The Happiest Man in the World

Eric Bibb refutes the stereotype of the bluesman as bad-ass drunkard who would sell his soul so to play music with greater intensity; he is a clean-living performer whose folk blues rarely dwells on bad times. Indeed, his songs are joyous, music made for camp-fire singalongs. And, as he emphasises in the CD booklet, he is never happier than when sitting in a room making music with like-minded souls. He has gathered together three Finnish musicians and the celebrated British double bassist Danny Thompson to record a series of new Bibb songs: two instrumentals and three cover versions. This has made him so happy that he is, as the title-track declares, ‘The Happiest Man in the World’. The sessions – recorded at The Grange Studios in Norfolk – do sound as if they were relaxed and enjoyable. The interplay between musicians is lyrical, Bibb sings with wry humour and a good-natured bonhomie is evident. Recording in England is most likely what prompted Bibb to cut The Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’ as an acoustic blues, which works surprisingly well. What's lacking is a song or instrumental passage that's truly memorable. But this is great back-porch music: songs to relax to in the sunshine.