JEFF WARNER - Long Time Travelling
WildGoose Records WGS385CD
As befits the son of the amazing folk-song collectors Anne and Frank Warner who collected hundreds of wonderful songs, Jeff Warner has quite a background in traditional American music. Here he includes eight of the songs his parents gleaned, but doesn’t restrict himself to this source, wisely choosing a number of other pieces which all then fit together to produce a varied and satisfying whole. He’s a fairly undemonstrative singer, with a rich voice and has the great knack of letting a song speak for itself – something which requires great technique and deep understanding.
This extends to his accompaniments: thoughtful, well-chosen and always guaranteed to suit the song, rather than getting in the way. As well as his own banjo, English concertina, guitar and percussion, he has assembled a stellar backing group – once again, all of whom are chosen to help ornament a particular song, or point up a particular mood. From Keith Kendrick’s punchy anglo-concertina on Ho Boys Ho, which kicks off the album in fine style, to the fiddling of Pete Sutherland, all the musicians and singers give performances which are a truly positive addition - even the use of such exotica as Vicki Swan’s nyckelharpa is beautifully judged and proves particularly telling. A really lovely record, and warmly recommended.
Paul Burgess
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this CD online from The Listening Post The Listening Post is the CD mailorder service of The Living Tradition magazine. This album was reviewed in Issue 90 of The Living Tradition magazine. |