Bruce Cockburn: “Crowing Ignites” (2019) CD Review

In 2005, accomplished singer and songwriter Bruce Cockburn released an album of instrumental tracks titled Speechless, which was a compilation of new and previously released material. He has now followed that up with a second instrumental album, this time with all new material titled Crowing Ignites. On some tracks, he performs solo. On others, he is joined by a few musicians. All tracks feature his superb and passionate guitar work. Bruce Cockburn takes us to a lot of different places on this album, each track with its own distinct style and feel. While we are stuck inside our homes during the coronavirus pandemic, this album provides a way to do a little traveling.

The album opens with “Bardo Rush,” with a pretty and bright feel to some of the guitar work, while that steady groove keeps things moving forward with a sense of urgency. While Bruce Cockburn’s guitar is the dominant instrument, on this track he is joined by Bo Carper on shakers and Janice Powers on keys. The work on keys adds an interesting atmospheric texture, and creates a more expansive landscape. That’s followed by “Easter,” this one performed by Bruce solo. This is a good time to be listening to this track, obviously. In the disc’s liner notes, he indicates that he came up with the idea for this tune on Easter of 2018. This one has a sweet, relaxed feel at first, and for me conjures up images of family gatherings, which is wonderful particularly for those of us who miss our families during these frightening times. There is a change partway through, with the guitar picking up the tempo a bit, adding more excitement to the piece. There is a good deal of cheer to the playing, and this track should raise your spirits. “April In Memphis” is also performed by Bruce Cockburn solo. He plays chimes as well as guitar on this one, and the chimes have a spiritual feel, adding an interesting layer to the track. This one pulls us in and takes us on something of an emotional journey, at times having a pretty, even delicate sound, and other times adding just a bit of blues. This track also breathes, creating these interesting spaces where we might anticipate the next step.

Blind Willie Johnson sang and played the blues, and is known for the recordings he did in the late 1920s. The track “Blind Willie” is named after him, and on it we certainly get a heavier dose of blues, but blues with a good groove. Bo Carper is again on shakers, and Colin Linden joins Bruce Cockburn on dobro on this track. There is a delightful energy to this one, and it becomes a wonderful little jam that I wish would go on a bit longer. Bruce Cockburn then switches gears with “Seven Daggers,” which features kalimba. In addition to 12-string guitar and kalimba, Bruce plays sansula (which actually is a variation of a kalimba), charango (which is a type of lute), dulcimer, chimes and bells. He is joined by Colin Linden on baritone guitar. This one has a strange, otherworldly vibe at its core, mysterious and spiritual. There is something beautiful and intriguing about this track. Things then get jazzy with “The Mt. Lefroy Waltz,” with Ron Miles on cornet, Robert Occhipinti on bass, and Gary Craig on drums. This track eases in, and once it gets going it feels like it is taking place at some secret club where the music goes all night while other unusual activities are happening.

We then get “Sweetness and Light,” and, boy, “Sweetness And Light” is the perfect title for this track. That’s exactly what it sounds like, a tune to make us all feel a bit better. Things are rather stressful, and as some of us enter our second month of unemployment and the money is beginning to run out, we need music like this to ease our minds, to lift us up. There is a welcoming sound to this track. This is one that Bruce Cockburn performs solo on guitar. That’s followed by “Angels In The Half Light,” another solo performance. It is interesting, for this one has a rather earthly groove. If these are angels, then they have become flesh and blood, and are right here in the room with us, with pulses and appetites, some fairly dark. But it feels that we will all pull through. We then go back to the blues realm with “The Groan,” which has a steady groove. In addition to guitar, Bruce Cockburn plays some percussion on this track. He is joined by Colin Linden on mandolin. Bruce, Colin, Janice Powers, Daniel Keebler, Celia Shacklett and Iona Cockburn also provide handclaps on this one, an interesting and unexpected element. Bruce Cockburn plays guitar and dulcimer on “Pibroch: The Wind In The Valley,” and is joined again by Janice Powers on keys. This one takes us to the rocky and green mountains of Scotland. This wonderful album then concludes with “Bells Of Gethsemane,” a track with an air of mystery to it, like something breaking open in the dawn, a dream-like presence that the tune is hoping to gain some control over, like a snake charmer or something. This is a solo performance. In addition to guitar, Bruce Cockburn is on singing bowls, Tibetan cymbals, gong and chimes. This becomes a fascinating and exciting track as it builds, particularly that guitar work.

CD Track List

1. Bardo Rush
2. Easter
3. April In Memphis
4. Blind Willie
5. Seven Daggers
6. The Mt. Lefroy Waltz
7. Sweetness And Light
8. Angels In The Half Light
9. The Groan
10. Pibroch: The Wind In The Valley
11. Bells Of Gethsemane

Crowing Ignites was released on September 20, 2019 on True North Records.