The opinions expressed are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the KVMR MD, PD, PC, staff, management, underwriters, Board of Directors, hangers-on or passers-by.

Your Reviewers:
DJ = Don Jacobson

Folk 'N Review is not published with any KVMR funds. Constructive criticism, contrary opinions, humor and suggestions welcome for publication.

You can have Folk 'N Review delivered every once in a while to your KVMR mail box or e-mail box. Leave a message in my KVMR mail box or send an e-mail to me at: donj@infostations.net.

Artist:
Album
CLASS
Review notes

Bard plays a mean harmonica on his CD. The genres range from folky to jazzy. Tracks: 3, 6, 8, 11.
DJ

This trio usually sticks to the traditional as they do on this CD. However, some contemporary songs are included and their version of Richard Thompson's Dimming of the Day is exceptional. The traditional material is given their usual excellent treatment and unique arrangements. Tracks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 17.
DJ

I wish I could come up with a better word than "authentic" to describe this CD. Kent grew up in a family that played music for their own pleasure & he learned songs from the likes of Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. Tracks: 1, 5, 7, 8, 14.
DJ

Wallach is one third of the Short Sisters (3 CDs) but this is at least her second excellent solo CD (The House Between the Tracks, the first?). Ten of the 16 tracks are originals with others by Bill Stains to A.P. Carter. Tracks: 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
DJ

Tradition with an edge is the best description I can give this multi-national ensemble. The material ranges from traditional to the recently composed ("Blue Jay" about a baseball team). The tunes are lively and very well played. Tracks: 1, 4, 7, 8, 9.
DJ

The liner notes states that this CD is old-time instrumental music from the rural American folk tradition. Clearly this music has it's roots in Europe and hopefully will be in Celtic section of the library. Most of the material should be familiar to the Celtophile. Nicely Done! Tracks: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12.
DJ

This CD is a mix of tunes and songs. The singing is a little uneven but 7 out of the 12 tracks are more than airplay worthy. Tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12.
DJ

This the 2nd album by the young Scottish group Malinky is even better than their excellent first CD, Last Leaves. Almost all of the selections are written by the band members. Great singing and great playing. It's rare to find an album where I can say, Tracks: All!
DJ

Celtic is a bit of a misnomer for this album. It is more a fusion of Renaissance and world influences with a dash of Celtic. However, forget labels, this is superb music, whatever you want to call it. Trimble, who recorded three classic albums of Celtic cittern in the late 70's has been busy learning instruments I haven't even heard of. He plays the vielle, bass & treble viola da gamba, lavta, dutar, and cura saz, although not all at the same time. Highly recommended. Tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
DJ

Acoustic blues is what these boys do. The vocals, with one exception (track 11), are not up to the hot guitar licks they can play. Tracks: 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 16, 18.
DJ

Good solid fiddling with appropriate back up. We could have done without "The Star Spangled Banner" however. Tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 13, 15, 16, 17.
DJ

Good title for a singer/songwriter who writes about...you guessed it, people and places. It's too bad the rest of the CD doesn't have the same punch as the first track. Tracks: 1, 7, 8.
DJ

Youngblood is just not a female R. Carlos Nakai (Not that it would be a bad thing...). Beneath... shows that Youngblood is a great American composer as well as a superb flutist. All twelve compositions are by Youngblood and they range from jazzy to bluesy to classical to Native American. Strangely enough, they all fit nicely on this album. Each track can be played by itself or the all the tracks played from beginning to end. Highly Recommended. Tracks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 11, 12.
DJ

Out of the 12 selections, two are traditional, one was written by James Keelaghan and the remaining by Humphrey or Hartman. Not your typical love songs (This is a good thing). Lean, but not Spartan arrangements highlight the songs and the singing. Tracks: 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12.
DJ

If you like hammered dulcimer you will like this CD. The selections are pretty much standard fare and the arrangements are not cutting edge but all are well played. Tracks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11.
DJ

Campbell plays the fiddle and guitars on this CD his own compositions. It is a nice collection of tunes. If you can get over the American flag on the cover, the slogan "Fighting terrorism with music by..." and the Rambo like caricature on the back cover you will like this CD. Tracks: 1, 4, 7, 9.
DJ

Sheila & Kerry Blech and Allen Hart are part of the thriving traditional music scene in the Pacific Northwest. Build Me A Boat is a rich collection of the better and less well known traditional tunes. The exquisitely played selections make this CD one of the years best. Tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27.
DJ

Coming out of the Civil War re-enacting craze, The 2nd plays music of that period. As you might guess from the name of the group and album title, the material is slanted toward the South. Their chief attribute is that they don't make the material seemed dated. Tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 15, 16, 17.
DJ

I wish I were as easily amused as Ward. I might appreciate his humor if I were drunk or high, but that not being the case there are only two tracks that are for air play. Tracks: 8, 10.
DJ

Folk 'N Review is not published with any KVMR funds. Constructive criticism, contrary opinions, humor and suggestions welcome for publication.

You can have Folk 'N Review delivered every once in a while to your KVMR mail box or e-mail box. Leave a message in my KVMR mail box or send an e-mail to me at: donj@infostations.net.