Black cowboys

"Who better than Dom Flemons to curate this timeless collection of history? Judging by the recent announcements of artists involved in upcoming releases, Moses Asch's mission of "documenting the people's music" is in safe and able hands. A few of those incredibly able hands on this effort are those of bluesmen Jimbo Mathus and Alvin Youngblood Hart, with award-winning folklorist and Folkways' director Dan Sheehy helping guide the rudder. The album art is impeccable and the 40 pages of liner notes makes Black Cowboys about the coolest of auditory histories no matter what heritage you represent".

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"With his latest solo outing, his first for the revered Smithsonian Folkways Recordings label, Flemons brings to light the underappreciated music and cultural contributions of African Americans as the country expanded to the west. With the 18-song collection "Black Cowboys," Flemons, a music scholar and historian, delves into the topic from many different perspectives. Instead of merely presenting songs associated with black pioneers, Flemons uses period-appropriate instrumentation and unique arrangements to create a collection of traditional tunes, original songs and spoken word compositions that convey the life and times of African American cowboys in the Wild West".

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"The album's program is rather varied and quite entertaining, as Flemons delivers a wide range of material in various contexts. While Flemons unearths traditional cowboy songs, he also employs originals and songs borrowed from other traditions to evoke aspects of the African American presence in the West".