Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns – Canboro Canborough
Self-Release – 2023
11 tracks: 40 minutes
Canboro Canborough is the second full-length album from Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns, an eclectic mix of four Canadian musicians who came together during the lockdown period of the pandemic to create an eclectic funky blues sound full of soul, with a pinch of Americana roots, and a nod to New Orleans-style jazz from an earlier era.
The band and their style are the brainchild of Jim Casson, a renowned session and band drummer (2022 Maple Blues Award Drummer of the Year). In addition to the drums, Casson plays keyboards, xylophone, gamelan strips (a Javanese-styled percussion instrument), a handpan (or, hanging drum), along with loops and samples used on several of the tracks. Casson also handles vocals on the album’s final song.
As producer, Casson recorded, edited, and mixed the album at his home studio (The Cherry Pit) in Fenwick, Ontario (Canada). Canboro Canborough was mastered by L. Stu Young at El Studio in Toronto. Joining Casson on his self-described musical adventure are: N. Jay Burr on tuba and trombone (and recorded at PlugHead Productions in Dundas, ON), Wayne DeAdder on guitar and ukulele (his parts recorded at The Chicken Coop in Waterdown, ON), Mike Branton, slide guitar, and a “guest appearance” on several tracks by Mark Lalama, who plays piano, keyboards, and accordion.
According to the group’s information sheet, all the song titles pay tribute to Casson’s home of the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, Canada, using the names of historical villages found on a 1907 military topographical map, which hangs in his office. Canboro Canborough (also the album’s title track) refers to the street where Casson grew up.
In fact, the band’s name pays tribute to Casson’s childhood on the peninsula. Davis Hall was the community center where Casson attended nursery school and The Green Lantern was his hometown soda shop. The website refers to several current and former band mates as “Green Lanterns.”
Other than the album’s final track (“White Toyota”), Canboro Canborough is completely instrumental. Casson describes his creative and recording process as building from the ground up…creating bass lines and chord structures…(editing) parts into song structures (and then) the soloists and melody players were added to the funky gumbo.
The gumbo is definitely funky and The Green Lanterns throw everything into the mix to create a truly unique and, at times, superbly spicy musical stew.
“Humberstone,” the strongest and tightest track on the album is truly funky and fun, and includes a keyboard and slide breakdown that will blow listeners away. Another funk-filled number, “Homer” starts off strong with snazzy guitar licks and a tuba back beat that’s almost hypnotic. Still in the funk groove, “Lowbanks” hits it higher and heartier with Branton’s slide guitar tearing through another toe-tapping beat.
“Winger” begins the grungy, gritty, and guitar-driven numbers: foot-stompers familiar to any country blues and roots music fans. Fast and furious, with a great guitar duel— “Winger” is a terrific tune. Title song “Canboro Canborough” continues the grittiness with a little more Americana along with another excellent slide guitar performance from Branton. “Daincity” speeds things back up with a Calypso-themed tempo and excellent guitar picking (presumably from Wayne DeAdder), and then Mark Lalama cranks up the accordion and we’re suddenly transported to New Orleans, or, more likely, a Cajun hoedown. That funky gumbo is hot and spicy.
“Silverdale” continues the Bayou State experience with a brassy Bourbon Street vibe, which then morphs into a 1970s electric jazz number…and completely works. Canboro Canborough ends with “White Toyota,” the only vocal number, sung by Jim Casson. A playful love song with sweet lyrics like I’ll build you a big pagoda, I’ll sit and drink orange soda…with you.
A curious twist to the eclectic gumbo stew, but one that seems fitting.
Like a good gumbo, Canboro Canborough has the essential ingredients—excellent musicianship, tight arrangements, and expert production—to keep you coming back for another bowl Casson’s artistic adventures and that superbly spicy musical stew.
