Carolina Chocolate Drops is an African-American string band from Durham, NC, one of the few such groups still in existence. The trio steps into an old tradition of storytelling and instrument swapping.  Genuine Negro Jig is a bonafide bluegrass record; even their cover of 2001 pop hit “Hit ‘Em Up Style†sounds like it’s straight out of a scratchy 1920’s record. Whether letting loose with a traditional foot-stomping classic like “Trouble in Mind†or slowing things down with the soulful vocals of Rhiannon Giddens on “Why Don’t You Do Right?â€, Geniune Negro Jig is a memorable album from start to finish.  I don’t want to count all my chickens before they hatch, or however we want to update that phrase for the year 2010, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see this on my Best of 2010 list.
The trio performs this Friday at Park West at 8:00; Pieta Brown opens. Â Tickets are still available.
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