JOEL RAFAEL BANDHopperThe Album Network May 12, 2000
For almost a decade now, the Joel Rafael Band have been perfecting their percussive folk sound, playing shows across the land and working out new songs concurrently earning a reputation as one of San Diego's best acoustic bands. Their third release, Hopper, blends mellow folk with melodic world-bet rhythms and Rafael's deep, Harry Chapin-like voice. Backed by Carl Johnson, Dan Rothchild, Jeff Berkley and Rafael's daughter, Jamaica (on violin and viola), Rafael sings his stories with heartfelt passion. Along with Rafael's own tracks, they cover Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg's "Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key" and spoken word guest John Trudell helps out on his own "China Basin Digs."---The Album Network |