
Bryan and the Haggards - Merles Just Want to Have Fun (LP)
LP Co-Release with Northern Spy Edition of 300 It’s hard to know exactly what was going through saxophonist Bryan Murray’s head when he first conceived of Bryan & the Haggards, basically an avant-garde jazz ensemble dedicated to playing instrumental covers of tunes by Merle Haggard. Haggard is, of course, the author of such C&W classics as “Okie from Muskogee”, “Fightin’ Side of Me”, “Mama Tried” and other blasts of Bakersfield Baroque. Regardless, the Haggards first two albums were well received, making Wire’s Top Ten list and being lauded in places like the Village Voice. Now, for their third effort, Murray has enlisted the genius of Dr. Chadbourne — singer, banjo player, diehard C&W fan (see such previous efforts as LSDC&W… Read more »