TERRI HENDRIX
TALK TO A HUMAN (PROJECT 5.3)
WHO IS ANN ( PROJECT 5.4)
TALK TO A HUMAN–MI MADRE–CHOICE–WAY OVER YONDER IN THE MINOR KEY–DON’T MEDDLE IN MY MOOD–DOGGING ME–WORTHY–WASP–THE DARK–THE WATER IS WIDE–I HEAR YOUR SONG
DRIVE–HAPPY–MOVE–WOMAN–GRIEVE
Terri Hendrix is a brilliant poet/singer/guitarist/composer that came up with what turned out to be an ambitious project, indeed. It began in early 2016, with the release of the folk-centric “Love You Strong (Project 5.1)”, followed in the fall of that same year with the more-bluesy “The Slaughterhouse Sessions (Project 5.2)”. She intended to continue with two more albums and a companion-piece book, but, as is usually the case, life gets in the way. A series of health battles plus the tragic loss of her sister pushed everything onto the back burner, until now. This project now finds itself completed, with the release of “Talk To A Human (Project 5.3),” and “Who Is Ann? (Project 5.4),” as well as the accompanying book, “The Girl With The Exploding Brain (Project 5.5).” The book is Terri’s autobiography that chronicles her struggles to cope with a seizure disorder while juggling her career as a musician. We will, of course, concentrate on the musical side of things.
Project 5.3 opens with the title cut, Acoustic guitar leads drive our heroine’s tale of today’s Big Brother-dominated society, where, sometimes, all you wanna really do is “Talk To A Human!” Producer Lloyd Maines’ banjo gives this one a down-home touch, too. A Latin-tinged horn section fuels Terri’s coming-of-age ode, “Mi Madre,” while she gets downright bluesy with our two favorites on this set. She’s on harp on both of ’em, and, first up, she gets all Memphis Minnie on us when she’s “without that baby of mine,” a cool read of Cindy Walker’s “Don’t Meddle In My Mood.” Next up, Lloyd’s dobro over Terri’s sprightly vocals sho’ nuff brings the blues back around on a sweet re-working of Sonny and Brownie’s “Dogging Me.”
Project 5.4, “Who Is Ann,” is a tribute to Terri’s sister. It is a sometimes-somber, sometimes light-hearted look at dealing with that loss and seeking the light of healing in the end. The songs have only one-word titles, and they open with the tight harmonies of “it’s a long, lonesome Drive without you,” with the backing vocals from Drew Womack. The set closes with the ethereal story of “I’m still here, in the dark,” and is entitled “Grieve.”
We see it on a regular basis within the pages of this humble forum. Great artists take their own personal losses and struggles and set them to some outstanding music that not only cleanses their soul, but affords the listener an excellent and varied musical experience as well. Enjoy Terri Hendrix and “Talk To A Human” and “Who Is Ann?” Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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