Customer Reviews

Banjorama

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album sends the listener to another world, a very pleasant world rich with colorful tones and facinating sounds. I've never thought that listening to a banjo being played as a "soothing" experience before, until I indulged carefully in several of the cuts on this album. Definitely a CD one would push the "Continuous Play" button for on the CD player. Some of the banjo styles might be considered American style, and a couple of the pieces are Middle-Eastern or Indian sounding, with a droning effect. You can put this CD on and wander away in your mind. One gets the feeling that this artist was in a very inspired state when writing each song. Banjorama is very enjoyable to listen to and well done. A must-buy for your collection.

This collection of banjo music created by Woody Simmons is a great mix of traditional and experiemntal works. "Trolley Car" is solid bluegrass. "Sally Walks the Dog" is at a more meditative pace, while "Ashtavakra's Tune" slowly builds in tempo like a runaway train. "Suite for Wings" and "Banjo Raga," two compositions which established Woody's banjo virtuosity on earlier recordings, are also included. "Firefly" is more sweeping, with electronic keyboards layering in sound. The biggest draw for me on this CD is "Raga Rama." Woody's banjo goes to Bombay, as she adds in tablas percussion and the continuous tones of a tamboura. Fusion is tricky, finding the musical space where two cultures meet while respecting the integrity of both. Woody's exploration works. Woody plays banjo, guitar, mandolin, and keyboards, with help from sax player Sapphron Obois, bassist Joy Julks, Brian McGlaughlin on tablas and Shambavi Newman on tamboura.

If you thought banjo music was just too off the beaten path for you, think again. This album was written up in Variety a few years ago as one of the 12 best of it's type of all time. The banjo sounds a little like a classic Indian sarod and complexities of the melodies are fabulous. For me I love it when I can feel the musician has become one with the music and the technical expertise becomes a vehicle for true musical expression. How great to have this masterpiece available on CD! Thanks Woody.

Woody Simmons is one of those rare independent artists whose music has a purity about it. Pure of heart and pure of soul.

Her brilliant musicianship was evident from the beginning with her first album released in the mid-70s. She didnt just put herself out there as a singer-songwriter -- she also made a point to put instrumentals on her albums. In fact all her songs, reveal her talents as a multi-instrumentalist as well as composer.

The new material on BanjoRama show how she has grown as a musician. I've never heard anyone bring the banjo to life quite the way she has . The originality of melody highlights the banjo as a solo instrument, and the orchestration surrounding it helps tell the story of each song. The listener is transported as if in an aural trance.

While a few of the tunes have a rich Indian style with the banjo taking the place of a sitar, other tunes like Firefly bring a new-age flavour to her music. Sally Walks the Dog is so beautiful, it's in a category all its own -- a combination of down home, old-time, and a very light touch of new age. The slow pace of it makes you feel like you could be sitting on your front porch, somewhere down south, watching the sun set filled with peace. Woody includes fast-picking, spirited tunes such as Banjo Raga, Suite for Wings and Trolley Car (old favourites from previous albums) which nicely completes this collection of instrumentals.

A much appreciated collection of instrumentals from a gifted musician. I can't wait to hear what she does next!

this album has no equal as banjo music since the albums first release.i had this album over 30yrs. ago 33lp.it was destroyed over 30 yrs ago. & i haven`t been able to find it till i got my conputer.the songs & banjo music on this album just surround spirit you away & exilerate you back to another dimension! such beautifal music as the (world is waiting for the sunrise).this music has haunted me for 30yrs.so pleased i have found the banjorama album. thanks so much!sincerely bruce burdick