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| February 1999
Los Super Seven. Sumptuous packaging, inspired performances,
and rich acoustic instrumentation make this collection of traditional
Mexican songs, lovingly performed by a magnificent septet of Mexican-American
stars, a true feast for the senses. David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas, Flaco
Jimenez, Freddy Fender, Rick Trevino, Joe Ely, Ruben Ramos, and a few
added guests on guitars, bajo sexto, guitarrón, requinto, accordion,
violin, and percussion have created a tribute to the music of their ancestry
that will be cherished by anyone who has ever had the least interest in
Mexican-American music. A sensuous, soulful fiesta of south-of-the-border
sounds. (RCA) Bhuba Bruce Lewis, Walk Down That Lonesome Fretboard.
Singer-guitarists who perform country blues have to be more than good
to stand out nowadays. Being unique helps, as Bhuba Bruce Lewis demonstrates
on this excellent release. He uses a bluegrass-influenced flatpicking
style to present traditional and traditional-sounding tunes such as the
fingerpicking chestnut "Nine Pound Hammer" and the classic nasty
blues "Good Morning Lil' Schoolgirl." Though his execution is
accurate, he manages to project the slightly muddy guitar tone typical
of acoustic blues guitar playing. (Duende, 184 Elm St., Versailles, KY
40383) Peter Finger, Between the Lines. A new benchmark
for fingerstyle virtuosity and a must-have for all fingerstyle guitarists.
Finger's chops are guaranteed to impress, his compositions are meaty and
musical, and the production is meticulous and impressive. Finger uses
fingerpicks, rather than his nails, and tapes them to his fingers for
stability, a technique that results in clarity, an intensely biting sound,
and none of the clatter often associated with fingerpicks. The available
companion book of transcriptions should bear the title The Humbler.
(Acoustic Music Resource, 1610 Crestview Ave., Long Beach, CA 90740) Dee Carstensen, The Map. I call this "deep pop"-energetic
tunes with intelligent lyrics. A top-notch songwriter and singer, Carstensen
plays harp or piano on nearly all 12 tracks, which include upbeat grooves
("Be My Man" and "The Boy Was Trouble") and aching
ballads ("Take a Chance" and "Farewell, with Love").
All are impeccably arranged with acoustic guitars, percussion, flute,
cello, uilleann pipes, violins, and even a glockenspiel. If you love Shawn
Colvin or Jonatha Brooke (who sings backup up on several tunes), chances
are very good you'll love this CD. (Exit Nine/Blue Thumb) Steve Kaufman and Robin Kessinger, Star of the County
Down. One might expect a blatant hot-lick fest from these two
stellar flatpickers, with four National Flatpicking Guitar Championships
and enough state and regional guitar contest titles to outfit a good-sized
trophy shop. But this CD presents two intuitive musicians working together.
Lots of humor and friendly rivalry infect these 17 tracks, with Kaufman
and Kessinger swapping playful runs on everything from uptown swing like
"Kansas City Kitty" to the starkly beautiful "Star of the
County Down." (Sleeping Bear, PO Box 1020, Alcoa, TN 37701) Nashville Bluegrass Band, American Beauty. The
Nashville Bluegrass Band has always been notable for stepping outside
the boundaries of bluegrass, and American Beauty is no exception.
There's a wide range of material here, from traditional to contemporary,
and all of it is well chosen and beautifully performed. Pat Enright's
rhythm guitar glues the band together, and his lead playing-like his singing-is
clear, strong, and starkly melodic. In addition to the band's fine vocals,
there's some unusual ensemble work-unison and octave instrumental breaks
and some occasional counterpoint among the guitar, mandolin, and fiddle.
Highly recommended. (Sugar Hill, PO Box 55300, Durham, NC 27717-5300) Brady Earnhart, After You. With his feet firmly
planted in traditional folk, songwriter Brady Earnhart has fashioned a
distinctive and poetic writing style. His understated guitar and breathy
voice are warm and inviting, drawing the listener into the open- hearted
smile of his words. It's a wry smile, expressing a keen-edged, slightly
oddball perspective that somehow remains welcoming. Sparse, tastefully
played and arranged cello, upright bass, mandolin, accordion, fiddle,
banjo, lead guitar, keyboards, and percussion highlight the beauty of
the songs. There is a touch of John Martyn in Earnhart's relaxed style,
which only aids in making his work accessible. A truly outstanding debut
album. (Brady Earnhart, PO Box 4117, Charlottesville, VA 22903) Battlefield Band, Rain, Hail, or Shine. Davy Steele
steps in to replace Alistair Russell as guitarist and lead singer for
the Battlefield Band on Rain, Hail, or Shine, trading a more spare
and precise accompaniment style for Russell's exuberance. This new instrumental
blend works equally well under the vocals, accenting John McCusker's fiddle
tunes or driving the band's signature bagpipe rave sets. Sporting strong
original songs by Alan Reid and Steele, this eminently singable collection
is one of Battlefield's best balanced albums in a while. High, smoky,
and emotional, Steele's is maybe the best voice ever to front the Battlefield
Band. On his new solo recording, Chasing Shadows (Temple/Rounder),
he sings haunting Scots ballads and modern originals, peeling back the
curtains on love affairs and human frailties and accompanying himself
solidly on both guitar and bouzouki. (Temple/Rounder) Various artists, The Folk Scene Collection: From the
Heart of Studio A. This collection kicks off with a wry-sounding
David Wilcox announcing, "Live music crawling right out of your radio
. . ." From there straight through track 13, the artists deliver
as promised, offering live cuts from Roz and Howard Larman's nearly 30-year-old
Folk Scene radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles. For live radio, the
engineering (by Peter Cutler) is phenomenal and brings the brightness
and acoustic intimacy of these spellbinding performances right into your
living room. Standout cuts come from Wilcox, Bruce Cockburn, Maura O'Connell,
John Gorka, Richard Thompson, and Mary Black. (Red House, PO Box 4044,
St. Paul, MN 55104)
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