Debut solo CD from Jack Rose, combining his much-lauded Eclipse LP's Red Horse, White Mule and Opium Musick. While Red Horse, White Mule is generally recognized as in the Takoma-inspired tradition, Jack adds his own exotic influences and recognizable touch - whether abstracting on the modal epic "Red Horse" or the rough slide stylings of "The Colonel's Blues." Opium Musick is an eclectic collection with pieces for 12 string (the percussive and dark "Black Pearls), 6 string, and lap guitar. The two tracks featuring the lap guitar are duets. The lovely raga-ish "Yaman Blues" features Mike Gangloff on tanpura, and the near-ragtime of "Linden Ave Stomp" features Glenn Jones on his vintage Gibson. The 12 page booklet reproduces the liner notes from both LP's and adds a few snaps for fun. 9 Tracks, 68 Minutes. 

"Rose's personalized and disparate criteria awaken feelings of both rapture and tragedy on the scale of that which must have been felt by the newly-wed anthropologist who drove Kiowa Indian guests out of his Oklahoma residence with Victrola discs of Amelita Galli-Curci in order to go to bed with his bride or the child who, on hearing Bugs Bunny sing Queen Liluokalani's dirge "Aloha Oe," quarantined himself in the clothes hamper until such time that the United States withdraws from Hawai'i."

Kisan Nagai, Blues Scholar, on Red Horse, White Mule

"In the year and half between "Red horse, White Mule" and "Opium Musick" Mr. Rose spent the majority of his time honing his Ragtime and Jass skills. He met Dr. Chattanooga Red soon after recording his 1st lp and he revealed the secrets of Ragtime and Jass to Jack in ancient ceremony. Red came down with the jake in Philadelphia and died shortly after their tour. On his deathbed he told Jack not to let the ragtime die and to bring it into the 21st century. And now we have "Opium Musick" as a result of Jack's studies and travels, a lovely tribute to Jack's beloved teacher."

Joe R. Sack, Blues Scholar, on Opium Musick