Northern Journey: A Guide to Canadian Folk Music on CD
By Gene Wilburn
()
About this ebook
NORTHERN JOURNEY was first published in 1995, by Reference Press, and was updated with a second edition in 1998. This is an ebook reprint of the Reference Press 1998 second edition.
NORTHERN JOURNEY is a guide to the traditional and contemporary acoustic music of Canada released in CD format at that time. In scope, it is similar to a Canadian folk festival, featuring artists who embrace a mix of styles ranging from traditional Scottish/Cape Breton Celtic music to contemporary performing songwriters, plus a sprinkling of blues, bluegrass, First Nations music, and Canadian-based worldbeat music.
Prior to this ebook edition, NORTHERN JOURNEY has been out of print and inaccessible to readers. It covers nearly 1000 albums recorded by over 500 Canadian artists. The guide is divided into two sections: Artists and Compilations. The alphabetically-arranged Artists section describes the type of music an artist or group performs, and presents a discography of the artists’ recorded work, including each album’s song tracks and total playing time. The Compilations section covers anthologies of folk music recorded by various artists.
Gene Wilburn
Gene Wilburn is a Canadian writer, photographer, and computer specialist residing in Port Credit, Ontario, near Toronto. His work has appeared in Small Print Magazine, PC Week, Shutterbug, Infoworld, InfoAge, Toronto Star, Quill & Quire, Computing Canada, Computer Paper, Access, Here’s How! and Photo Life.He is the author of Northern Journey: A Guide to Canadian Folk Music on CD, Recreational Writing, and Markdown for Writers. He is a co-author of Red Hat Linux System Administration Unleashed, and he wrote the popular Linux for Newbies and Linux Inside columns for The Computer Paper (Canada). He is co-author of Shift Happens: Essays on Technology.
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Northern Journey - Gene Wilburn
Northern Journey
A Guide to Canadian Folk Music on CD
Gene Wilburn
Reprint of the 2nd Edition, Reference Press, 1998
Smashwords Edition
ISBN: 978-1-895934-12-0
Copyright © 1995, 1998, 2013 Gene Wilburn
Table of Contents
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Artists
A
1755
Tarig Abubakar & the Afro-Nubians
John Acorn
Ad Vielle Que Pourra
Susan Aglukark
Jerry Alfred & the Medicine Beat
Jenny Allen
Robert Amyot
Ancient Cultures
Anderson & Brown
Mary Anderson
Anderson & Meis
The Angstones
Anoosh
Jann Arden
Holly Arntzen
Arrandale
The Arrogant Worms
Robert Atyeo & the Friendly Giants
B
Sam Baardman
Back Alley John
Brenda Baker
The Barra MacNeils
Erin Benjamin
Willie P. Bennett
Emile Benoit
Jennifer Berezan
Anita Best
Anita Best & Pamela Morgan
Bob Bigwood
The Bird Sisters
Heather Bishop
Fiona Blackburn
The Blackflies
Blackie & The Rodeo Kings
Louis Blanchette
Rick Bockner
La Bolduc
Bob Bossin
La Bottine Souriante
Bill Bourne
Bourne & Johnson
Bourne & MacLeod
Bourne, Schuld, Stamer
Bourque Bernard et LePage
Farrell Boyce
Mark Bracken
David Bradstreet
Diana Braithwaite
Brakin’ Tradition
Jim Brannigan
Don Bray
Cori Brewster
Bonnie Brigant & Clare Adlam
Bristol’s Hope
Brookfield
Alistair Brown
Anne Beverly Brown
Jacquelyn Brown
Ken Brown
Shawn Brush
Harry Bryan
Buddy Wasisname & the Other Fellers
Edith Butler
C
Liam Callaghan & the Water of Life
John Allan Cameron
Moira Cameron
Bill Candy
Cape Breton Chorale
Cape Breton Summertime Revue
Captain Tractor
Ceilidh Friends
Chaisson Family
Don Chambers
Al Cherny
Cindy Church
Clancy, Evans & Doherty
Cobbler’s Apron
Bruce Cockburn
Eddie Coffey
Leonard Cohen
Colcannon
The Cold Club
College of Piping
An Còmhlan
Compadres
Connemara
Stompin’ Tom Connors
J.P. Cormier
Joe Cormier
Courage of Lassie
Doug Cox
Bill Craig
Cravan Spirit
Seamus Creagh
Lee Cremo
Crickle Wood
Crooked Stovepipe
Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Susan Crowe
D
Danko, Fjeld & Anderson
Tracey Dares
Brock Davis
Daisy DeBolt
Linda Dempster
Dent-de-lion
Stefan des Lauriers
Allen des Noyers
Mark Despault
Alpha Yaya Diallo
Djolé
Melanie Doane
Allen Dobb
Dobb & Dumela
Dario Domingues
Donnie & Buddy
Teresa Doyle
Teresa Doyle & Toshizo Tanaka
Tommy Duchesne
Jack Duncan & Shangó Ashé
Donna Dunlop
Jackie Dunn
Ken Dunn
E
Eagleheart Singers & Drummers
Fred J. Eaglesmith
Eco Andino
Shirley Eikhard
Jimmy Ekho
Lenore Elaine
Susan Ellenton
Kirk Elliott
Elysian Dream
Mary Anne Epp
David Essig
Danishka Esterhazy
Evans & Doherty
F
Failte
Tammy Fassaert
Fat Man Waving
Fear of Drinking
Stephen Fearing
Beth Ferguson
Salvador Ferreras
Ferron
Rick Fielding
Figgy Duff
Rick Fines
Finest Kind
Finjan
Fischer & Lee
Winston "Scotty’’ Fitzgerald
Flatland 6
The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band
Folk of the Sea
Roy Forbes
Four the Moment
Jason Fowler
J. Hubert Francis & Eagle Feather
Les Frères Labri
Friends of Fiddler’s Green
Cate Friesen
Gayleen Froese
G
The Gaelic College Pipe Band
Bill Gallaher
Lennie Gallant
Boying Geronimo
Geoff Gibbons
Jennifer Gibson
Eve Goldberg
Gopher Baroque
James Gordon
Myk Gordon
Lawrence Gowan
Ann Gray
Great Big Sea
The Great Western Orchestra
Jeremy Greenhouse
Brian Gregg
Al Grierson
Grievous Angels
Guignolée
Rufus Guinchard
The Gumboots
Gypsalero
H
Mark Haines & the Zippers
Half The Sky
Joe Hall
Karen Leslie Hall
Ken Hamm
Marie-Lynn Hammond
Slavek Hanzlik
Kyp Harness
Dave Harris
Tim Harrison
Bruce Harrot
Paul Haslem
Heartbreak Hill
Wade Hemsworth
The Henrys
Paddy Hernon
Jean Hewson
Veda Hille
Jim Hiscott
Stephen Hogg
Jerry Holland
Robert Burton Hubele
Ron Hynes
I
Ian & Sylvia
Icy Bridge
The Immigrants
Inconnu
May Ip
The Irish Descendants
The Irish Rovers
J
Jackson Delta
Irene Jackson
Tom Jackson
Jar O’ Comfort
Larry Jensen
Jerusalem Ridge
Jimmy George
Juba!
Jughead
K
Connie Kaldor
Kanatan Aski
Rachel Kane
Kashtin
Katari Taiko
James Keelaghan
Faye Kellerstein
Terry Kelly
Kathy Kidd
Kilgore Trout
Killiecrankie
The Kitchen Boys
Lorraine Klaasen
Richard Knechtel
Mary Knickle
Daniel Koulack
Susan Kuelken
L
Labrador Black Spruce
Gérard Lajoie
Chris Lakerdas
Mary Jane Lamond
Ned Landry
Penny Lang
Daniel Lapp
Sam Larkin
Grey Larsen & André Marchand
Grit Laskin
The Latest Rumour
Gregg Lawless
Jim Layeux
Francis J. Leahy
Leahy
David Leask
Roland Lebrun
Félix Leclerc
Anne Lederman
Jess Lee
Lee Pui Ming Ensemble
Légende
Emory Lester
Tom Lewis
Lewis, Pint & Dale
Gordon Lightfoot
Su-Chong Lim
Oscar Lopez
Barry Luft
M
Charlie MacCuspic
Buddy MacDonald & John Ferguson
Howie MacDonald
Laurel MacDonald
Celso Machado
Jamie MacInnis & Paul MacNeil
Sandy MacIntyre
Ashley MacIsaac
Dave MacIsaac
Dave MacIsaac & Scott Macmillan
Wendy MacIsaac
Buddy MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster
Scott Macmillan
Rita MacNeil
Cyril MacPhee
Mad Love
Mad Pudding
Aimé Major
Malaika
Eval Manigat
Mariposa in the Schools
Marcel Martel
Harry Martin
Lawrence Martin
Danielle Martineau
Brent Mason
Barb Mattiacci
Zeke Mazurek
Doug McArthur
Doug McArthur & Jeffra
John McDermott
Eileen McGann
Kate & Anna McGarrigle
Donald McGeoch
McGinty
Loreena McKennitt
John McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Murray McLauchlan
Big Dave McLean & Tim Williams
Heather McLeod
Mark McNeil
Les Méchants Maquereaux
The Men of the Deeps
Scott Merritt
Don Messer
Lynn Miles
Will Millar
Cathy Miller
Mikel Miller
Miller’s Jug
Joni Mitchell
Michael Mitchell
Modabo
Terry Morrison
Ann Mortifee
Brian Morton
Moxy Früvous
Mr. Mole
Mundy’s Bay Grog League
Lee Murdock
N
Arnie Naiman & Chris Coole
Jory Nash
The Nationals
Nazka
New Earth
Ngoma
Night Sun
Faith Nolan
Chris Norman
Northern City Limits
Bertha Norwegian
O
Gary William O’Hart
Tom O’Keefe
The Octet
Odd One Out
Terry Odette
Ojnab
Lowry Olafson
Open Mind
Orealis
Orquesta BC Salsa
Len Osland
Walter Ostanek
P
The Paperboys
Paris to Kiev
David Parry
Jim Payne
Jim Payne & Fergus O’Byrne
Ken Perlman
Mark Perry
Colleen Peterson
Terry Phelps
Pipestone Creek Singers
The Plankerdown Band
Murray Porter
John Prince & A Piece of the Rock
Puirt a Baroque
Q
Lei Qiang
Quartette
Quigley Ensemble
Bob Quinn & The Quincept Project
Lester Quitzau
R
The Rankin Family
Rita & Mary Rankin
Rare Air
Rawlins Cross
Glen Reid
Loretto Reid & Brian Taheny
J.P. Riemens
Tracy Riley
Nancy Roach
Ian Robb
Robert & Susan
Dyhan Roberts
Robbie Robertson & the Red Road Ensemble
Andrew Roblin
Georges Rodriguez
Garnet Rogers
Stan Rogers
Deborah Romeyn
The Rose Vaughn Trio
Don Ross
Wayne Rostad
Karl Roth
Ryan’s Fancy
Denis Ryan
S
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Trichy Sankaran
Sazacha Red Sky
Mose Scarlett
Scatter the Mud
Lesley Schatz
Oliver Schroer
Pierre Schryer
The Schryer Triplets
Sandy Scofield
Seanachie
Seventh Fire
Ron Sexsmith
Shanty Boys
The Sharecroppers
Sho Do Man
Simani
Siren’s Whisper
Six Mile Bridge
Christina Smith & Jean Hewson
Laura Smith
Bob Snider
Charlie Sohmer
Sons of Maxwell
Isidore Soucy
Spirit of the West
Starb’ard Side
Bob Stark
Stevedore Steve
Jim Stewart
Paul Stewart
Stone Whistle
Stringband
Brenda Stubbert
Ben Sures
Suroît
Ruth Sutherland
Gwen Swick
T
Tamarack
Ian Tamblyn
Tanglefoot
Pat Temple and the High Lonesome Players
Oscar Thiffault
Three Sheets to the Wind
Tickle Harbour
TIP Splinter
Brent Titcomb
Hugo Torres
Eleanor & Graham Townsend
Graham Townsend
Tranby Croft
Travels with Charley
Lucie Blue Tremblay
Trilogy
Triple Threat
Kelli Trottier
Terry Tufts
Paddy Tutty
Two-Penny Opera
Ian Tyson
Sylvia Tyson
Tzimmes
U
UHF
Uisce Beatha
Shari Ulrich
Uzume Taiko Ensemble
V
Valdy
Virgo Rising
W
The Wakami Wailers
Len Wallace
Peggy Ward
Baxter Wareham
Jennifer Warnes
Jackie Washington
Bobby Watt
Diamond Joe White
Minnie White
Nancy White
The Whiteley Brothers
Chris Whiteley
Ken Whiteley
Ken Whiteley, Jackie Washington, Mose Scarlett
WhiteTail Singers
David Wiffen
David Wilkie
Tim Williams
The Willies
Johnny Wilmot
Tom Wilson
Jesse Winchester
Richard Wood
Scott Woods
The Wyrd Sisters
Y
Yakudo
Kathleen Yearwood
Lesley Young
Neil Young
Compilations
Amber Christmas
Another Time: the Songs of Newfoundland
Anthology of Canadian Folk Music
Atlantic Fiddles
The Best Cree Fiddle Players of James Bay
The Best of Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre
Canada: A Folksong Portrait / Un Portrait Folklorique
Canadian Fiddle
Children of the World
Close to the Floor: Newfoundland Dance Music
Folklore de Montréal / Montreal Folklore
The Gathering: A Compilation of Toronto World Music
Golden Fiddle
Héritage Québécois
I Am An Eagle
Jigs & Reels
Kick at the Darkness: Songs of Bruce Cockburn
Mariposa ’93: A Compilation of Canadian Musicians
Moose: the Compilation
Music of the inuit / Musique Des inuit
Musique Multi-Montréal
Nunavik Concert
The Orchard Sessions 93: A Canadian Bluegrass Sampler
Our Labrador
Singers and Songs of Canada / Canada Chanteurs et Chansons
Songs of the Sea
The Sounds of Nova Scotia
Stuck on a Cold Steel Pole
A Taste of Atlantic Canada
Thank You Lord!
About the Author
Introduction
Northern Journey was first published in 1995, by Reference Press, and was updated with a second edition in 1998. This is an ebook reprint of the Reference Press 1998 second edition.
Northern Journey is a guide to the traditional and contemporary acoustic music of Canada released in CD format at that time. In scope, it is similar to a Canadian folk festival, featuring artists who embrace a mix of styles ranging from traditional Scottish/Cape Breton Celtic music to contemporary performing songwriters, plus a sprinkling of blues, bluegrass, First Nations music, and Canadian-based worldbeat music.
Prior to this ebook edition, Northern Journey has been out of print and inaccessible to readers. It covers nearly 1000 albums recorded by over 500 Canadian artists. The guide is divided into two sections: Artists and Compilations. The alphabetically-arranged Artists section describes the type of music an artist or group performs, and presents a discography of the artists’ recorded work, including each album’s song tracks and total playing time. The Compilations section covers anthologies of folk music recorded by various artists.
At the time of its publication, Northern Journey was intended to be to Canadian folk music what the Penguin Guide was to classical or jazz, or the Rolling Stone Guide to rock music: a buyer’s guide for music lovers and collectors. As such it represents a snapshot in time. Unfortunately there were no resources available for updating and maintaining the guide after the second edition.
In the time since it was published several of the artists in the guide have died, others have gone on to flourishing careers, and many new artists and groups have since debuted. Even so, Northern Journey, aged fifteen years, remains a valuable resource for music collectors and folk music historians. It has been reissued in ebook format so that it remains available for those who find it useful. The search function of an ebook reader makes it easy to use the guide to find particular artists and songs.
Readers interested in keeping up with Canadian music today are encouraged to attend local folk festivals, folk clubs, and concerts. You can directly support the artists by attending their gigs and purchasing their albums. In doing so you will be well rewarded.
— Gene Wilburn, Port Credit, Ontario, August, 2013
Acknowledgements
My foremost thanks to the artists in this guide who have created a treasure trove of music. Thanks too to those artists and record companies who were able to support this project by sending me albums and biographical material.
From the start, many individuals have given me help and encouragement, but I would like especially to thank the following individuals who have gone far beyond the call of friendship or duty: Derek Andrews, Ossie Branscombe, Gary Cristall, Steve Fruitman, Susan Martinez, Les Siemieniuk, and the late Rick Fielding. I have also received continual assistance from the members of the Maplepost mailing list who, for several years now, have answered my many queries promptly and with good humour.
Extra thanks to Canadian folklorist and radio host Steve Fruitman for conceiving and implementing the annual CIUT-FM Porcupine Awards, that, at the time the guide was compiled, provided the only comprehensive folk music awards in Canada. Porcupine Award winners are noted throughout the guide.
Deep thanks as well to Gord Ripley of Reference Press for believing enough in this book to publish it twice as a Reference Press print edition.
And to my wife, Marion, and my son, Trevor, thanks for your patience and your unfailing support. This project could not have happened without you.
Artists
A
1755
French-Canadian; Acadian; Celtic Rock; Singer-Songwriter
1755 was one of Canada’s first Celtic rock bands. Combining elements of Cajun, bluegrass, and Celtic music, they created a stir with their upbeat arrangements, Acadian spirit, and roots-based instrumentation, paving the way for all the Celtic bands that were to follow. Their debut album, 1755, still sounds fresh today. From the topical, humourous C.B. Buddie
to the bluegrass-oriented instrumental, La Toune à Louis Arsenault,
the band set high standards. The followup album, Vivre à la Baie, from 1979, is more rooted in traditional music and features even more adroit playing than their first album. The various members of 1755, which recombined periodically, included Roland Gauvin, Gerry Forest, Pierre Robichaud, Pete Gaudet, Kenneth Saulnier, Donald Boudreau, and Ronald Dupuis.
1755
1978, reissued 1994 Isba (K 5003)
Hallo Joe; C.B. Buddie; Confession; La Toune à Louis Arsenault; Le Monde qu’on Connait; Maudite Guerre; Rue Dufferin; Boire Ma Bouteille; U.I.C. (Unemployment Insurance Commission); Le Monde a Bien Changé; Geddap Sam; Vie de Fou; Je Chante pour Toi 36:57
Vivre à la Baie
1979, reissued 1994 Isba (K 5004)
La Gang Arrive; Reel du 375 Ième; Mon Coin de l’Acadie; Le Jardinier du Couvent; Southville; Kouchibouguac; Je T’Aime; Vivre à la Baie; Le Pire s’en Vient; J’ai Passé Toute la Nuit Deboute; Disco Banjo 40:53
Tarig Abubakar & the Afro-Nubians
Worldbeat
The late Tarig Abubakar hailed from Khartoum, Sudan, at the crossroads of African and Arabic culture. Abubakar sings in Arabic, but his music was pan-African, derived from styles as diverse as shaaby-rock from Egypt, Amharic soul from Ethiopia, rumba-soukous from Zaire, and Sudan’s own traditional haqeeba music. After settling in Toronto, Abubakar formed the Afro-Nubians, a ten-piece band with players from Ghana, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, and Zaire. Abubakar fronted the band as singer and sax player. On Tour to Africa, the title track is described in the liner notes as a gentle, swaying safari to 45 countries, from Algeria to Zaire.
Unity
is a plea for pleace and harmony in his homeland. The Afro-Nubians, on this album, are Adam Solomon, Kobena Acquaa-Harrison, Solomon Hasballa, Eshet Mengesha, Booker T., Misara Ghandi, Zafrino, Kobena Rueben, Bishop Okele, Godfrey Sekijoba, Hamad Ismail, Tarig Tijani, Walid Abdelaziz, Hadi Ahmed, Joseph Ashong, and Kofi Ackah. Adubakar died in an automobile accident in the Sudan, January 28, 1998.
Tour to Africa
1994 Stern’s Africa (STCD 1058)
Tour to Africa; Gorba; Hawiah; Unity; Zinjeah; El Serah; Tum Tum; Jenob El Sudan; Gadar; Akwani; Jenob El Sudan 49:56
John Acorn
Natural History; Singer-Songwriter
John Acorn, an Edmonton, Alberta naturalist, is the host of two popular shows on Canadian TV: The Nature Nut, a family show on natural history, and Twits And Pishers, a show about bird watching. For the Nature Nut series, he has composed and recorded a series of songs and ditties that are catchy, folksy, and zany. Kids love them, and you probably will too. This is the only CD in the guide where you will encounter a song—Joe Snumm, Fish-At-Large
—that was written as a spontaneous expression of sincere admiration for the purity of fish.
Use your kids as an excuse to buy this one for yourself if the title makes you feel self-conscious.
The Nature Nut
1994 Great North (SA94631)
I’m a Nature Nut; Life Under the Microscope; I Could Be Your Tall Lungwort, Baby; Waterbug; There’s Nothing Wrong with Frogs; I Saw the Butterflies; Telephoto Man; Bird Watching on the Beach; Munching on Aphids; Beetle Grabbin’ Man; Tracks in the Snow; Joe Snumm, Fish-At-Large; The Ballad of Bird Watcher Betty; Macro Thing 42:26
Ad Vielle Que Pourra
French-Canadian; Traditional; Contemporary
Ad Vielle Que Pourra is a Quebec group full of surprises. Its hallmark is traditional French instruments, but Ad Vielle plays music on them that, as the liner notes state, is not indigenous to the regions where the instruments come from.
They intermix Parisian waltzes, Breton sea songs, bourrées, gavottes, schottisches, and original compositions with abandon. the name Ad Vielle Que Pourra is a pun—a play on the French expression advienne que pourra (come what may
). The vielle is from vielle à roue, a French instrument commonly known as the hurdy-gurdy.
The founding members of Ad Vielle are Brussels-born Daniel Thonon, a luthier who plays an intricately carved hurdy-gurdy he built himself; Alain Leroux, born in Brittany and a fiddler specializing in traditional Breton, Scottish, and Irish melodies and songs; Clement Demers, an Ontario-born accordionist who learned Québécois tunes while living in Quebec and Cajun tunes while travelling through Louisiana; Luc Thonon, a multi-instrument musician who plays the rare Flemish bagpipes; and Gilles Plante, a Montréal-born flute, recorder, and bagpipe player who went to Brittany to study the music and culture of his ancestors.
Ad Vielle’s debut album, New French Folk Music, will appeal to those who enjoy the sound of traditional instruments, especially the infrequently-heard hurdy-gurdy. The music is bouncy and subtly flamboyant. On Come What May the sound shifts slightly as accordionist Clement Demers leaves the group and is replaced by Jean-Louis Cros on guitar. There’s a hint of introspection absent from their debut album. On Musaïque, their third album, the introspection disappears and the band is back in full flight. The sound is as infectious as ever, but also fuller. All three albums are delightful.
New French Folk Music
1989 Green Linnet (GLCD 1099)
Schottische du Stockfish; Malloz Ar Barz Koz O Vervel; Chupad Melen/Hanterdro Tid’ Poc’h; l’Agacante/Valse du Milieu/Valse du Faucigny; La Pucell d’Ussel; Les Filles de France; Suite de Gavottes Evit Leroux; Bourrées Dans le Jardin; Polkas Ratées; Valse des Coquelicots/Java Niaise; Fillettes des Campagnes; An Dro Pitaouer/An Dro Evit Jakeza; La Malfaissante 52:14
Come What May
1991 Green Linnet (GLCD 1112)
Un Cosaque à Paris; Adagio des Années Mornes; Evit Gabriel; Kanaouen An-Dud à Vor; Micro-Polka; Valse Minette/Les Patates Ont Germé à St. Amable; Tu Nous les Kas-Ebarh Toi; Chanson à la Mariée; Laridé D.T./Polka d’Été; Plinn an Enaouer; À St. Malo-Sur-Mer; Le Drao du Mao; Le Conscrit de Napoléon; Bourée en Ré 51:48
Musaïque
1994 Green Linnet (GLCD 4017)
Serre-Moi Plus Fort, Victor/Plant à Cao; An Avel à Varo; Gavotte "Fair Foot’’; Un Québécois à Caracas; Lou Mes de Mai Vendra; J’ai Vu Boulou, le Reinhardt Et la Musette; Leve la Jambe Armande; Un Garçon de Mon Village; Andropov/Polka Félix; La Tranchefoie; Javadvielle; La Complainte des Rengaines 53:47
Susan Aglukark
First Nations; Contemporary; Christmas; Singer-Songwriter
Canadian audiences have come to appreciate Inuit performer Susan Aglukark from her televised appearances on musical shows and specials. Her sweet soprano, whether she’s singing in English or Inuit, makes you sit up and take notice. She received a Juno in 1995 as New Solo Artist.
The sweetness of her voice, however, is frequently belied by the starkness of the lyrics on her albums Arctic Rose and This Child which deal with hard topics such as abuse of women and people who become life’s casualties. Arctic Rose, which was awarded 1995 Juno in the Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording
category, closes with what has become Aglukark’s signature song—Amazing Grace
—sung in Inuit. This Child takes Aglukark a large step forward from the somewhat mundane arrangements on Arctic Rose. The recording is enveloped in layer upon evocative layer of dramatic [Inuit] chants, cascading piano runs and sweeping acoustic rhythms
—Mitch Potter, Toronto Star. Aglukark’s Christmas album capitalizes on her sweet voice, but a curious lack of energy on the recording results in a rather dull album.
[Christmas]
1993 EMI (E2 7243 8 27989 2 7)
O Come All Ye Faithful; Away in a Manger; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; Joy to the World; Little Toy Trains; Santa Claus Is Coming to Town/Jingle Bells; The First Noel; Hark the Herald Angels Sing; O Little Town of Bethlehem; Silent Night, Holy Night 31:39
Arctic Rose
1994 EMI (E2 7243 8 / 28605 25)
Arctic Rose; Song of the Land; Still Running; Wanderin’ Child; Learn to Love Yourself; Searching; Anger and Tears; Rollin’ On; Mama’s Prayers; Amazing Grace 36:46
This Child
1995 EMI (E2 7243 8 32075 2 7)
This Child; Shamaya; Suffer in Silence; O Siem; Dreams for You; Hina Na Ho (Celebration); Kathy I; Pond Inlet; Slippin’ Through the Cracks; Breakin’ Down; Casualties of War 48:54
Jerry Alfred & the Medicine Beat
First Nations; Singer-Songwriter
An artist from the Northern Tutchone Nation, Jerry Alfred blends traditional musical styles and chants with contemporary instruments to create songs that sound at once ancient and modern. Etsi Shon/Grandfather Song (1994) is an album that is accessible to a wide listening audience—reflecting a deep spirituality and communion with the land and its people. Alfred sings lead vocals and plays guitar and traditional drum while his band—The Medicine Beat—fills in with keyboards, accordion, harmonica, and backup vocals.
Nendaä (1996) continues Alfred’s poetic messages and his soft lyrical voice backed sometimes by nothing more than a hand drum and other times by a full band. The liner notes contain translations of the Tutchone songs into English. Deeply captivating, the introspective melodies and chanted chorus draw you into Alfred’s lyrics and music. Pelly Song
translates to I’m sitting here looking at the river. If that water were to flow backwards I could go back and see all the things that happened before.
Produced by Bob Hamilton, Nendaä includes the fine backup playing of Alfred’s band, The Medicine Beat, consisting of Bob Hamilton, Andrea McColeman, Marc Paradis and Marie Gogo.
Etsi Shon/Grandfather Song
1994 Jerry Alfred (JA1-1994)
Generation Hand Down; The Warrior Song; Caribou Stick Gambling Song; Taan Mun/Lake Laberge; The Grandfather Song/Etsi Shon; MacMillan River Love Song; Beginner Gambling Song; The Watchmen; Salaw; A Love Song; Towhata Lake 47:26
Nendaä—-Go Back
1996 Etsi Shon (CRCD002)
Beware; Pelly Song; Residential School; Old Ways; Homeless; Nendaä—Go Back; Another Love Song; McQuestion River Stick Gambling Song; Haven’t I Told You?; Denë Kazhe; Solzhee 45:27
Jenny Allen
Contemporary; Singer-Songwriter
With a versatile voice that lends itself to folk, pop, jazz and blues arrangements, Alberta-raised Jenny Allen is a talented singer-songwriter whose lyrics intertwine themselves around her unusual guitar work. Listening to Something to Say—produced by Valdy—is a delight. From the hard-edged vulnerability of Freeway Lines
to the jazz-oriented Flesh And Bone,
to the lonesome Sail Away,
she has created a contemporary folk album that should interest listeners who also enjoy early Joni Mitchell recordings. Allen’s slightly countryish voice lingers on in your mind long after the album has finished.
Something to Say
1991 Strange Pagan (SPR 01-CD)
Freeway Lines; Seabird; Flesh and Bone; Sail Away; Shades of Blue; So This Is Love; Voices; Over from the Start; Stuck with Me; Something to Say; Walking Away; The Fire 42:44
Robert Amyot
French-Canadian; Traditional
Montreal-born Robert Amyot, who records in France, is a student of the historic material of Brittany, France, and Quebec. A piper who went abroad to study, he encountered Gallo traditional singing (a traditional chant from Higher-Brittany) which reminded him of the songs of his Quebec childhood. On his return to Quebec he met Danielle Martineau and Michel Faubert who introduced him to additional historic Quebec songs. On Sur la Vignolon, on the French Auvidis label, he sings several of these songs, and plays pipe, accompanied by French pianist and accordionist Albert Tovi. This highly interesting recording is worth seeking out if you enjoy traditional music.
Sur la Vignolon
1990 Auvidis (B 6740)
La Veillée; Peine d’Amour; Les Filles d’Amérique; Margot Fringue; Sur le Joli Son du Verre; Le Petit Moine; Adieu, Je m’en Vas; Le Mai; Rencontré Mine; Sur la Vignolon; Le Curé Bon Garçon; Le Petit Moulin; Il m’A Tant Fait Plaisir; Le Rhume; Le Charbonnier 52:44
Ancient Cultures
Worldbeat; Christmas
Canadian music fans are indeed fortunate. With a national culture that embraces cultural diversity, we are continually treated to the musical traditions of citizens who have moved to Canada from other countries. And, inevitably, native-born Canadians join forces with newly-arrived Canadians to form musical collaborations. Ancient Cultures is such a collaboration—a group that plays Latin American folk music.
Ancient Cultures, based in Vancouver, is composed of a mixed group of musicians. Alberto San Martin, Carlos Cortes, and Angel Araos come from Chile, but their musical roots are in jazz, folk, and classical music respectively. Fito Garcia comes from Guatemala and arranges and plays salsa music. Edward Henderson is from Vancouver Island where he grew up playing folk and classical music. Carlos Galindo Leal is from Mexico and has many years experience playing Spanish and Latin American music. Their debut album, Acoustic Mirage/Espejismo Acustico, combines their musical backgrounds into a deft, understated, weave of Latin American music. It is a beautiful, introspective offering. By their second album, El Camino Real, the group achieves full maturity. Awarded a Juno in 1994 as Best World Beat Recording,
the album displays more creative energy and a clearer sense of direction. This is a fine, sure album that should be on playlist of anyone who loves Latin American music. And for those who like Christmas albums with a twist, The Miracle of Christmas, which features the Vancouver Chamber Choir along with the Latin American folk instruments, is an album that is irresistible.
Acoustic Mirage / Espejismo Acustico
1992 Invincible (INVCD150)
Ventolera; Vibrations; In the Beginning/Cochabamba/Santa Cruz; The Weavers/The Water Is On; Berlin Colony; The Dream Elsewhere; Clearcut; Sustainable; Song for a Princess; Pampa Lirima; Susurro; Inner Waves; Estudio Para Zampoña; La Partida; Shattered Dreams; �Ay! �Ay! �Ay! 46:22
El Camino Real
1993 Invincible (INVCD057)
El Camino Real; Jungle Beat; Dolencias; Andean Dance in G Minor; Rio Apurimac; Persecucion de Pancho Villa; Estudio Para Charango; Serenade; La Guacamaya; Solitude; Jachauru; Ramis; Mama Chilindra; Juan Jose; Sencillo; Tinku; El Condor Pasa 51:03
The Miracle of Christmas
1994 GRD (GRDCD060)
We Three Kings; Deck the Hall/Christmas Bells in Summer; Angels We Have Heard on High; Reyes Morenos; O Holy Night; What Child Is This; Patapan; Bolivian Carol; Ring Christmas Bells; A la Nanita Nana; Los Reyes de Oriente; Niño Lindol; Away in a Manger; Pascua Linda; The Huron Carol; Silent Night 49:03
Anderson & Brown
Traditional; Celtic; New Age; Christmas; Singer-Songwriter
Based in Stratford, Ontario, Anderson & Brown is a folk duo featuring Mary Anderson on harp and Ken Brown on guitar, flute, and vocals. Together they explore the lyrical edges of the traditional Celtic repertoire. Their work is never rushed or frenzied as they work their way inside the loveliness and beauty of traditional music, presenting it in fresh, frequently dreamy, arrangements. On Off On A Tangent (1990), they state that like many Canadians, we were not brought up in the Celtic music tradition—we drifted into this music and fell madly in love.
The album is primarily instrumental, with harp and guitar and occasionally harp and flute. Brown’s soft, gentle voice accords well with Anderson’s harping.
Crimson (1991) captures Anderson & Brown in an adventurous mood. In addition to the traditional repertoire, they introduce original compositions such as Tangent’s Delight
—one hundred and fifty pounds of Newfoundland puppy greeting the morning with boundless enthusiasm is something you just have to experience
—plus original arrangements of the poems The Bells of London
and The Jabberwock.
Alone with a Dream (1994) continues their exploration of traditional material while adding their own compositions and arrangements. As on their previous albums, there’s a timeless, unhurried quality to the performances that encourages you to drift into the inner sanctum of the melodies. If you feel life is too rushed and hurried, queue up an Anderson & Brown CD, prop up your feet, and immerse yourself in some musical zephyrs.
In the Moon of Wintertime (1995) was the duo’s last recording before they went their separate ways, musically. An all-instrumental album, with guest musician Paul Haslem on hammered dulcimer, Wintertime is an exploration of winter themes—a mix of traditional Christmas music and two Haslem originals (Frost on the Steeple
and First Snow
). The album is an ethereal mix of harp, flute, guitar and hammered dulcimer. Poetic and lovely.
Off on a Tangent
1990 Anderson & Brown (A&B101CD)
Rusty Gully; The Blarney Pilgrim/The Rights of Man; Loch Tay Boat Song (Harold Bolton); Lochaber No More/Gravel Walk; Off She Goes; Snowy Breasted Pearl; Farewell to Aberdeen/Morgan Magan; I Will Go; My Lagan Love/Lark in the Clear Air/Whelan’s Jig; Eleanor Plunkett/The Flowing Tide; Willafiord; Farewell/Massacre of Glencoe; Caitlin Triall/Morrison’s Jig 58:06
Crimson
1991 Anderson & Brown (A&B102CD)
Tangent’s Delight; The Bells of London; Ned on the Hill; Tread Softly; One Lone Flight; Peggy Gordon; The Jabberwock; Reel de Ti-Jean; Ye Banks and Braes; Friendship; In the Bleak Mid-Winter 48:15
Alone with a Dream
1994 Anderson & Brown (A&B103CD)
Silkie; Virgin Carol; Fandango; Winter’s Touched My Heart; Alone with a Dream; Full Moon Pacific; The Rights of Man; Victim of War; Lament; Waltz—Late Afternoon Late; Lord Franklin’s Lament; Barham Down 49:13
In the Moon of Wintertime
1995 Anderson & Brown (no catalogue number)
What Child is This; Coventry Carol; Frost on the Steeple; Un Flambeau, Jeannette Isabella; Huron Carol; Come Gentle Night; Virgin Carol; First Snow; O Come Emmanuel; In the Bleak Mid-Winter; Silent Night 41:45
Mary Anderson
Celtic; Harp
Mary Anderson is an Ontario Celtic harpist who, at one time, teamed up with Ken Brown to form Anderson & Brown. She has also produced solo recordings: Flowering Trees and Ballade ... Voyage. Both albums feature Celtic and traditional material played adagio, squeezing every nuance out of the melodies. The result is haunting, beautiful, and relaxing, but these are not albums for those who like their Celtic music on the bouncy side.
Flowering Trees
1988 Anderson & Brown (FT001-CD)
Cosmic Cord; O’Carolyn’s Welcome; Planxty Elora; Blackbird; Paul’s Song; Munster Cloak; Humorous of Ballyloughlin; King’s Dance; Dance of the Circle; Rathdrum Fair; Flowering Trees; Buncloudy; Wolfies Hay Day; Carrik Fergus 42:59
Ballade ... Voyage
1991 Anderson & Brown (A&B 201CD)
My Love Is like a Red, Red Rose/Lark in the Clear Air; Carrickfergus/Brink of the White Rocks/The Parting Glass; Munster Cloak/Wolfie’s Farewell; She Moved Through the Fair/Childgrove/Ye Banks and Braes 60:37
Anderson & Meis
Celtic; Harp
Ontario harpists Mary Anderson and Joanne Meis combined their talents in harp duets on Celtic Spirit, an easy-paced, intimate collection of Celtic and traditional music that includes Scarborough Fair,
Down by The Sally Gardens,
The Lark in the Morning,
Barbara Allen,
and The Ash Grove.
Celtic Spirit
1992 Oasis (NHCD 201)
Scarborough Fair; Brian Boru’s March; Down by the Sally Gardens; Lark in the Morning; The South Wind; Barbara Allen; Early One Morning; Ash Grove; Gus Breo; The Star of County Down; Garten Mother’s Lullaby 44:09
The Angstones
Contemporary; Singer-Songwriter
The Angstones, an Ottawa band made up of musicians who also play in Fat Man Waving and Six Mile Bridge, mix European and American folk music with zany lyrics and a jumping beat on Kommen Een Der Karz (1992), their first CD. The band then mixes the rhythms of Eastern Europe and the Middle East on When Ahab Met Moishe (1994). The cover of the album is a takeoff of a 1950’s movie poster and the liner notes describe the album as the story of two men caught in the whirlwinds of a part of the world where no one can be trusted, let alone someone from another race. Moishe, a Jewish hockey writer for the Papaslavian Free Press, and Ahab, a waiter in an Arabic restaurant, find themselves entangled in the web of an international smuggling ring.
The zaniness is sometimes fun, sometimes forced. After one listen, it’ll probably remain on your shelf, unplayed.
The zaniness hits its apogee on The Hills are Alive (1995), a spoof of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Sound of Music. The spoofing is understated—the excellent musicianship might lead a casual listener to believe that this is a serious album. There is no question that the band is enjoying the music even while making fun of it, however lightly.
Angstone are Peter Kiesewalter on reeds and accordion, Kurt Walther on guitar, Rob Frayne on sax, John Geggie on bass, and Ian Mackie on drums.
Kommen Een Der Karz
1992 Canal (CANAL-256CD)
Kommen Een Der Karz; Papaslavian Variations; Old Dan Tucker; Hiroshima Sunset; Peasant Dance; Wedding in Babishjac; Maison Lafayette House; Digital Bulgarian Folkdance; Papa and I; On the Trail to Kozatzke; Swords of Bronze 45:35
When Ahab Met Moishe
1994 Canal (CANAL 265CD)
The Wild Boar; Breakfast in Istanbul; Ay, Ay, Ay; Ega; Wasabi Breath; Kopanitsa; The Line; Black Sea Café; Jaromir Jagr; When Ahab Met Moishe; Angst for Nothing 48:33
The Hills are Alive
1995 Canal (CANAL 268 CD)
Prelude; Climb Every Mountain; Do-Re-Mi; The Lonely Goatherd; Something Good; My Favorite Things; The Sound of Music; I Have Confidence; Maria; Edelweiss; Sixteen Going on Seventeen; So Long, Farewell 40:08
Anoosh
Worldbeat
Montreal worldbeat band Anoosh blends Middle-Eastern Armenian roots with North American music to create a jazz-oriented sound based on instruments as diverse as tabla, djembé, sax, flutes, guitars, ud (lute), and drums. The band has performed at venues such as the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Vancouver Folk Festival, WOMAD, and the Hamilton Earth Song Festival. The bouncy numbers on Kess Kiss Passe, such as the title song and tracks like Sambra,
Finchan,
and Chameau
are sure to attract new fans to the infectious rhythms of the band.
Kess Kiss Passe
1991 Hima Hoss (HH-1191)
Kess Kiss Passe; Samra; Mart Tch Kide; Mertchouni Bess; Ouzem Tchouzem; Banat Iskandaria; Finchan; Tchene Tche; Oushatsan; Chameau; Fayda Tchiga; Guessen Te; Kess Kiss Passe (Instrumental) 50:33
Jann Arden
Contemporary; Singer-Songwriter
Jann Arden, from Calgary, is an immensely popular singer-songwriter who, in the early stages of her career, performed on the folk circuit at venues like the Edmonton Folk Festival. Her atmospheric, moody, love songs are characterized by simple arrangements that bring her expressive voice front and centre. Arden’s first two CD’s, Time For Mercy and Living Under June appeal to a broad audience. Arden is the recipient of numerous Juno awards, including Songwriter of the Year
and Female Vocalist of the Year
in 1995.
Time for Mercy
1993 A&M (31454 0071 2)
I Would Die for You; Waiting for Someone; Will You Remember Me; We Do Some Strange Things; I’m Not Your Lover; Give Me Back My Heart; The Way Things Are Going; Kitchen Window; I Just Don’t Love You Anymore; Time for Mercy; Over You 50:48
Living Under June
1994 A&M (314540248-2)
Could I Be Your Girl; Demolition Love; Looking for It; Insensitive; Gasoline; Wonderdrug; Living Under June; Unloved; Good Mother; It Looks like Rain 43:22
Holly Arntzen
Contemporary; Singer-Songwriter
The tradition of political and social protest songs is one of the enduring legacies of folk music. British Columbia singer-songwriter Holly Arntzen embraces the tradition—putting her fine voice and writing energy into songs about contemporary situations and conditions. On Holly Arntzen she sings about the environment, corporate greed, changing times, and the shallowness of contemporary life. Throughout her work, however, is a thread of optimism and hope. Arntzen is a talented singer-songwriter whose work stands up well to repeated listening.
Holly Arntzen
1991 Artist Response Team / WEA (CD 74829)
I Believe; Rushing River; Born in the Country; Stand Up; Deep in My Heart; Tracktown; 3 Minute Culture; Feeling like a Stranger; Blade and Flame; Forget and Forgive 45:09
Arrandale
Traditional; Contemporary
Based in Owen Sound, Ontario, Arrandale is a folk group whose first CD, Arrandale, is a mix of old favourites, with a Celtic bias, plus some odd material such as New Orleans.
Arrandale has an engaging, clean-cut sound with pleasant voices and arrangements. The banjo, mandolin, and whistle accompaniments form excellent bridges between the vocals. While it doesn’t break any new ground, Arrandale is an album you can enjoy listening to repeatedly.
Time Revelers, Arrandale’s second CD, takes the group a notch forward from its earlier Arrandale release. Mixing original material written by band members Derek Cunningham and Brian Davidson with traditional material and covers of Stan Rogers, Eric Bogle, and Leonard Cohen, Arrandale sings and plays with increased authority. They mix a good blend of whistles, banjo, and guitars on musical interludes and a good tapestry of male and female voices on harmony. A solid pub band, Arrandale occasionally leans too heavily on electric guitar and drums and the delivery tends, in places, to get shouty.
The members of Arrandale are Derek Cunningham, vocals, guitar; Dave Comber, vocals, banjo, autoharp, bodhran; Brian Davidson, bass, mandolin, percussion, vocals; Bill Farrar, vocals, whistle; Dave Farrar, drums, vocals; Gillian McManaman, vocals, whistles.
Arrandale
1992 Arrandale (no catalogue number)
Foggy Dew; Molly Malone; Leaning Stone; New Orleans; Garten Mother’s Lullaby; I Know Where He Is; Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya; Come Ye Ore Frae France; John Anderson; Sarah; John McLean’s March; Tiree Love Song; John Barleycorn; The Piper O’ Dundee 46:32
Time Revelers
1995 Arrandale (no catalogue number)
Fine Line; The Ribbon; Oblivion; Song for Ireland; Follow Me up to Carlow; I Once Loved a Lass; The Mary Ellen Carter; Leaving Nancy; Song of Bernadette; The Galway Races; Standing on a Rock; Unable; Tyneside Set 52:03
The Arrogant Worms
Contemporary; Humour; Singer-Songwriter
At the edges of folk festivals you often find clowns and jesters. Occasionally they make music and end up on stage. On their debut album, Arrogant Worms, the group presents a mix of off-the-wall lyrics done in a variety of styles from folk (The Last Saskatchewan Pirate
) to reggae (The Credit Song
) to rock (Let’s Go Bowling
). Russell’s Shorts (1994), their second CD, delivers the zaniness of songs such as Carrot Juice Is Murder
and Killer Robots from Venus.
The album also achieves a more respectable duration. C’est Cheese (1995) continues the format with numbers such as Kill the Dog Next Door,
Sex, Drugs & RRSPs,
and Proud to be a Banker.
These CDs are fun and decently performed. The Arrogant Worms consist of Mike McCormick, Trevor Strong, John Whytock, and Steve Wood.
Arrogant Worms
[no date] Festival (AW-444)
The Last Saskatchewan Pirate; The Credit Song; Let’s Go Bowling; Goin’ Huntin’; Don’t Go into Politics; No Sale/No Store; The Canadian Crisis Song; The Ballad of Dan; Jesus’ Brother Bob; I Want to Look like Arnold; Car Full of Pain; The Christmas Song 29:38
Russell’s Shorts
1994 Festival (AW-555)
Tokyo Love Song; Carrot Juice Is Murder; Rippy the Gator; Killer Robots from Venus; Having Fun Is Bad for You; The Fishing Song; William Shakespeare’s in My Cat; A Night on Dildo; The Last Sensitive Cowboy; Losing Hair Under God; Big Fat Road Manager 41:19
C’est Cheese
1995 Festival (AW-777-2)
Sam, the Guy from `Quincy’; Kill the Dog Next Door; Lonely Lab of Broken Hearts; Sex, Drugs & RRSPs; History is Made by Stupid People; My Voice is Changing; Proud to be a Banker; Horizon; The Happy Happy Birthday Song; Dangerous; The Mountie Song; Dog Food Woman; Mounted Animal Nature Trail; A Real Letter from a Real Yahoo; Let There Be Guns 40:25
Robert Atyeo & the Friendly Giants
Contemporary; Blues; Singer-Songwriter
Robert Atyeo began his musical career at age nine, playing ukulele. In subsequent years he developed his singing and songwriting, living and travelling through various parts of North America. Since the early 90’s he has lived in Ontario, pursuing his musical career full time. For some time he billed himself as Robert Atyeo & the Friendly Giants.
A long-time favourite at folk festivals, Atyeo’s distinctive blues guitar licks and fresh lyrics have gained him a large following. Songs for Your Face (1993), with tunes like Swimming in Love,
introduces his folk/blues style. This solid album, with expressive lyrics and good arrangements, shows a strong, developing songwriter. Angels on a Cliff (1994) moves Atyeo and his band into another gear altogether. The songwriting has matured and the arrangements reach a higher level. The Friendly Giants on Angels include Tony Quarrington on lead guitar, Jeff Bird on bass guitar, Willie P. Bennett on harmonica and mandolin, plus several guest musicians.
Heart Like a Rubber Ball (1998) shows a mature artist who is comfortable with his material and his presentation. A simply produced recording, it features Atyeo’s engaging blues/swing guitar work and lyrics with minimal accompaniment. Co-produced by Atyeo and Michael Birthelmer, guest musicians on this fine recording include Brian Griffiths, Stephen Fearing, and Dino Verginella, with Tannis Slimmon on harmony vocals.
Songs for Your Face
1993 Here and Now (RAFG-2-9301)
Swimming in Love; Heart in Two; Famous for Nothing; The Wishing; Calm Down; Don’t Wanna Be Late; Picture of You; After Everybodies Gone; Out of Control; Poison Jane 38:27
Angels on a Cliff
1994 Here and Now (RAFG-8-9402)
The Floor Is Closer Than You Think; Best Friends Again; Neil’s Guitar; The Song; Angels in the Backseat #1; Chickens on a Cliff; Distance Between Us; Shave the Monkey; Leaving the Body (2nd Movement); Push Comes to Shove; Flash in the Pan; Suck It In; Who Decides; Leaving the Body (1st Movement); Welded; Angels in the Backseat #2 52:02
Heart Like a Rubber Ball
1998 DROG (no catalogue number)
Floatin’ & Hummin’; Heart Like a Rubber Ball; Slappin’; What the ...?; Give It; Beautiful Monster; Melody is My Wine; Alone on Valentine’s Day; If That Isn’t Love; Heart Talk; Waterbugs & Thieves 40:51
B
Sam Baardman
Contemporary; Singer-Songwriter
Baardman has emerged as one of the city’s strongest and most literate songwriters
—Winnipeg Free Press. A veteran of the prairie music scene, Sam Baardman has performed at all the Manitoba folk festivals, including Brandon, Gimli, Morden, and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. A gifted musician, Baardman plays guitar in the Winnipeg Celtic quartet Ten Bones. He also teaches Celtic music for guitar, mandolin, mando-cello and tenor banjo and leads songwriting workshops.
In 1997 Baardman released his first solo CD, Kicking the Stone Home. An album in the socially-conscious school of songwriting, this recording presents Baardman’s lyrical talents in a variety of material ranging from the ballad Hearts & Hands,
chronicling the life of a generation reeling at the end of the twentieth century, to the intimate Every Little Piece,
to the folksy warmth of Kicking the Stone Home.
With a sound firmly rooted in tradition, the socially critical Come Down to the River
and the ditty Run Diggy Diggy
show the remarkable breadth of Baardman’s scope as a songwriter. Kicking is a fine contemporary folk album. Recommended.
Produced by Dan Donahue and Sam Baardman, additional musicians on Kicking include Susan Israel, Karla Ferguson, and Dan Donahue.
Kicking the Stone Home
1997 Sam Baardman (spb-3883-1)
Kicking the Stone Home; Elvis Slept Here; One Slow Kiss; The Cuckoo; Come Down to the River; Cold Hand Settles on Me; Every Little Piece; Run Diggy Diggy; Hold Me Up; Hearts & Hands; Owl in the Barn; Soft Grey Glove 42:24
Back Alley John
Blues; Singer-Songwriter
Calgary-based blues artist Back Alley John (John Wilson), rolls out an excellent set of original and traditional numbers on Out on the Highway (1992). Playing harmonica, acoustic guitar, and electric slide guitar, he joins his backup