In this column I review three new American music-minded audio titles.
Title: Long Journey Home: A Century After The Mountain City Fiddlers Convention (Appalsongs)
You might like if you enjoy: Old Crow Medicine Show, Mollly Tuttle, John McCutcheon, Americana music
Tell me more: In May 1925 the small town of Mountain City, TN hosted a fiddlers convention. That single concert's impact has been long remembered and now a century later a number of today's Americana greats have contributed to an ambitious new title celebrating that event. The 17 tracks on Long Journey Home: A Century After The Mountain City Fiddlers Convention (a project spearheaded by John McCutcheon) showcase virtuoso musicianship in spades while conjuring up the magic of classic Appalachian-steeped Americana. Highlights abound on the outstanding collection including singer-fiddler Stuart Duncan's fast-paced opener "Cumberland Gap," the bewitching collaboration between singer-guitarist Molly Tuttle and fiddler Ketch Secor ("I've Always Been A Rambler"), Tim O'Brien's infectious "Old Molly Hare," singer-banjo master Jake Blount's "House Carpenter," singer-fretless banjo player John McCutcheon's captivating "Cuckoo," Old Crow Medicine Show's buoyant "What You Gonna Do With The Baby," the haunting instrumental "Cluck Old Hen" featuring Tray Wellington (on bluegrass banjo) and Victor Furtado (on old time banjo), and enticing "Forked Deer" featuring dynamic play from Becky Buller (fiddle), McCutcheon (banjo), Tim O'Brien (mandolin), PJ George (guitar) and Missy Raines (bass). Information: folksongs.com.
You might like if you enjoy: Old Crow Medicine Show, Mollly Tuttle, John McCutcheon, Americana music
Tell me more: In May 1925 the small town of Mountain City, TN hosted a fiddlers convention. That single concert's impact has been long remembered and now a century later a number of today's Americana greats have contributed to an ambitious new title celebrating that event. The 17 tracks on Long Journey Home: A Century After The Mountain City Fiddlers Convention (a project spearheaded by John McCutcheon) showcase virtuoso musicianship in spades while conjuring up the magic of classic Appalachian-steeped Americana. Highlights abound on the outstanding collection including singer-fiddler Stuart Duncan's fast-paced opener "Cumberland Gap," the bewitching collaboration between singer-guitarist Molly Tuttle and fiddler Ketch Secor ("I've Always Been A Rambler"), Tim O'Brien's infectious "Old Molly Hare," singer-banjo master Jake Blount's "House Carpenter," singer-fretless banjo player John McCutcheon's captivating "Cuckoo," Old Crow Medicine Show's buoyant "What You Gonna Do With The Baby," the haunting instrumental "Cluck Old Hen" featuring Tray Wellington (on bluegrass banjo) and Victor Furtado (on old time banjo), and enticing "Forked Deer" featuring dynamic play from Becky Buller (fiddle), McCutcheon (banjo), Tim O'Brien (mandolin), PJ George (guitar) and Missy Raines (bass). Information: folksongs.com.
Title: The In Between (Kevin Gordon)
You might like if you enjoy: Kevin Gordon, John Hiatt, John MellencampTell me more: On his latest album The In Between, singer-songwriter Kevin Gordon chronicles dark times and triumph — much of the winning material centered on events and emotions centered around his successful fight to overcame throat cancer during the recording of the outstanding release. The catchy uptempo opener "Simple Things" is a roots rocker that was penned during the pandemic and — as Gordon notes in media notes about his seventh album — taps into the "exchange of energy between me and an audience." The luxurious alt country-tinged title track finds the Louisiana native looking at his life and the decisions he has made with depth and candor. Other standouts on the stellar album include the galloping rocker "Love Right," lovely fiddle-adorned "Tammy Cecile," garage rock-styled nugget "Coming Up," rollicking "Destiny" and deeply affecting closer "You Can't Hurt Me No More." Information: https://kevingordon.bandcamp.com/album/the-in-between.
Title: Blues In Hand (Sweetspot Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Dr. John, Roomful of Blues, Tab BenoitTell me more: Eight-time Blues Music Award-nominated singer/songwriter/cornetist Al Basile's latest full-length. album Blues in Hand showcases his signature brand of blues with a parade of strong originals. Among the captivating tracks on the 13-track disc is the opener "All of Your Lies," cornet-anchored "Blues is My Roommate" (the latter bolstered by Kid Andersen's lead guitar work), horn section-fueled "Good Friends" and "Leave it All Behind You," confessional "Older By the Minute," exuberant "Thank You, Fool" and funky "You Ain't That Fine." Basile's strong baritone vocals and stellar cornet playing enhance the album's tracks at every turn. Information: albasile.com.
Robert Kinsler
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