So after last night’s and this morning’s rain the temperatures today were fairly moderate, so I knew I could run this afternoon. This is really the first week in a long time that I’ve gotten three runs in, so I plotted out a flat course that was approximately 5 miles long, but I made it so that if I wanted to cut it short I could. My legs felt pretty good throughout the run and over the first 3 miles I ran at about a 9:50 pace, but on the fourth mile I was gassed so I figured that instead of pushing it to make the 5 miles, which I could have done, I decided to use the direct route home and end the run at about 4.5 miles and live to run another day! I finished at about a 10:09 pace. The sound track of the run was another blues album this one sits at number 37 on the Roots Music Report Music is Medicine from Zac Harmon.
Considering that both of the other blues artists I’ve listened to over the last week were Canandian, I half expected that when I went to read his biography I’d see that Harmon was from Canadian, too. But since one of the songs on the album is “Country Boy” that really didn’t seem likely! Harmon was in fact, born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi home of the legendary Elmore James. He has worked as a lead guitarist for the likes of Sam Myers and as a studio musician. He has also been a writer and producer, crafting songs for the likes of the O’Jays, Whispers, Karyn White, Alexander O’Neal and Black Uhuru.
But Zac’s love has always been the blues and in 2002 released an album titled Live at Babe & Ricky’s Inn, to rave reviews. In 2004 he band Mid South Blues Revue, won the Blues Foundation’s prestigious International Blues Challenge (IBC) title of “Best Unsigned Band” , Since then he has garnered several more awards including : “Best New Blues Artist” in the inaugural XM Nation Awards in 2005, and the 2006 Blues Music Award for “Best New Artist Debut” for The Blues According to Zacariah. Also in 2006 , he was featured in Blues Revue magazine, as one of the 10 artists that “…represent the future of the blues”.
With his smooth voice and delivery Harmon reminds me a lot of Robert Cray. I enjoyed the album, especially Harmon’s guitar and the smokin’ organ on a couple of the tracks. Here’s a performance of the classic “Rock Me Baby” That showcases Harmon’s guitar work!
