John Fusco - Borderlands (CD)

Release Date: 10/21/22

Borderlands is John Fusco's third recording outing, an authentic, fun, and often hard-hitting collection that demonstrates his unique cinematic style

Fusco's third recording outing, an authentic, fun, and often hard-hitting collection that, again, demonstrates his unique cinematic style. While still rooted in blues, gospel, and country-rock, Borderlands draws on Fusco's deep, long-time affinity with the American West. Or as Fusco, himself, puts it: The wild west soul of America.
In a rich collection of interrelated 'chapters', Fusco sings of desert crossings -- both biblical and in real-time -- a divided tribe of highway drifters and grifters, cantina preachers, border crossers, an unforgiving drought, gunfights, piano duels, toxic romance, and encounters with unlikely folk saints of the high desert.

Borderlands was produced, engineered and mixed by George Walker Petit in his Stowe, Vermont studio. Petit, an accomplished multi-genre musician with deep roots in the Blues and Jazz, also plays guitars, bass, and various percussion. Russ Lawton of the Trey Anastasio Band plays drums on all tracks while fifth generation Acadian fiddler and mandolinist Patrick Ross joins Fusco on several countrified numbers. Guesting on Dobro and electric slide guitar on two songs is Petit's old friend and bandmate, Matt Backer - a brilliant musician and guitar slinger. Michael Hartigan contributes a heartfelt accordion performance on 'Horseback Jesus'. Backing Fusco on vocals is acclaimed soul singer Ashley Betton. Jane Boxall also adds her marimba expertise to the recording with Stuart Paton on congas and bongos.

Fusco's rugged, smokey voice has drawn comparisons to Gregg Allman, Tom Waits, Long John Baldry, and, at times, Mac Rebbennack. Singing from behind his Hammond B3 on this new endeavor, he often conjures a desert preacher in some ghost town chapel in a timeless southwest. Fusco's unique and inspired 'story-songs' seem to embrace a post-modernist biblical thread woven through funky tales of today's modern west.