Reviews for January - February
Ma, Duncan, Meyer, Thile
"The Goat Rodeo Sessions "
Sony Classical 88697 97901 2Yo-Yo Ma, the world's greatest cellist, has collaborated with bassist Edgar Meyer on two previous recordings. When Ma approached Meyer about getting together for another project, Meyer suggested they add mandolinist Chris Thile of Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers fame, and Stuart Duncan, one of Nash- ville's most respected fiddlers. These four musicians describe the two days of recording that resulted in this CD as organized chaos requiring every detail to go just right—a "goat rodeo." The eleven tracks on this instrumental album are credited to Thile, Meyer, and Duncan, but Ma seems to have learned how the cello can join in a bluegrass jam. Except these aren't really bluegrass compositions. I like the term "chambergrass" to describe these genre-defying instrumental pieces that evoke emotion and images the way classical music does. There is surprising variety on the eleven tracks. Duncan pulls out a banjo for two of the songs, Meyer plays piano on one piece, and Crooked Still's Aoife O'Donovan adds vocals to two of the songs. Complex, at times beautiful, at times disharmonic, this CD will take the listener on a journey of evocative string music that grows on you with every listen.
Acoustic Eidolon & Thomas Loefke
"Friends Across the Ocean"
Acoustic Woods Records 910Colorado's own Acoustic Eidolon, otherwise known as husband and wife Joe Scott and Hannah Alkire, have performed for the Black Rose Acoustic Society several times, most recently December 9, 2011. Their 13-year musical relationship has resulted in nine CDs and numerous invitations to Europe to per- form. During their travels they met and formed a friendship with Thomas Loefke, a German Celtic harpist. In 2010 they collaborated together to record four new compositions, and new "trio" arrangements of previous Eidolon recordings. I found this CD a beautiful collection of Celtic flavored tunes showcasing the pleasant blending of guitar, cello and harp. The most interesting thing about watching Acoustic Eidolon live, of course, is watching Joe play his 14-string double neck guitjo.Fretting on one neck, and plucking on the other, he creates a fullness of sound that has to be heard live to appreciate. For those who haven't discovered this wonderful couple, this album is an excellent introduction to their sound until they come out with their next album, later in 2012.
Putnam Smith
"We Would be Beekeepers"
Itchy Sabot Records
Two years ago I enthusiastically reviewed Putnam's Smith's Goldrush, which reached #5 on national Folk DJ Charts in 2009. His third album, released in 2011, is We Would Be Beekeepers and finds the Portland, Maine musician joined by Seth Yentes on cello and Mariel Vandersteel on fiddle. Putnam is a banjo-playing anachronism. He lives in a cabin in Maine, prints his own CD jackets on a 1901 Pearl Letterpress, and loves to compost. His throaty story telling is compelling yet simple, and I've enjoyed hearing him live on two of his swings through Colorado in the past two years. This album has a mellower, more introspective tone than Goldrush, and showcases his talents on guitar, mandolin, piano as well as banjo. My favorite tracks are the jamming tunes "This Mountain Ain't My Home" and "The Birds Would Understand" where he lets loose on his grandfather's open-back banjo. Putnam Smith is a nineteenth century troubadour stuck in the twenty first century. It's hard not to like the guy.
Need more "advice"?
Click here to read past reviews from Brett.
