Wyly Bigger – Broken Telephone
Madjack Records
9 songs – 33 minutes
Broken Telephone is the debut release from Marion, Arkansas, native, Wyly Bigger, who has been a staple of the Memphis music scene for the last few years. It’s a relatively short album, clocking in at just over half an hour, but is also one of those albums that leaves the listener wanting more. It is emphatically not one of those debut releases that demonstrates potential or that suggests an embryonic talent. Rather, Bigger has landed fully realised, playing and singing with an emotional depth and intelligence that belies the youthful figure pictured on the album cover.
Bigger plays piano (as well as Wurli and trumpet) with a light-fingered grace in a style that hints of some of the New Orleans greats of the past whilst laying down a distinctly modern mix of blues, soul, funk, swing and even a dash of pop. Indeed, his successful fusion of so many genres recalls the genius of AJ Croce.
Backed by a very impressive band of Matt Ross-Sprang on guitars, Jim Spake on saxophone, baritone saxophone and clarinet, Mark Edgar Stuart on bass and guitar and Danny Banks on drums, percussion and backing vocals, Bigger throws himself into the seven self-composed and two tasty covers. The opening track, “Ain’t The First Time”, sets out Bigger’s stall nicely, with its funky New Orleans groove and wryly romantic lyrics. It is swiftly followed by the 1950s’ rock and roll obscurity, “Hello, Is That You?”, originally recorded by the Red Tops. The other cover on the album is a belting version of Memphis Slim’s “I’m Lost Without You.”
Bigger lets the pace drop on two songs only, the closing vocal and piano ballad “Chicago Wind” and the Billy Joel-esque, Wurli-led title track that made him a finalist for Memphis Songwriter of the Year in 2021. The poignant lyrics reek of self-despair as he sings “Help me, Mr Repair man, you’re got to do something. I know she’s trying to reach me but I haven’t heard a thing. The phone ain’t rang once since she walked out the door, but don’t you try to tell me that she don’t want me no more. I know that I’m the one she still adores. It’s just that my telephone ain’t working any more.”
The remaining tracks are infectious demands to dance, even when the lyrics are recounting the sometimes lonely truth of life on the road, for example on “Midnight In Meridian”.
Stuart produced the album, which was recorded and mixed by Kevin Houston at the Shelby Foote Mansion in Memphis, TN, with mastering by Jacob Church at Archer Recording Studio.
Broken Telephone is both a glorious musical celebration and the announcement of the arrival of a major new talent. Really impressive.
