Outskirts of Country Blog

Muldaur preparing jug band music

Rick Teverbaugh  |  July 31, 2009

I first became familiar with jug band music through my affection for the Lovin' Spoonful. I backward traced John Sebastian and came upon the Even Dozen Jug Band and also found Maria Muldaur and David Grisman. Now Muldaur has announced an album, Her Garden of Joy, for Oct. 6 on Stony Plain Records. The disc will be composed of jug band music.

The album will reunite Muldaur with Sebastian and Grisman, but also with several others juggers, including the final recording of the late Fritz Richmond from the Jim Kweskin Jug Band as well as accomplished bluesman Taj Mahal.

The disc will also have Dan Hicks, of Hot Licks fame. Muldaur's album will be powered by a new jug band, the Crow Quill Night Owls. Muldaur has been quoted as being quite complimentary of this group including the leader Kit Stovepipe.

According to Muldaur there is a bit of a renaissance in jug band music worldwide. I don't have any idea if that's true, but the genre certainly has an uplifting, fun quality when done properly as well as an amateurish and nearly unlistenable quality when done poorly.

I've always had great fondness for Muldaur some pleasurable fantasies built around her version of Don't You Feel My Leg. I've always regretted not getting to hear her latest album, Naughty, Bawdy & Blue. When I get a chance to hear the new album, you can be sure I'll post my impressions here.

Do you have any favorite jug band groups and/or songs? I'd like to know to know about them.

(Photo by Catherine Sebastian/CSP Images)