Papa Mali - Music is Love (2015)

Music is Love is produced by veteran roots producer John Chelew, a three time Grammy winner for his work with Blind Boys of Alabama who has also worked with Donovan, Charlie Musselwhite, Vic Chesnutt, Richard Thompson and John Hiatt. Built upon the foundation of Papa Mali s electric, acoustic and slide guitars, vibes, pedal steel and the irrepressible pockets of NOLA drum legend Johnny Vidacovich (Professor Longhair, Johnny Adams, James Booker, Mose Allison), the colorful 12 track tripscape features a mix of uniquely refashioned covers of lesser known gems by Al Green ( I'm a Ram, a Papa Mali concert favorite), Crosby (the folk-centered singalong title track) and Randy Newman ( Let s Burn Down The Cornfield ); wild re-interpretations of traditional pieces ( Lonesome Road, Spikedriver); and the provocative Go Down Water, a damning indictment of the Army Corps of Engineers (and failed levees) by contemporary Louisiana author Louis Maistros.