HOUDINI IN DREADLOCKS

Think about it—Garland Jeffreys is out on the road with the Rumour. The Rumour need no introduction, much of America having lengthily admired the five good-timing Anglos who�d helped Graham Parker achieve solid liftoff. Jeffreys, however, is quite another matter. We New Yorkers have been carrying on about Garland for so many years that we tend to forget he�s pretty much a cipher once you hit Jersey. And for a mixed-lineage black/white/Hispanic fireball of a performer to have stepped in where Graham pulled out, and changed all the rules—well, that takes getting used to. But if Garland Jeffreys, after experiencing more than a decade of musical twists, turns and knives in the back, is willing to strut it across America like some fresh kid off the banana boat, and says he�s loving every mipute, then so should you.