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"LABOR AND SPIRITS", the Emory Joseph’s debut album, is a roots gem. Among the musicians listed as having played on the sessions are; Levon Helm (The Band), T-Bone Wolk (Hall and Oates, The SNL Band), Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, John Fogerty), and members of Mary Chapin Carpenter's band; Jon Carroll (Rodney Crowell, The Rice Brothers, Danny Gatton), Dave Mattacks (Paul McCartney, Cat Stevens), and Duke Levine (Sleepy LaBeef, John Gorka).

The music, with the wide range of beats and textures it covers, reminds me a lot of some of the classic artists I've loved since the seventies; John Prine, Little Feat, Jerry Jeff Walker, Skynard, The MTB etc. But it's how he marries those sounds to some I've never heard those acts do which makes this album as cool as I think it is. In fact, I can't think of another recent album of songs, other than some favorite compellations, that weaves as many unique "Americana" styles together as seamlessly as "LABOR & SPIRITS" does.

There really is a lot to love here; the swingingly old school "Rhum and Coffee" and "Family Dog" (featuring Levon Helm playing AND singing for what he calls the last time since his throat cancer), a darkly styled groove song called "Daddy John" about his long absent father, “Trinket’s” with a hi-fi hillbilly soul bag that draws from The Family Stone as much as it does Dillard, Hartford and Dillard, a gospel groove song (“Work to Do”) singing the praises of good cheer more like Elvis’ 70’s band than anyone I remember hearing, a heart wrenching ballad called “Early in the Morning” with it's Flaco Jiminez style accordion solo and "Eagles-eque" background harmonies etc, etc, and etc. In fact, every track on LABOR & SPIRITS is a rock steady study of where you can cross rock music over on folk and soul. The recordings themselves being worthy of high praise, it’s outstanding in both content and quality, This is an amazing debut album.

When I ask him about the long time it seemingly took to be "a recording artist", he offers, "Well, it's true that at times I wondered if having albums with my name on them was ever gonna happen for me. But the state of my career union, and what I might end up having to show, or not show, for the all the years I've called myself a "musician" never really mattered much. I've always been aware of how beautiful and pure music can be to a person born with the mark, and have protected music from ever being blamed for anything that was probably a shortcoming of mine. Business and greed can be weird, but that's not music, that's the world. I always knew it would happen for the best when it happened. And it did."

About the recordings he did make over the years, he says, "That's a wide range of stuff there pally... Some of it was pretty…um special.., But that's the way my life has been in general." He goes on to tell me some about having been many things in his life; a horseshoer, a sailor, dog trainer, masseuse, and about "makin' and slingin' a whole bunch of uptown hash Jackson!"

If his current level of enthusiasm and opportunity is any indication, I think the wait will end up having been worthwhile for everyone. Still, thinking about the amazing singing and playing he does on LABOR & SPIRITS, I can't help but wonder about the dusty tape boxes that are probably out there, laying and waiting in the dark for someone to care enough to look for them.

Now it's three hours plus since we left the house. Almost to the next supermarket we'll probably cruise right past, he does an impromptu U-turn and asks me if I've ever been to "a real live Trader Vic's? " Although the prospect of going Tiki with him sounds like it could be a little dangerous. I lie and say that I haven't.

My guess is that whatever happens here today before Happy Hour's through, Boudreaux won't go without his supper.

Roper Whitfield is a vegetarian from Tupelo Mississippi.