Biography

"Joel Mabus is a free-ranging fretboard genius and funny, deep songwriter whose warm voice, sly humor, and musicianship sweep audiences along for the ride."
Cornell Folk Song Society 2014

From the album liner notes:

"Here's the blues album I’ve been talking about: ten original songs that spell the blues in my own peculiar way. Now, some might want to call this the "blue side of folk" or the "country side of blues" or just a new set from the old boy. But it's blues to me. My first encounter with the real deal was as a wide-eyed child on the downtown streets of St. Louis in the late 1950's – large black men with metal guitars selling pencils and wailing on the street corners. Later on, as a teen I soaked up a lot from records, weaving my family's hillbilly music with country blues from the likes of Doc, Brownie, Lightning, and Mississippi John. Some of those men I eventually got to know in person, like one winter afternoon in my college dorm in 1973. I was nineteen and Brownie McGhee was staying in the guest suite. He heard me play guitar and invited me in to pick, just the two of us playing hillbilly songs and blues. It was all one thing to that kind Tennessee gentleman. Now I am older than Brownie was then. Time to let this bird fly… "

From the One-sheet:

While “blues” is the theme here, don’t expect the stereotypical 12-bar blues. Some songs have a more lyrical, nearly ragtime melody reminiscent of Spencer Williams. Others have a country twang something like Merle Travis or Bill Monroe. And others are pure Mabus.

1. Welcome Back to the Blues 4:08
2. Simply Lost In The Blues 3:12
3. Hillbilly Singer 5:11
4. Kentucky Hambone Blues 3:47
5. Brown County Bounce 2:47
6. Hemingway's Beard 2:58
7. Hoosier Blues 2:50
8. Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet 2:58
9. A Spin of Desire 2:54
10. How About the Blues 4:25


Tracks 1 and 8 are the darkest in mood.
Tracks 4, 6, and 7 provide the most humor.
Tracks 2, 3, and 9, are the most philosophical
Track 5 is a bright Travis-style instrumental
Track 10 honors the blues heritage.

You can read or download the complete liner notes at JOELMABUS.COM specifically here:
http://joelmabus.com/a_bird_in_this_world_liner_notes_by_joel_mabus.htm


SHORT BIO:
Joel Mabus was born in 1953 to a musical family. His parents played “Hillbilly music” professionally in the 1930s for WLS Barndance road shows. He grew up playing guitar, banjo & mandolin and singing the old-time repertoire of his family, along with a fierce interest in country blues.

Known as both a roots-based songwriter and instrumental virtuoso, Joel has toured extensively. He has played the main stage at the biggest & best folk festivals: Kerrville, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Boston, Winfield, etc.. He has been a guest several times on A Prairie Home Companion, and provides the theme music for public radio’s Folk Sampler. On the club circuit, Joel has played Passim in Boston, Freight & Salvage in Berkeley and all points between.

Mabus has taught both guitar and songwriting at Augusta Heritage, Puget Sound Guitar Week, California Coast Music Camp and Summer Acoustic Music Week in New England. At various guitar festivals he has been paired with Doc Watson, John Hammond, Pat Donohue & Spider John Koerner.

By 1978 Mabus had his first album released, then in 1980 came the first of two LPs recorded for Flying Fish Records. In 1986 he started the Fossil Records label. This is his 24th solo album.

Joel is in the Detroit Music Awards Hall of Fame, and was given the inaugural “Lantern Bearer” award for career achievement by FARM, the Folk Alliance Region Midwest.