If heaven were The Everglades, then Valerie C. Wisecracker (www.wisecracker.net) would be heaven’s leader of the band. And it’s always a party when Valerie’s playing, cause whether she’s zippin-it with Zip Robertson or rakin-it with Raiford Starke (www.raifordstarke.com), or just plain setting down a beat with long time collaborator bassist Mitch Mestel (www.iko-iko.com) you’ll always find Valerie making the music of Florida with her friends. And nowhere does she do that better than on MY FLORIDA, a split CD of music by Valerie C. Wisecracker and Cindy “Sawgrass” Hackney. The CD’s cover is a beautiful panoramic photo of the Glades, taken by world renown photographer Clyde Butcher, Executive Producer of the project. Valerie wrote and performed 6 of the 11 tracks on the CD, and maybe it’s a Dr. Bobism, but every time she plays, time stops, stands still for a moment, and then goes backward. Before you know it you’re in 20th century Florida with all it’s good, bad and unimaginable. From the great humor of STOP RUNNIN MY FLORIDA HOME INTO THE GROUND and WANNA WHITE TRASH TRAILER, to the homily-like OSCAR THOMPSON WAS EVERYONE’S FRIEND and the historical CHOKOLOSKEE, A LITTLE LEFT OF THE LAW, Valerie’s voice and banjo shine. But she knows how to save the best for last when she is joined by fiddle great (RIP) Vassar Clements, with her entrancing song RUSTY BANJO. Then there’s my personal favorite HURRICANE BLEW, which I covered and performed at her birthday party last year. It’s been an honor knowing and listening to Valerie, and it’s always a pleasure to play MY FLORIDA one more time. Pick up a copy at Valerie’s next show which will be this coming Saturday, April 16 at 8pm, at Luna Star Café where she will be joined by The Walking Catfish.
Dr. Bob