Hit List

 

Jonatha Brooke, Steady Pull

On Steady Pull Jonatha Brooke forsakes the quiet quality of her earlier releases in favor of a funky, full-band sound. This does not mean that Brooke’s material will fail to tempt acoustic players, however. The set’s opening track, "Linger," forges buoyantly along with electric accompaniment, but its melodic color chords would easily suit an acoustic version. Other choice cuts include the lovely, forlorn-sounding "Your House" and "New Dress," which features the dueling harmonies of Brooke and Crowded House’s Neil Finn. The CD’s title track, featuring Michael Franti of Spearhead, exemplifies Brooke’s bass-driven, R&B-tinged material. Overall, Steady Pull is an exciting departure for Brooke, whose songwriting continues to impress, whatever the musical medium. (Bad Dog)

—Karen Iris Tucker

 

 

Various artists, Latinas: Women of Latin America

Latinas features a procession of fantastic singers, from queens of classic song like Cuba’s Celina González and Argentine diva Mercedes Sosa to experimental artists like Peruvian chanteuse Susana Baca and Brazil’s Rita Ribeiro. Most tracks are anchored by percussion, acoustic guitar, and bass; some add brass, accordion, and more. Especially infectious is Chilean Mariana Montalvo’s coy "La Libélula" ("The Dragonfly"), which made me chase down her solo CD, Cantos del Alma (Putumayo). These soulful women have long fought for a voice in commercial music, and this release should help amplify their amazing sounds. (Putumayo)

—Rani Arbo

 

Keith Little, Distant Land to Roam

This lovely album, Keith Little’s first solo CD, will appeal to admirers of well-crafted contemporary songs as well as fans of bluegrass, country, and old-time music. Little’s vocals have the understated intensity characteristic of singers with strong traditional roots, and he delivers his finely wrought lyrics and flowing melodies in a clear and sometimes ethereal tenor. The punchy, straight-ahead arrangements are full of subtle rhythmic and harmonic twists that keep the sound fresh. Little plays rhythm guitar and Robert Bowlin and Mike Compton contribute fine lead and tenor guitar work, including a splendid solo by Bowlin on "Where Dear Friends Will Never Part" that is both sweetly sentimental and swinging. (Copper Creek)

—Sue Thompson

 

The Horse Flies, In the Dance Tent
Various artists, Two Traditions

Both of these CDs are dedicated to bassist John Hayward (1948–1997) who was the sweet and simple heart of the Horse Flies for more than a decade. On In the Dance Tent (Live and Kickin’), he established the rhythm for a set of swirling, high-energy old-time breakdowns, recorded live at the 1996 GrassRoots Festival. And on the quieter, meditative Two Traditions (Callin’ the Kettle Black), on which the Horse Flies were joined by fiddlers Chad Crumm and Ricky Simpkins and percussionists Jim Roberts and Nery Arevalo, he provided the foundation for a cross-cultural fusion of banjos, balafons, congas, fiddles, mbiras, and ukuleles. Both CDs redefine the boundaries of string band music and are absolutely perfect.

—Kenny Berkowitz

 

Steve Tilston, The Greening Wind

If Steve Tilston isn’t as well-known as the biggest songwriting stars of British folk, it’s not for want of talent or perseverance, as this 15-track collection demonstrates. Tilston wrote some of the most tuneful, singable songs to come out of England in recent decades. This collection, culled from five albums spanning 21 years, sets the fingers to twitching and fixes hummable hooks in the brain. The first two tracks, "The Slip Jigs and Reels" and "Another Place to Hide," are classics from Tilston’s years touring with Maggie Boyle and deserve to be covered endlessly. American singer-songwriter enthusiasts have a real gift here—plenty of lovely songs and an emotion-rich delivery to study, emulate, and enjoy. (Hubris)

—Danny Carnahan

 

Dave Hall, True

Singer-songwriter Dave Hall’s third CD, True, begins and ends with instrumental pieces that draw on Bach’s cantata "Sheep May Safely Graze." Hall’s melancholy 14-song set takes its cue from the title track, a musical wall of misgiving and sadness written about a friend who died of AIDS. Hall’s bittersweet reflections are wrapped in soft acoustic guitar strums, forlorn cello and violin cries, and haunting choral voices. His giddier musical moments mostly remain under wraps, though he does reveal his dry humor in "God Is Wide," in which he sketches an all-embracing, nonjudgmental picture of the creator, while admitting that others may view Him in their own image, as "a flat-butted, crew-cutted, linebacker / A macho babe hijacker." (Giuseppe Joe)

—Karen Iris Tucker

Henri Dikongué, Mot’a Bobe

Cameroonian songwriter and guitarist Henri Dikongué delivers a jubilant set of well-crafted Afro-pop ballads on Mot’a Bobe, his third release. The music is upbeat and Dikongué’s voice is velvety, often in contrast to the seriousness of the lyrics. Irony, social commentary, and personal experiences swirl through songs like "No Return" ("Life seemed beautiful when I had wings / I want to die and forget / I do not turn back") and "Clone" ("No more questions asked / I am a clone and I am proud of it"). Dikongué’s guitar ripples through the large ensemble sound, which includes keyboards, horns, accordion, and strings. (Tinder)

—Gary Joyner

 

 

Big Twang, Pastures of Plenty

Fronted by Dixie Chicks founding member Robin Lynn Macy, Big Twang’s debut album finds the twang inherent in bluegrass, blues, folk, swing, and even pop. Ace resophonic guitar whiz Troy Gilchrist and former national banjo champion Jeff Scroggins provide plenty of soulful style on tunes like the Woody Guthrie–penned title cut and the swingy "Missing the Mrs." Macy’s riveting, seductive voice infuses the band’s renditions of Sting’s "Secret Journey" and Nanci Griffith’s "Time of Inconvenience" with spellbinding power and soul. Big Twang is one big talent. (Big Twang)

—David McCarty

Bob Brozman, Ukulele Tunes and Techniques: Hawaiian and American Style

Bob Brozman is known for his Hawaiian steel and bottleneck blues guitar playing, but he is also one of the better ukulele players around. On Ukulele Tunes and Techniques he uses Hawaiian songs such as "Hi’lawe" and "Meleana’E" and jazz standards like "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "I’ll See You in My Dreams" to demonstrate the uke techniques he has gleaned from years of playing with Hawaiian musicians and listening to old records. Brozman is an excellent teacher who clearly explains the variety of rolls, picking patterns, strums, and chords needed to play complex music on this simple instrument. His comments about technique also include some fascinating bits about the history of the ukulele and Hawaiian music. (Homespun)

—Michael Simmons

Romero Lubambo, Bossa Nova Guitar

In this video, guitarist Romero Lubambo covers the basics needed to play bossa nova on the guitar. Dividing his lesson into four sections, Lubambo demonstrates basic and advanced rhythm patterns; illustrates the guitar styles of players such as João Gilberto, Luiz Bonfá, and Baden Powell; and provides a set of melodic patterns that resemble familiar tunes. Not only is this video a good introduction to bossa nova for those who want to get serious about playing the popular Brazilian form, but it is also chock-full of cool rhythm patterns and chord voicings that will enrich any guitarist’s repertoire. Lubambo’s nylon-string guitar is joined by drums, bass, and vocals for a demonstration of the main bossa nova rhythms. (Rittor/Hal Leonard)

—Teja Gerken

Visit the reviews archives to read dozens of reviews of great acoustic-guitar oriented CDs.

Sources

 

Bad Dog, 29171 Grayfox St., Malibu, CA 90265; www.jonathabrooke.com.

Big Twang, PO Box 871, Belle Plains, KS 67013; www.bigtwang.com.

Callin’ the Kettle Black, 5062 Lakeview Dr., Nashville, TN 37220; www.ancienthand.com/twotrad.htm.

Copper Creek, PO Box 3161, Roanoke, VA 24015; (540) 563-5937; www.coppercreekrec.com.

Giuseppe Joe, 41 Schermerhorn St. #279, Brooklyn, NY 11201; (718) 260-9308; www.giuseppejoe.com.

Hubris, PO Box 152, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD22 0YT, U.K.; www.steve-tilston.co.uk.

Live and Kickin’, 384 Troy Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850; (607) 273-0560; www.liveandkickin.com; www.thehorseflies.com.

Tinder, 80 Mark Dr., San Rafael, CA 94903; (888) 848-6777; www.tinderrecords.com.

 

Excerpted from Acoustic Guitar magazine, April 2001, No. 100.

 

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