Roots artists strum those holiday heartstrings
Not unexpectedly, the live roots slate is pretty much bare during the holiday season, but things will pick up again in the New Year.
On Jan. 14, The Front Porch Roots Revue — featuring a cohort of experienced Alberta musicians including Ron Rault, Bobby Cameron, Stewart McDougall, Dave “Crawdad” Cantera, Thom Moon, and Tim Williams — slide into town for an evening of blues-based roots music containing a slice of real country spirit. The Matchbox Theatre hosts this evening of song that should be more than a little interesting; drop by the box office for tickets.
The next evening, Juno and CCMA award winner George Canyon pulls into Delburne on Jan. 15 for a concert presented by the Anthony Henday Museum. Tickets at Delburne Hardware and other local outlets; call 403-749-2711.
Chris Jones and the Night Drivers are the next bluegrass act to be brought to town by the Waskasoo Bluegrass Music Society. On Jan. 29, the Nashville-based bluegrass veterans bring their blend of smooth, country-friendly sounds for a show at The Elks Lodge. See waskasoobluegrass.com for ticket details. Call Gale at 403-347-1363 for information. Check out The Night Drivers’ new single, Kentucky Noel, on their website.
This week, reviewing a pair of Christmas albums:
Kimmie Rhodes
Miracles on Christmas Day
Sunbird Records
Songbird Kimmie Rhodes has been recording rich, original Americana for a couple decades, and during that time has recorded with luminaries including Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Emmylou Harris.
Over the course of a dozen albums, the Austin-based songwriter has used her impressive mastery of words and melody to pull on heartstrings in a manner that has established her as one of the finest under-recognized voices in roots music.
Miracles on Christmas Day is Rhodes’ first foray into holiday music and — much like last year’s offering from Mary Chapin Carpenter— pulls listeners into a warm embrace of emotion strengthened by reminiscences and hopefulness.
Inspired by Nelson, Rhodes vowed to write a Christmas song annually. She has packaged the finest of these with two standards of the season — including a beautiful rendition of Carol of the Bells — and an interpretation of Patty Griffin’s Mary.
Amidst gentle shuffles augmented by some of Austin’s finest musicians, Rhodes captures the traditional trappings of the Christmas season within nine wonderful little compositions. Good cheer and mistletoe bring a Little Touch of Christmas while the hopeful pines — eloquently and without saccharine — for One More White Christmas with that special someone.
Wake Up Sleepy Town offers Tex-Mex flavourings while Angels Unaware finds the Christmas spirit in the most appropriate of circumstances.
Miracles on Christmas Day is that rare seasonal offering that stands on its own not only as a beautiful recording but as a thematic exploration that maintains significance outside of December.
Various Artists
World Christmas Party
Putumayo Records
One can always count on the fine folks at Putumayo to collect listenable and atypical Christmas sounds to inject life to holiday celebrations.
From the blessings of Jacob Miller’s Jamaican-flavoured We Wish You A Merry Christmas through to the Latin/Cuban jazz of Ed Calle and Arturo Sandoval’s instrumental interpretation of Santa Claus is Coming to Town, those seeking a more worldly view of traditional sounds need to look no further.
Charles Brown’s soulful Christmas Comes But Once a Year would sound apt no matter the season, while the Hawaiian spirit of Keahiwai’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree adds lightness of the collection.
Other favourite sounds stem from Brazil’s Jose Conde (Winter Wonderland) and Texas polka band Brave Combo (The Christmas Song). The highlight may well be Maria de Barros’s Alegria, a beautiful interpretation of Deck the Halls.
Mix in a bit of progressive bluegrass from Alison Brown, a touch of Mozambique via Costa Neto, and New Orleans’ essential Heritage Hall Jazz Band, and one has a Christmas collection waiting to become a favourite.
Donald Teplyske is a local freelance writer who contributes a twice-monthly column on roots music; visit fervorcoulee.wordpress.com for additional reviews. If you know a roots music event of which he should be aware, contact him at fervorcoulee@shaw.ca
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