:: Leon Bibb And Eric Bibb - Praising Peace - A Tribute To Paul Robeson

Leon Bibb And Eric Bibb

It was four years ago that globetrotting blues/soul/gospel/folk artist Eric Bibb collaborated with his father Leon Bibb on ‘A Family Affair’, but the pair have once again reunited, this time paying tribute to the late singer, actor and peace activist Paul Robeson. As the name suggests, Leon Bibb very much plays the lead role on this album (which is hardly surprising given that he was good friends with Robeson as far back as the 1950’s, so much so that he was given the honour of being named Eric’s Godfather), with his baritone voice easily covering Robeson favourites such as ‘Joe Hill’ (which Leon introduces with a brief spoken word piece), the gospel inspired pair of ‘Motherless Child’ and ‘Weepin’ Mary’, the socially aware ‘The House That I Live In’, ‘Shenandoah / The Water Is Wide’, ‘Deep River’, ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘Ol’ Man River’ (of which there’s also a brief prelude piece that opens up the album).

Both Leon and Eric contribute in the writing and performance sense to the gentle title track ‘Praising Peace’ and the laid back piano effort ‘On Our Journey’ (a track Eric feels was co-written with Robeson himself), while Eric shines on the beautiful (Not to mention clever) ‘Put On Your Robe Son’, the up beat blues based ‘Home In That Rock’ and the touching ‘A Friend Like You’ (which Eric dedicates to his father). ‘Praising Peace - A Tribute To Paul Robeson’ covers a lot of different ground, which inevitably means that it doesn’t quite flow from start to finish. But it’s really only a small criticism because on an individual song basis, it’s evident the love and respect Leon and Eric have for Robeson.

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