Guitarist and fiddler
David Bromberg is a legend in roots music circles, a genuine guitar virtuoso and session ace whose quirky mystique has been burnished by periodic withdrawals from the public eye (currently, his full-time job is as a dealer and repairman of vintage violins). He released no music between 1990 and 2007, at which point he emerged briefly from his recording hiatus with the acoustic folk-blues effort
Try Me One More Time. Four years later he has come out with a much different project. The aptly titled
Use Me is the result of an unusual collaborative effort:
Bromberg contacted some of his favorite songwriters (
Levon Helm,
Tim O'Brien,
Keb' Mo',
Los Lobos,
Dr. John, and
John Hiatt, among others) and asked them to write songs for him. The result is a completely entertaining and at times thrilling program of material in a wide variety of styles: "Old Neighborhood" finds
Bromberg collaborating with
Widespread Panic in a soul-funk vein; "Bring It with You When You Come" is a charming excursion into jug-band skiffle with
Helm on drums; "The Long Goodbye" is a tender waltz with
Los Lobos. Singing has never been
Bromberg's strong suit, but over the years he has learned to make the most of his limited vocal instrument -- notice how he uses his low range and his natural quaver to endearing effect on the old
Brook Benton weeper "It's Just a Matter of Time" (on which he's assisted by
Linda Ronstadt). It's too bad he didn't try a bit harder on the
Hiatt composition "Ride on Out a Ways," which he speaks more than sings, but the song's soulful chord progression provides real melodic interest all on its own. There's a pervasive sense of mutual affection and musical respect throughout this album that makes it a pleasure to listen to even in those moments when its other elements don't quite come together perfectly. ~ Rick Anderson
