Opium Musick by Jack Rose

Recorded and originally released in 2003, Opium Musick is an eclectic collection with pieces for 12 string (the percussive and dark "Black Pearls”), 6 string, and lap guitar. The lovely raga-ish "Yaman Blues" features Mike Gangloff (Pelt, Black Twig Pickers) on tanpura, and echoes the extended modal work on the contemporaneous Pelt Pearls from the River CD. The near-ragtime of "Linden Ave Stomp" features Glenn Jones on his vintage Gibson in a jumping duet with Jack’s lap steel. “Linden Ave” charted a path that Jack would determinedly pursue – short ragtime and old-time influenced pieces (originals and classics), with all phrasing worked out to a perfectionist standard. The lovely “Mountaintop Lamento” was memorably used in Catherine Pancake’s film about coal mining in Appalachia, Black Diamonds: Mountaintop Removal and the Fight for Coalfield Justice.

“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

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