FREEMAN PICKS COTTON, MATHUS BALES HAY

Derrick eschews the more expected approach of a premier Crescent City drummer by employing a Memphis horn section, Mississippi production, weeping pedal steel, and a genre crossing array of material, to create a CD that sounds like it was recovered from a Trans-Dirty South time capsule with blunt included. (Instructions to aliens: smoke this; play this loud!) Yeah, “It Is What It Is” could save the Universe. Imagine space aliens making out in the backseat of an ’80 Caprice, high on Budweiser and reefer and you’ll get an idea of what Mr. Smoker is all about.

Derrick hooked up with producers Jimbo and Olga Mathus at Delta Recording Service in Como, Mississippi to record “It Is What It Is.” “It’s a truly beautiful record,” says Jimbo. I’m a huge admirer of Derrick’s work, as well Jonathan Freilich (guitarist). Working with them, Keng (vocalist), and Adam Matasar (keyboard) in Mississippi was too cool. Derrick’s producer, arranger and songwriting skills blew me away”.

“I was called to do this recording” says Mr. Smoker. “These songs represent a whole interpretation of early musical and life influences, some even before I was born, but only realized later in life. Songs that reflect my family background in Houston, Memphis, and Mississippi. Songs in the sub-conscious”.

This becomes apparent when you hear Mr. Smoker’s interpretation of “Ode to Billie Joe,” the classic song/fable of Deep South tragedy and suppression. Derrick, a young African American, has his own patriarchal roots lying somewhere in the Mississippi Delta, near the Tallahatchie Bridge. Time and racism buried these roots deeply but Derrick knows they are there and honors them in this recording. His version of the Cars “Let the Good Times Roll” (a song any kid in 1983 would have heard), is completely off the chain. Shannon McNally appears on Jim Croce’s “Operator” in a beautiful duet.

Derrick Freeman puts some missing pieces back in the musical puzzle on “It Is What It Is” and shows how simple pop music, both black and white, can be truly meaningful and moving. This CD will take you back and prepare you for the future. Wake Up Everybody!

~Jimbo Mathus