta BakerEtta BakerEtta Baker was an American Piedmont blues guitarist and singer from North Carolina, United States.-Biography:...
) — 2:34 - Trouble in Your Mind (Traditional) — 2:55
- Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine (Charlie JacksonCharlie JacksonCharlie Jackson is an American football coach, who is currently a defensive assistant for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League.Jackson began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at UCLA...
/ Dom Flemons) — 3:00 - Hit 'Em Up Style (Dallas AustinDallas AustinDallas Austin is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson, TLC, Boyz II Men, Pink, Monica, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Stacie Orrico, Another Bad Creation, Fishbone, Sugababes, Anastacia, Namie Amuro, Kim...
) — 3:56 - Cornbread and Butterbeans (Traditional) — 3:10
- Snowden's Jig (Genuine Negro Jig) (Traditional) — 3:53
- Why Don't You Do Right? (Kansas Joe McCoyKansas Joe McCoyKansas Joe McCoy was an African American Delta blues musician and songwriter.-Career:McCoy played music under a variety of stage names but is best known as "Kansas Joe McCoy". Born in Raymond, Mississippi, he was the older brother of the blues accompanist Papa Charlie McCoy...
) — 3:36 - Cindy Gal (Traditional) — 2:28
- Kissin' and Cussin' (Justin RobinsonJustin Robinson-Early life:Robinson played for the Brixton TopCats before moving to the United States to attended high school at the Blair Academy. As a junior he would lead Blair to a Mid-Atlantic Prep League title and was named to the All-MAPL first team.-College career:...
) — 3:21 - Sandy Boys (Traditional) — 2:25
- Reynadine (Traditional) — 2:37
- Trampled Rose (Kathleen BrennanKathleen BrennanKathleen Brennan is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and artist. She was born in Johnsburg, Illinois, as noted by her husband and musical collaborator Tom Waits, in the song of the same name. Brennan and Waits met in 1980 during the filming of the Francis Ford Coppola film One from...
, Tom WaitsTom WaitsThomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
) — 4:36 - Bonus Download: Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine (live) (Charlie Jackson / Dom Flemons) — 3:38
- Bonus Download: Cornbread and Butterbeans (live) (Traditional) — 3:57
- Bonus Download: Georgia Buck (live) (Traditional) — 3:03
- Bonus Download: Hit 'Em Up Style (live) (Dallas Austin) — 5:28
- Bonus Download: Snowden's Jig (Genuine Negro Jig) (live) (Traditional) — 4:07
- Bonus Download: Memphis Shakedown (live) (Traditional) — 3:40
- Bonus Download: Trouble in Your Mind (live) (Traditional) — 3:06