Beaucoup Blue - East Coast Acoustic Blues

Beaucoup Blue is the unlikely father and son duo of David Mowry, 65 and Adrian Mowry, 41.

David plays dobro, acoustic, and excellent slide guitar while Adrian accompanies him on six and twelve string guitar. Both men share lead and harmony vocals. They occasionally use a sideman but usually it's just the two of them together in the studio and on the road.

Beaucoup Blue mostly play acoustic folk-blues. However, because they also include some R&B, country, and a little jazz in their repertoire they describe their music as "Americana," the term often used whenever anyone playing roots music can't fit their songs into a narrow, descriptive mold.

Beaucoup Blue's debut CD, Out of The Woodwork, released independently in 2003 is a twelve track journey through all kinds of American music. They cover John Lee Hooker's "Come Back, Baby," Leadbelly's, "C.C. Rider," and two Bob Dylan songs: "Corrina, Corrina," and "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry." There are songs by Robert Johnson, and Jimmy Reed as well as Elvis Presley's "Mystery Train." There is even a version of the old Phil Phillips hit, "Sea of Love." The CD's four original tunes fit in seamlessly with all of the old, classic stuff they loaded onto the album. it's a pleasing freshman effort.

Adding Jim Salamone on drums, percussion, and harmonica makes 2006's Hearts At Home, an even more fulfilling listening experience. Their second, more colorful, set included another Hooker tune, a cover of Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia," and Benny Goodman's "Stompin' At The Savoy." This time the duo added eight originals, all of them well done. Adrian Mowry’s "On My Way" is particularly enjoyable.

Both men have voices that mesh perfectly with the music they play.

Based out of Philadelphia, and able to take their show on the road, Beaucoup Blue have been playing their uplifting but quiet sounds in concert halls all along the East Coast. When I saw them live a couple of years ago their stage show proved that they are more comfortable in front of an audience than they are in the studio.

Unfortunately, due to Beaucoup Blue's limited performance schedule their albums are the easiest way to get to know them. In addition to the two discs discussed above they released Free To Fall in 2009 and this year their new, four song EP, 4 Stories, is available. All of their music can be purchased through CD Baby or iTunes.