Elliott Sharp's Terraplane - Do The Don't

Blues as nostalgic roots music? No way! A blues avant-garde formed in the US some time ago which sensitively incorporates the achievements of tradition and transforms them into an aggressive music of the future. They need neither computers nor any other electronic means, but can build on the resources and repertoire of classical blues. Before acts like Hazmat Modine, the Black Keys, and Son Of Dave developed their future blues, it was first of all New York guitarist Elliott Sharp who made new audiences aware of electronically amplified blues. With his band Terraplane, he has been opening up new paths for the blues since the mid-1990s. His 1994 debut album Terraplane, which was recorded when the group was still a trio, is probably the most efficient synthesis of blues and punk in recent rock history.

Elliott Sharp's guitar salvos on Do The Don't leave no doubt that this album is only going in one direction - forward. To that end, he surrounds himself with a superb crew. The vocals are provided by the duo of Eric Mingus & Dean Bowman. Mingus lives up to his name; the son of jazz icon Charles Mingus is as nonconformist, powerful & full of energy as his father. Bassist David Hofstra played with the Microscopic Septet and, together with Sharp, in Wayne Horvitz's The President. The unflappable veteran, who crosses the line between avant-garde and tradition, was one of the founding members of Terraplane. Drummer Sim Cain is known particularly for his percussive thunder with the Rollins Band. Jazz musician Sam Furnace, who died shortly after the album was recorded, gave Terraplane's sound an earthiness with his baritone saxophone that makes the music moist and rich for all its urbanity. Hubert Sumlin enhances the CD as a special guest. Sumlin is not only one of the last surviving blues authorities, but to some extent is also Sharp's blues mentor.