Maurice Hope – August 30, 2016 at 04:57AM
Tags:_AMERICANA
Alberta, Canada singer-songwriter John Wort Hannam writes beautiful, easy to absorb lyrics. He also sings good. Steeped in the history of where he was raised (although he was actually born on Jersey in the Channel Islands) and of his Native American heritage. He gained degrees in Native American Studies and Native Education and taught grade nine on the reserve for five years, before pursuing a full-time career in music. He carries all this into his songwriting.
Hannam’s subjects include the human condition and the vast and varied landscape of his upbringing in Western Canada and beyond. Leeroy Stagger produced Love Lives On, and it is only the second time I have come across JWH although he has a handful of records out. Queens Hotel (2010) was my other experience, and I can remember how impressed I as with his work and thought he had great potential. Here his music is good to outstanding, and on the occasions he hits the higher benchmark it is undeliverable good, and often as not exquisitely beautiful. Steeped in richness of the soul, Hannam’s observations of everyday people making their way through life augmented by his own experiences ensure the songs are easily accessed.
There is some splendid playing on the record from JWH, John Ellis, Bob Hamilton, Kyle Harmon, Brady Valgardson, Tyson Maiko, Kurt Ciesla, Daniel Lapp, Russell Broom, Leeroy Stagger, Michael Ayotte and Adrian Dolan plus there’s backing vocals from Natalie Gauthier, Matt Robinson, Kala Adolphe and Ben McKay.
While not every song stopped me in my tracks, there’s a handful head and shoulders above not only his general efforts but also those of his peers. Bracketed in there you have the sublime “Man Of God”; a song that speaks ill deeds Native American’s suffered at the hands of the White man as they were forced to forgo their culture. Others of note include “Roll Roll Roll” (as he speaks of how he is a little like his old man, who too was a rambler in his time), “Chasing The Song” and on taking up a determined stance “Gonna See My Love”. The track could just as easily be performed as an acoustic blues song (top class). Complete with swirling electric guitar an incessant rhythm comes the infectious “Over The Moon”.
Sweeter and with playing acoustic finger-picking and a folk country feel to it “Heart For Sale” with its lifting melody, piano, chugging rhythm and harmony vocals has a delightful feel to it. On taking the listener and himself back to his youth the horns aided “Molly & Me” enjoys a warm flow to the lyrics and a feel for rejoicing. “Good Nite Nova Scotia” rounds off the recording, and with a busy instrumental arrangement the tune speaks of homesickness and many fond memories of the land he is separated from to where at the time he finds himself (nice fiddle work too).
Maurice Hope
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