Larry Garner

"Baton Rouge"

Evidence EcD 26106-2

Larry Garner's stylish guitar, smooth vocals and persuasive songs made him a star in Europe many years before he started getting attention at home.  The Korean War vet spent two decades working a day job at a chemical plant in Baton Rouge to support his family and playing the blues at night. Finally, he decided to take the plunge and become a full-time performer. He tells the story in Blues Pay My Way, one of the highlights of Garner's latest release.

Garner's gamble paid off and his career has taken off since he gave up his day job. He recorded two well-received albums in Europe and in 1995 received raves for his American debut cD, You Need To Live A Little.  That same year he recorded the songs on this album, but they were never released until Evidence Records picked up distribution rights recently.

There's a little bit of everything on Baton Rouge and it's all good-blues, bouncy shuffles, funk, gospel and more. Garner's songs are as honest as anything I've heard. "I got to go with the feelin' I got," he says in one song, and he does just that in songs about the human condition, real life stories to a Blues beat. This is one of the more
enjoyable cds I've heard this year.

Norman Davis

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