We Are All One, In The Sun: A Tribute To Robbie Basho

I often hear people criticize tribute compilations though I’m never sure why, I like them and often seek them out and here’s why. If there is an artist out there that loves Robbie Basho and considers him an important influence and in fact important enough to interpret or re-interpret Basho’s music…I want to know who these people are!

Often these tributes are several artists and it is a great opportunity to find new artists that listen to and value what I listen to and value. What better way to discover like-minded musicians?

We Are All One, In The Sun: A Tribute To Robbie Basho is just such an opportunity.

Buck Curran deserves a lot of credit for assembling a tribute that is much more than just a collection of cover songs. It’s more adventurous and daring than that kind of tribute. And why shouldn’t it be? Isn’t that the spirit of Robbie Basho? These collections serve many a purpose, not the least of which is the obvious, a tribute. But what good is it if it doesn’t bring the fans of Basho to appreciate new artists? And just as importantly are the fans of any of the participating artist’s in this effort: it’s an opportunity to discover the roots of their music. I have found so much good music when I begin to discover my favorite artist’s influences. And a tribute collection puts it right there for all to see and every single artist is an opportunity to head off in a new direction!

So let’s dive in, one of the things I noticed first is that all the vocal covers are by women. And that may be a good thing for the budding Basho fan. Basho’s vocals were…unique…shall we say? The women convey the intensity and passion of a Basho song without raising the eyebrows, a common occurrence when Basho sang.

The covers by Arborea and Meg Baird are both pretty straight forward interpretations of Basho’s compositions while Fern Knight begins to stretch out with multiple instruments on "Song for the Queen."

Arborea, with Buck Curran on guitar and Shanti Curran providing the vocals, slow down Basho’s “Blue Crystal Fire” just a bit.  Buck Curran adds a very tasty slide solo in place of Basho’s fingered break and Shanti Curran’s vocals are delicate and beautiful.

Meg Baird takes on “Moving Up A Ways” keeping it pretty straight, though chooses a 6 string instead of the 12 string that Basho played for this piece.  As is the case with the previous song, Baird’s vocals seem a perfect fit for Basho’s song, strikingly lyrical.

Fern Knight expands on Basho’s “Song for a Queen” with multiple instruments that create a landscape around the lyrics of the song throwing in everything from the harp to the strangled distortion of an electric guitar.

Ultimately, all the vocal pieces take the listener on a journey to a beautiful and mythical land where you are temporarily lost in the music.

Undoubtedly all the artists are to be commended for capturing the spirit and feel of Robbie Basho. Some took the route of loosely interpreting existing Basho works and others went the straight ahead route. Still others took merely an idea or a line from a lyric as a launching point. Case in point is Cian Nugent’s "Odour of Plums." For a guy like me that likes the more straight ahead approach to guitar playing I love this piece by Nugent. He very nicely interjects tension and mystery that captures the spirit of a Basho song.

Curran manages to mix a little of everything into the release with the obvious (and obviously necessary) inclusion of Steffan Basho-Junghans and Glenn Jones as well as the unanticipated. Unanticipated? How about oud player Rahim AlHaj and cellist Helena Espvall?

Rahim AlHaj was included to touch on Basho’s intense love of Persian music. And don’t think for a minute that Espvall’s work is your average cello piece.

Digital version songs include Joseba Irazoki "Bashorentzat," Cameron Deas "Waters of Kvaloya" and an alternate version of Yair Yona’s Skinny Fists.

Deas' work on the 12 string is not to be missed by any fan of intense, raw and powerful solo guitar work.

Yair Yona is one of the new torch-bearers of modern American Primitive.

The Paintings of John Fahey

Female Cat Person Disguised as Skunk Cabbage

Well that about says it all, don't it?  And for a mere $1,000, framed.

THE PAINTINGS OF JOHN FAHEY
The East Village, NY
July 10 - September 12, 2010

Presented by John Andrew and AVA

Thanks to Andrew over at the FaheyGuitarPlayers forum for posting this.  I wish I could go as well.

Short article on the owner of the gallery, Justin Luke.

AVA page for the Fahey show

Price Sheet

This one is just frightening!

But these two I like.  Dark, but not unsettling.  They would make for a nice purchase.  Of course I really like that the one on the left is signed as well.  Anyone want to 'lend' me a couple grand?

"A series of sound collage works, spoken word, explorative / home recordings, and comedy all performed by John Fahey will be transmitted on the outside of AVA (as part of the Exterior Sounds series) during the course of the exhibition"
Comedy?  What?  Would some one like to tell me about the time they saw Fahey doing comedy?  Must be very dry.

Just thought I would pass this along.  Be sure to click around over at the AVA site, there are lots more paintings to view and plenty of reading as well.
 

Ragtime Ralph - Concert Ephemera & More

Today we have some very cool stuff sent to me by Ragtime Ralph.  This is a collection of ephemera that was recently discovered and returned to him.  Enjoy!

A painting/collage done by Ralph's youngest brother. 
Ralph on the moon playing an early 1930's Dobro purchased in San Francisco in the early 1980's

From the first(?) release of Ragtime Ralph Vol. 4

Original poster for the first time Ralph opened for Fahey.
The photo was taken by a friend of Ralph's, Malcolm Kurtin at a previous show.

Ralph played the La Quena a lot, nearly as often as the Soft Rock Cafe.

The photo on the Guitar Night poster was taken at the
Camp Alexandra Folk Festival in Crescent Beach BC,
just down the road from White Rock.

Ralph did a lot of shows with Tracy Moore.
They opened for Fahey a couple times in Seattle
where Ralph was also the MC of the show.

Ralph's dad did this sketch.  It was to be the cover of his first LP

but only 2 songs got released.

Released as Ralph Cameron Johnston was "Harbinger"
and "Half a Prayer Won't get You There."
Ralph had these pressed as a 7" 45 on his own River Records. 
They were pressed off center and he was so
devastated that he dumped them in a dumpster. 
But somehow copies got out as a friend of his found one way up
on Vancouver Island.

More Soft Rock Cafe!

Tracy Moore still lives in Seattle and still releases recordings.

  

More art by Ralph's dad.

An actual review in the local paper.

Yet more Soft Rock Cafe.

A fun night with the Backporch Drifters.

Mike Fekete - Summer Tour Dates and a Free MP3

Folks, I'm happy to say that Mike Fekete has some upcoming solo guitar performance dates!!

He was recently on 89.3 KAOS in Olympia, WA doing an in-studio performance and was kind enough to allow me to post one of the songs from Charlie Zaillian's weekly show, Defensive Indifference.

Download the song HERE

Folks, if you are anywhere along Mike's tour route this summer, I highly suggest that you make the effort to go see him play.  Mike is full of music and he wants nothing more than to share it with you.  Though he has only one CD currently available, he has a lot more music in those fingers of his.
He recently passed through Colorado and I went to two of the shows.
So what will you hear at a Mike Fekete show?
You will likely hear Mike's treatment of a John Denver or a Band song. 
But most of all you will hear Mike's work, perhaps his suite of songs titled Museum 1, 2 and 3, though he doesn't necessarily play them in that order.
Of course you will hear a few tunes from the CD, Raccoon in a Tree being one of my favorites, but you will also hear a lot of other music that hasn't been widely released (or at all).  And that is part of what makes the live performance so essential, he has so much music to share that you probably haven't heard before!
And then there is the 20 minute finale, "The Sacred Monster Blues Suite"  Fantastic stuff.

Tour Dates:

7/17 – Coal Creek Coffee – Laramie, WY

7/18 – Off The Leaf – Billings, MT

7/19 – Wild Joe’s – Bozeman, MT

7/20 – The Hummingbird Cafe – Butte, MT

7/21 – One World Cafe – Moscow, ID

7/23 – Calypsos – Coeur d’Alene, ID w/ Jonathan Nicholson

7/24 – Indaba – Spokane, WA w/ Jonathan Nicholson

7/28 – The Camellia Lounge – Portland, OR w/ Aaron Sheppard

8/2 – Barking Spider Tavern – Cleveland, OH

8/12 – Rider’s Inn – Painesville, OH

8/13 – Central Vineyard – Columbus, OH w/ Brian Werstler and John Morgan

8/15 – Rider’s Inn – Painesville, OH

8/27 – Cafe Luna – Vashon Island, WA

8/28 – El Diablo – Seattle, WA

Mike Fekete on Myspace
BUY Mike Fekete from EMUSIC

"Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows: The Songs of John Prine" - Guest Review by Ragtime Ralph

Well, I'm very happy to present to you a review by Ralph Johnston.  Better known as Ragtime Ralph and also as Blind Brand X here at Delta-Slider.  Ralph is a big fan of John Prine so I thought I would see if he was interested in doing a review of this tribute CD.  He was, so here it is!

There are certain musical artists in this world whose songs are so basic and vital and "tell it like is" that countless covers and variations of their themes will never dilute the hidden truth and beauty behind the song titles and lyrics...to my mind John Prine is my favorite example...his bittersweet tales of the human condition (tempered by ironic exasperation) have echoed in my mind for over thirty years.


This CD brought back many pleasant memories of John Prine and (the late, great) Steve Goodman at the Queen Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver, BC, Canada...a simple acoustic stage setup was all Prine needed to impress upon us his visions of life, love and the absurd little moments we all encounter.


It seems to me it would be meaningless to review each contributors versions of Prine's songs (although...I was broiling a rack of lamb during Lambchops version of "6 O' Clock News!") because each and every contributor has (to me anyways) nailed each song on the head and drove it appropriately home!


John Prine is a treasure trove of emotion, humor and truth in the cold, calculating, disappointing world we all live in...and this CD finds all the contributors in fine fettle!
   - Review by Ralph Johnston


Track List/Artist
1. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver - "Bruised Orange (Chain Of Sorrow)"
2. Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band - "Wedding Day In Funeralville"
3. My Morning Jacket - "All The Best"
4. Josh Ritter - "Mexican Home"
5. Lambchop - "Six O'Clock News"
6. Justin Townes Earle - "Far From Me"
7. The Avett Brothers - "Spanish Pipedream"
8. Old Crow Medicine Show - "Angel From Montgomery"
9. Sara Watkins - "The Late John Garfield Blues"
10. Drive-By Truckers - "Daddy's Little Pumpkin"
11. Deer Tick featuring Liz Isenberg - "Unwed Fathers"
12. Those Darlins - "Let's Talk Dirty In Hawaiian"

More info

Eric Wallack - Stella Says

Eric Wallack has been making music for years and he has been quite prolific. He doesn’t seem to let genres hold him down, flitting from one sound to another in the course of his recording output. The most recent example of all of the above is his 12 For Nothing project where his goal is to put out one new record album a month for a year.  Oh, and for free.

And this isn’t his first foray into a self-imposed artistic flurry of production. He once worked something he called the 365 project where he wrote a song a day for a year. Wow, that’s just nutty! And awesome!

Stella Says is the debut of the series back in April, so I’m already a release behind!

Wallack feels it definitely falls into the American Primitive style and I have to agree with him. He describes it as "a bit raw but honest and spontaneous."  Wallack performs and records a lot of improvisational music and this effort is no different.  Since it’s free there’s no reason for you not to give it a listen.

All I know is that any guy that starts off a CD with slapin’ and poppin’ on a de-tuned Stella (that cost him a mere $30) has got my attention.

“Angst and the Small Aquarium” is one of those beautiful and simple tunes that captures the listener.  As is “Waltz in F# Purple,” with simply lovely melodies.

The tunes are about half standard tuning and half open D.  All dropped just a bit from concert pitch.

I love the simple feel of this effort. If you liked the C. Joynes that I posted I think you will like this as well. This has become one of my favorite listens lately.

Wrapping with “Get in the Graveyard” is a song that is a great closing tune that just leaves me wanting more.  Love the creepy title.

Download Stella Says

Visit Eric Wallack for the latest project updates.

Also be sure to check out his last FM site for other delights for the ear.
   

M. Mucci – "Time Lost"

Ontario guitarist M. Mucci has recently released his second full length release “Time Lost,” recorded between Dec 2009 and Feb 2010.

The CD kicks off with a couple tracks where Mucci sets the tone and tempo with his thumb. The first, “Small Triumphs” with just solid time keeping and the second, “The View From Here” with a great driving feel. This tune and the following, “The Culprits” are fantastic works in the modern Takoma tradition. What I like best about cuts two and three is how aggressive Mucci is with the thumb, just hammering out the rhythm.

“The Culprits” has the added surprises that it starts off with some weird noises and suddenly pops into the strong finger picking, once you are grooving on that he slams into slide playing to wrap the song. Really a strong piece.

The calm interludes “Apri L’occhi” parts 1 and 2 appear at the end of each side of the LP, though that distinction is lessened by the fact that I am listening to the CD version. But part 2 at the end of the CD is indeed a nice ending to the CD. The first, “Apri L’occhi” works on the CD as an excellent transition from a solo guitar piece to a full band piece, “Chase Down Alice St.”

Mucci’s use of percussion through out this effort is judicious and never gets in the way of the guitar playing. No, in fact I think it is a nice addition to the feel of the recording as a whole resulting in a lush feel throughout the experience.

One of my favorite aspects of the music is how closely together Mucci has put the tracks. The time between is barely a beat and it binds the music into a whole. That and the fact that the songs flow well from one to the other. Though they are clearly different, the effort feels like one large composition.

This is a limited quantity release on LP with a download included. The digital only price is great. Go visit MMucci.com and check out all the tracks.

Will Ackerman - Live video at the Wolf Trap, 1986

Oh no!  More Ackerman?  What is wrong with this guy?  Hehehe...





This is a PBS concert that was recently making the rounds on the bootleg sites, so I thought I would chop a couple Ackerman tunes out of it and post them. BUY William Ackerman from EMUSIC

Quonset - Excursions in the Career of Ragtime Ralph

Ragtime Ralph recently sent me a recording of one of his other musical efforts.  Quonset was a bass/scrap metal percussion duo based on Savage Republic.


Here's what Ralph said about this recording. 

Quonset is my personal favorite of anything I've done: acoustic or electric...it's me on 3 string drone bass and Ed Frey on drums and scrap metal percussion...similar to very early Savage Republic...in fact we do a Savage Republic cover (Exodus)...performing rights graciously worked out with Savage Republics lawyer before release...and all it cost me were 6 copies of the CD!  I'm planning on re-releasing this CD (with extra cuts) on Empty Square at some point in the future.

So this obviously is not the kind of stuff I normally post but since Ralph's music has been prominent in this blog I think it is relevant to present his other work.  I think it is one of those things that remind me that all of us are very multi-faceted individuals and it is easy to form perceptions about artists when you know them for only one aspect of their artistry. 


I know there is a strong connection between the American Primitive audience and the experimental genres.  So many of you may find this interesting.  I hope so.  


Thanks again Ralph!


Download Quonset

    

Beyond Berkeley Guitar

This release is the follow up to the 2006 Tompkins Square release of Berkeley Guitar. This time Sean Smith expands the concept with more guitarists from a wider region geographically as well as musically.

I have to admit that I wasn’t too impressed with this disc the first time I gave it a spin. Or the second or third. But the compositions have grown on me. I suppose that I was taken a bit off-guard by the expansion of styles and Smith notes the danger of such an endeavor. I’m very partial to the Takoma style and I don’t have the background that many of these artists have in electronic music. They are obviously coming from a different place than I am musically. And I’m sure that affects what I hear. To me, the electronic/solo acoustic connection is a mystery.

Anyway, the CD starts off great with the promising young Aaron Sheppard. I found Sheppard on MySpace some time ago and was reminded of him by Mike Fekete recently. They met during Fekete’s latest tour through the area. Sheppard is a guy I will be keeping my eye on and I’m looking forward to a Gnome Life release.

“Dream of a Distant Summer” starts as a quiet piece that builds in intensity until the notes are like the blinding Sun as it shimmers on a rippled pond. Richard Osborn has great chops, but the improvised composition begins to fall apart near the end. Nonetheless I’ve come to enjoy this piece.

Trevor Healy deftly veers the feel back toward Takoma-country with his 12 string work. This one is strong on melody and Healy takes his time. Like I said, merely veering towards Takoma, this isn’t Kottke.

Chuck Johnson completes the return with a very nice Takoma-style performance full of pertinent pauses and nuances that really make this piece work.  Tompkins is offering this as a free mp3 downlod.  "A Struggle, Not A Thought"

Sean Smith checks in with cut #5. As is usual with Smith, he doesn’t disappoint. Modern American Primitive as I have come to expect from Smith. This one lasts eleven plus minutes but you don’t notice it.

Lucas Boilon’s “Studies Of The Oak As Pertaining To Drudic Rites Of Passage” is almost longer in title than the piece itself. However, Boilon’s playing turns out to be a rather compelling performance recorded in his living room.

And wrapping things up is Ava Mendoza. I applaud the intention by Smith but I just don’t see how this piece of music fits into this concept. It’s jazz. Now, before anyone gets bent out of shape that I’m not gushing over Mendoza’s inclusion in this project (as many are) and suggests something foul: I have taken lessons from three very good guitarists over the last few years. Two of them women, specifically: Mary Flower. So don’t even…ok? I just don’t think it fits into the concept, no reflection on her playing or style.

That wraps it. If you are looking for old-school Takoma playing, look elsewhere. If you want to expand your listening and discover some new musicians, look no further.
 
I highly suggest that you pop over to Work and Worry this week. They have scored an interview with each and every one of these artists and will be running one a day all week.