*** Peter Keane

WALKIN' AROUND

(Flying Fish)

Peter Keane takes the tradition of white, country-blues classicists like Dave Van Ronk, Eric Von Schmidt, and Spider John Koerner and throws a bit of contemporary singer/songwriter into the mix. The result on this, his second album and his Flying Fish debut, is a rootsy menu of eight originals that blend with covers of tunes by Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, Von Schmidt, producer/mentor Bill Morrissey, and the root of all roots, Mississippi John Hurt. Of Keane's own compositions, standouts include the mischievous "I Know My Baby," the languorous "You Haunt My Dreams," and "Louisiana Special" -- which could be a 1996 version of a Sun Studios record. The clean, sparse production features Keane's nimble finger-picking and wry baritone accompanied by bassist Dave Heath and percussionist Paul Pearcy on most numbers, with Champ Hood providing occasional lead on fiddle and guitar. Morrissey lends his distinctive vocals to the last track, punctuating this bit of back-porch picking with some Tabasco-spiced camaraderie.

-- Seth Rogovoy

(Peter Keane plays Club Passim this Friday, November 8.)