Tunes of a Timeless Nature Jay Brown Releases Protest Songs, Folk Songs & Spirituals By Jeff Eason If the music lovers of the High Country ever voted for the band that best represented the area, it would be no surprise if they elected Lazybirds as the Official Band of the Mountains. For nearly a decade, this fearless foursome has presented everything from originals to Kansas City swing-blues to New Orleans jazz. An essentially American combo, the group regularly pays tribute to our country’s greatest composers such as Bob Dylan, Big Bill Broonzy and Thelonious Monk. Lazybirds guitarist Jay Brown spent many hours during the past year recording a two-disc album of his own compositions and the resulting album, Protest Songs, Folk Songs & Spirituals, is a revelation. It shows the many-faceted abilities of a serious musician who doesn’t particularly pay much attention to the current trends in the music industry. As such, it is a breath of musical fresh air. Brown recorded most of the material on Protest Songs, Folk Songs & Spirituals at Higher Ground Studios in Birmingham, Alabama, with additional cuts recorded in the High Country. Joining him in the project were his fellow Lazybirds Mitch Johnston on upright bass and harmony vocals, Andy Christopher on tenor guitar, banjolin, rhythm guitar, kazoo and harmony vocals and James T. Browne on drums and harmony vocals. He also received help on various songs from a number of longtime musical collaborators including his brother Chris Brown, Brian Yearman, Kally Price and others. Despite the contributions of others, this is truly a statement by a single artist with Brown’s voice, guitar and songs taking center stage. He sets the stage for the tone of the album with the opening salvo, “Talkin Sugar Mtn. Blues,” in which Brown takes aim at the developers who are quickly turning the High Country into the Myrtle Beach of the Mountains. Other songs such as “The End of the Trends” and “Nash Vegas Blues” are aimed at the mercurial music industry and the musicians who follow its whims. Brown exposes his spiritual side on the story-song “Any Time the Wind Blows” and “Heavenly Mountain” while “Big Business” gives the guitarist and the rest of the band a chance to show off their accomplished jazz side. During the past few years Brown has performed in smaller settings as a solo guitarist and his chops deftly combine ragtime jazz and blues with an almost classical touch. Jay Brown (foreground) with Lazybirds Andy Christopher and Mitch Johnston, performing in Boone last year. Photo by Jeff Eason Many of the songs have deep ties to traditional forms of music. The lilting “A Mare” recalls the old English folks songs such as “John Barleycorn” while “Goodnight Rock ‘n Roll” is reminiscent of the sweet piano ballads of Tin Pan Alley. The old-time swing sound of “Red Haired Gal” with marvelous vocals by Brian Yearman is so authentic that you would swear it was written and recorded 80 years ago while “Too Late Blues,” with equally impressive vocals by Kally Price, takes one back to the smoky barroom movies of the 30s. Despite the multiplicity of influences, all of the songs are truly original, quite an accomplishment for a two-disc set containing 22 new songs. In addition to Brown’s performances with Lazybirds, he plays lunches at Earth Fare in Boone each Tuesday. Copies of Protest Songs, Folk Songs & Spirituals are available at the Boone Bagelry, Fat Cats Music & Video and Grapevine Music & Video, all located in Boone. The double album costs $15. Brown will be performing at a special CD Release Party for the Protest Songs, Folk Songs & Spirituals at the Boone Saloon on Wednesday, September 22 starting at 7 p.m. The CD Release Party is free and open to the public. For more information, call The Boone Saloon at (828) 264-1811.