In this issue:
House Concert Review: Shane Jackman
Bo Ramsey; Lucinda's guitar players
Re: Patti Griffin
great book buy
Re: Lucinda Williams on Letterman
RELEASE: Fairfield Four "Wreckin' the House"
Ellis Paul
Re: Lucinda Williams on Letterman
Re: Martin & Colleen Sexton
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Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 14:15:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: bpetersn@burgoyne.com (Boyd Petersen)
Subject: House Concert Review: Shane Jackman
Last week, Shane Jackman encouraged two Utah Valley house concert audiences
to "pull in the sails and drift" while he set them sailing across a sea of
musical tales. Yet the metaphor of drifting in water is soon lost and you
feel a little more like you're sitting around a camp fire after a big red
Western sunset. Shane is a balladeer, his songs weaving stories together
that beautifully capture the American West. His music is certainly
Western, but not at all Country. In fact, the best comparison I can think
of is that Shane does for the West what Ellis Paul does for the big East
coast city. And in a similar way: He captures the essence of the place in
the stories of its people and in music that subtly harkens back to the
rhythms of the landscape. He tells of the crosses that dot the desert
highways and of the people whose losses these signposts memorialize, of the
bandits who once rode the land and of their victims both past and present,
and of the troubled boy who once disappeared in the vast deseret and of his
desire to be "Free in a Free World." And in what will probably be the
song that makes Shane Jackman a household word, he captures the essence of
Wallace Stegner's _The Angle of Repose_ in a song that literally took the
audience's breath away. Seriously.
While most of Shane's songs deal with Western themes, all have universal
appeal. And many are universal in theme. In his witty "Like an Angel"
Shane admits that he's "Sometimes like an angel and sometimes . . . not
that way at all," in "Carolina 49" he writes a sweet love song for his wife
assuring her that he's "comin' home," and in "Ordinary Man" he portrays the
human side of love in a way that shows how that humanity can be absolutely
princely.
Remarkable songs, remarkable music, remarkable musician. And a remarkably
nice guy. That really sums up Shane Jackman.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Boyd Petersen * Adjunct Faculty
515 South 900 East * Depts of English & Humanities
Provo, UT 84606 * Utah Valley State College
(801) 375-4072 * 4petersbo@uvsc.edu
bpetersn@burgoyne.com * Host, Timpanogos Intimate Concert Series
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 14:15:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: David Elbert <elbert@jhu.edu>
Subject: Bo Ramsey; Lucinda's guitar players
A couple of posts recently asked if Jim Lauderdale was playing guitar on
Lucinda Williams' new CD and mentioned that one of her "band members", Bo
Ramsey would be on Conan O'Brien's show in July. I just wanted to weigh in
with two quick things about these points: First, yes Jim Lauderdale is all
over the new album, but he is far from the only guitar to be heard. In
fact, longtime Williams' sideman, Gurf Morlix and longtime Greg Brown
collaborator, Bo Ramsey both are all over the CD as well. Jim Lauderdale
may make his biggest contribution by being the male harmony vocal that made
it through most of the final mixes.
As to Bo Ramsey, I mentioned above his longtime association with Greg
Brown, the non-musical highlight of which, to me, has to be the fine
picture of Greg and Bo on the back of the most recent Greg Brown CD, Slant
Six Mind. The same photo is on Bo's web site (http://www.boramsey.com).
And when you pop the CD out of the jewel box on Lucinda Williams' Car
Wheels On A Gravel Road, you may notice that she is wearing a straw cowboy
hat very damned similar to that Bo wears in the picture with Greg Brown!
Hmmm... perhaps more investigation is required....
Finally, many of you are certainly aware that we have been waiting a long
time for this new Lucinda Williams album. There has been lots of press
(articles in the NY Times and Washington Post in the last year) recounting
how difficult the production process was. Guitarists came and went,
producers came and went, vocalists came and went. I have heard that the
album was essentially done two previous times and then Lucinda wanted
significant changes in direction ro inspiration. I was wondering if anyone
on the list really knows the "true" story and history behind the release
and might summarize it in a post. Steve Earle and the twangtrust certainly
seemed to do a fine job in the end, but I wonder how different the mixes
would have been with a few fewer musicians involved...some of the parts are
mixed so low that they barely contribute. It is certainly an interesting
chance to see a bit of the struggle that can go with the production of art.
Best,
David Elbert
elbert@jhu.edu
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 14:15:48 -0400 (EDT)
From: Don Porterfield <brickworks@spiritsong.com>
Subject: Re: Patti Griffin
At 06:00 AM 7/3/98 -0400, you wrote:
As long as we're discussing Patty and Ellis, I don't think that "Conversation
>With
>A Ghost" should go unmentioned....I have some pretty vivid memories of
driving
>to a gig with my guitar player - with that song on "repeat" (right after a
>breakup,
>of course)....sheeeesh...I still get butterflies when I think about
>that...just one of
>those amazing moments that music intensifies to a point past description.
Another amazing Patti moment (beyond her own albums) is her duet with Jules
Shear "Windows and Walls" on his new CD of duets with various artists. The
album is called "Between Us", and it should be required listening for any
Patti Griffin fan. Brought me to tears on the very first listen!
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 14:15:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: John Hamerlinck <hamlinck@cloudnet.com>
Subject: great book buy
This may be a stretch as far as info qualifying the list's criteria but I
just thought people might like to know that Hamilton Books
(www.hamiltonbook.com)is closing out hardcover copies of Bill Morrissey's
novel "Edson" for $1.
John Hamerlinck
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 14:15:16 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Shirley M. Cottle" <cottles@uwwvax.uww.edu>
Subject: Re: Lucinda Williams on Letterman
I unfortunately missed the show, so I don't know how many band members
were playing with Lucinda....but I know that Bo Ramsey played and is
touring with her. Bo has been a sideman of Greg Brown's for a number of
years, but also has several releases of his own (check out
www.boramsey.com). Lucinda plays on Bo's last release, as he does on her
latest. They are also scheduled to be on Conan O'Brien July 10th.
Shirley Cottle
At 04:20 PM 7/2/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Did anybody else notice who that was playing backup guitar with Lucinda
>Williams? That HAD to be Jim Lauderdale! Please tell me it was true!
>love, wanda lu greene
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 14:15:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: Pressnet1@aol.com
Subject: RELEASE: Fairfield Four "Wreckin' the House"
Hey folks,
next week Dead Reckoning Records releases a live Fairfield Four record -
Wreckin' The House - recorded 10 years ago in a church - the way they were
meant to be heard. No special guests just their incredible voices raising the
roof. Writers let me know if you need a copy.
thanks and have a wonderful fourth.
Lisa Shively
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 14:15:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: David Elbert <elbert@jhu.edu>
Subject: Ellis Paul
Geez...I spend ages lurking and now I'm posting for the third time in a
couple of days! Funny how this list stuff works sometimes.
In my post on Patti Griffin's Flaming Red album I mentioned her work with
Ellis Paul. That ellicited a reply from Tom Hampton about his own
enjoyment of Ellis' Conversation with a Ghost. I thought I'd add that
Conversation with a Ghost leads off Ellis' first album, "Say Something".
Most members of this list seem to be well aware of Ellis's work, but for
those who may not know him, that album is absolutely fantastic. It is
produced by Bill Morrisey (a fabulous singer/songwriter in his own right)
and I sometimes think that he doesn't get enough credit. I find the
production really amazing.
Ellis Paul's second album is "Stories". I wrote a review of it way back
when. You can read that at http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p00102.htm or
simply take my word it that I loved it then, and it has only grown on me.
The latest Ellis Paul offering is "Carnival of Voices" and is a third winner!
Finally, if you get a chance to see him in concert...GO. The only problem
will be that the night will end to soon (and your girlfriend may fall in
love with him...but being a folk music fan means living on the edge!).
Ellis Paul info can be found at http://www.ellispaul.com
Cheers,
David Elbert
elbert@jhu.edu
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 03:15:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: "KORETZKY, HENRY" <HRK@psulias.psu.edu>
Subject: Re: Lucinda Williams on Letterman
>Did anybody else notice who that was playing backup guitar with Lucinda
>Williams? That HAD to be Jim Lauderdale! Please tell me it was true!
If Wanda Lu can handle one more indirect answer to her question, I
thought I'd mention that today's [7/3/98] NY Times has a review of a
Lucinda Williams performance, and Jim Lauderdale's name is mentioned as one
of her guitarists in concert.
-Henry Koretzky Harrisburg, PA HRK@PSULIAS.PSU.EDU
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 03:15:11 -0400 (EDT)
From: "D . Hokanson" <hokansod@goldey.gbc.edu>
Subject: Re: Martin & Colleen Sexton
Martin did two great shows this past weekend at the Tin Angel in
Philadelphia. He had the drummer with him. The drummer added to the
show. He did about half the show with Marty. Marty did about 50% solo
and that was just as rockin. He did the new song "Where Did it Begin"
that Courtney was talking about. It was beautiful song. The drummer
played an instrument called "The Marching Men". It was different/had a
nice sound to it.
Colleen, Marty's sister, opened up both nights. She has a very strong
voice. Kind of takes after Marty in the guitar playing--using fingerstyle
approach. I defintely will go out to see her again, if she is playing in
your area check her out. She has a new CD out--I bought it and listened
a few times and really like it.
Well thats it for now. Hope you all get to see Marty and Colleen soon.
Donna
P.S. Marty's album is due to be released on October 6.
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End of FOLK_MUSIC digest V1 #2440
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