Jim Self: "My America 3: My Country" (2025) CD Review

Jim Self is a tuba player who has played on hundreds of movie soundtracks. Perhaps he is most beloved for his work as the musical voice of the spaceship at the end of Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. He has also put out many albums as band leader. He released his first My America album back in 2003, when we still had a country that we could recognize. Sure, the inarticulate George W. Bush was president then, but we had no idea that things could get much, much worse. The second volume, My America 2: Destinations, was released twenty years later. Joe Biden was president then, but we were still somehow in the grip of the guy who occupied the White House before him. Things were weird, for sure. But, holy moly, a year later this country decided to re-elect a rapist who had been convicted on thirty-four felony charges. Sounds preposterous, doesn't it? But in office right now is a criminal. It no longer feels like my America, except of course when I'm listening to music. Now Jim Self has released his third volume in the My America series. No waiting two decades this time around. Titled My America 3: My Country, this album features music from the country realm, but done in Jim Self's special way. People might not think of the tuba as a country music instrument, but those people haven't yet heard this album. Joining Jim Self on this release are Kye Palmer on trumpet and flugelhorn, Bill Booth on trombone and euphonium, Phil Feather on saxophone and flute, Steve Marsh on tenor saxophone and clarinet, Chis Woods on fiddle, Doug Livingston on pedal steel, John Chiodini on guitar, Steve Fister on dobro and slide guitar, Bill Cunliffe on piano, Mike Valerio on bass, Ken Wild on bass, Joe La Barbera on drums, and Brian Kilgore on percussion. Kim Scharnberg did the arrangements.

Though this album is almost entirely made of covers, Jim Self opens it with an original composition titled "Chompin' At The Bit." Yup, he's written a country song. As you might guess from its title, there is a playful, light vibe to this piece, with Jim Self's fluba as the lead voice. It features some good work by Doug Livingston on pedal steel, and by Chris Woods on fiddle. There is some lively work by Steve Fister on electric guitar, and a wonderful lead on fluba, a special instrument that Jim Self invented. Also, there is the sound of a horse at the beginning, as well as partway through the track and at the very end. That's followed by a track titled "Wabashed," an interesting combination of "Wabash Cannonball" and "Orange Blossom Special," two songs named after trains. As it starts, it is like a train slowly moving out of a station, the tuba and drums setting it in motion. And soon we get the familiar theme of "Wabash Cannonball," and everything feels right. Then we find ourselves switching trains, for the musicians begin to pick up steam as they go into "Orange Blossom Special." This is so much fun. There is plenty of great stuff on fiddle. Where it gets even more interesting is when the saxophone takes over, and we are more firmly in jazz territory. The train is now swinging and grooving, and we get some delicious stuff on piano. We are even treated to a drum solo. What more could you want? Well, how about a delightful section where the tuba and fiddle interact? There is a big finish to this track, because it completely deserves it.

I doubt there is a single person out there who doesn't like Dolly Parton. And if there is, I don't want to meet him. On this album, Jim Self performs one of her best songs, "Jolene," with a gentle, thoughtful delivery on fluba of what would be the vocal line. And to make sure things don't get too serious, he throws in a bit of  The Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" at the end. On My America 2: Destinations, Jim Self covered Jimmy Webb's "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," and here he gives us Webb's "Wichita Lineman." This is a pretty and earnest rendition featuring some really nice work by Kye Palmer on flugelhorn. Things then get fun again on "Rocky Top," a song I love. When I was in high school, I dated a girl whose parents had a bluegrass band, and this was a song that they turned me onto. Jim Self delivers a lively rendition, one to get your fingers snapping and your toes tapping. There are wonderful, playful little touches throughout the track, and there is a good lead on bass.

"Crazy" is one of Willie Nelson's most well-known compositions, famously done by Patsy Cline. Jim Self delivers a gentle, easygoing, beautiful rendition. On this track, he is joined just by John Chiodini on guitar, and the two give a memorable and wonderful version of the song. Then we get "The Devil Went Down...," a version of Charlie Daniels Band's "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" that is combined with "Sweet Georgia Brown." The musicians are clearly having a good time here. There is some strong work on fiddle, as you'd expect, and also some really nice stuff on saxophone, which you might not expect. And of course there is plenty of great stuff on tuba. It is a lively and exciting and fun recording. This is one of my favorite tracks.

If you're going to do an album of country songs, there has to be at least one Hank Williams song. Jim Self chooses "Your Cheatin' Heart." And he delivers an interesting rendition, its first section slowed down and delivered with a compelling darkness. It then takes on a Latin dance rhythm, before returning to that darker region. Who would have guessed where this track would take us? What a wonderful ride, leading up to a playful final moment. Another artist who has to be represented on an album of great country material is Johnny Cash, and Jim Self delivers "Folsom Prison Line," a combination of "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk The Line." There is also a little nod to "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" in there. This track is a lot of fun, and features some really wonderful work on piano. I love Jim Self's work, particularly near the end. Why didn't the aliens in Close Encounters deliver a bit of "I Walk The Line"? And check out that crazy ending.

"Sixteen Tons" was written by Merle Travis, and is always a delightful number to cover. Jim Self delivers a cool rendition, the album's only track to feature vocals. Not all the lyrics, mind you, but just the line "Sixteen tons." There are some other playful touches here too, and the whole thing begins to feel like a party of some sort. We can certainly use a celebration in this country. Jim Self and company then wrap things up with a cover of Don Gibson's "I Can't Stop Loving You," a song that Ray Charles had a big hit with. This rendition features some really nice work on piano, in addition to Jim Self's moving work on tuba. What a sweet way to conclude the album.

CD Track List

1. Chompin' At The Bit
2. Wabashed
3. Jolene
4. Wichita Lineman
5. Rocky Top
6. Crazy
7. The Devil Went Down....
8. Your Cheatin' Heart
9. Folsom Prison Line
10. Sixteen Tons
11. I Can't Stop Loving You

My America 3: My Country was released on June 13, 2025 on Basset Hound Records.