Customer Reviews

By Heart

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Battle Hymn of the Republic is probably proof that Bowers has a lot more than 10 fingers. I'll Fly Away is peace and exaultations and Zen Gospel Singing is pure high class silliness set to wonderful music. I just keep playing it all again and again.

Bryan Bowers is the reigning autoharp player and the only performer I know who has made a solo career out of just playing this instrument. Maybelle Carter, whom rightly or wrongly Mr. Bowers gets compared to, was also famous for her incomparable guitar picking technique known as "The Carter Scratch." The difference I hear is that Maybelle's style is gutsier; she flogs the daylights out of the instrument while Mr. Bowers is gentlier. His melodic line sings. That is not to say that one performer is better than the other; they are just different.

There are some great songs included here. Three stand out for me: Bowers plays the Alfred Brumley standard "I'll Fly Away" more slowly and stately than many other players, giving it a hymn-like quality. In his demonstration of the different things he can do on the "auto-parts" with "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" he shows just what a virtuoso he is. (Some listener thought she heard him say he played auto-parts.) My favorite here is "Zen Gospel Singing." Some traditional bluegrass songs will make you suicidal-- try "Rank Stranger", for example-- so it's good to hear this lighthearted new song about going from a Baptist, being in church each Sunday praying, "as sure as you're born" to a Buddhist chanting mantras in "four-square harmony." This updated approach to bluegrass seems appropriate since many bluegrass fans now attend concerts wearing expensive, handmade cowboy boots and driving SUV's with monthly payments that are more than some early bluegrass singers probably made in a year. Several members of the original Seldom Scene band, John Duffy, Mike Auldridge and Tom Gray, sing on this number with Mr. Bowers in perfect harmony.

The song "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", played by Bryan Bowers on his auto harp, on this CD is something like I have never heard before in my entire life. WOW, goose bumps on top of goose bumps. "God Bless the U.S.A" by Lee Greenwood now has a runner up.

Bryon is an icon of the Autoharp community...His newest album Bristlecone Pine is even better...but I found his rendition of Zen Gospel singing the biggest reason for getting this CD.

I own this album (in vinyl) and though I have not listened to the entire album in years, three of the cuts made my personal mix tape of "best of the best". I really, really love "Hot Buttered Rum"; it's the perfect nostalgia/Winter season/romance song. "Dog" is a delight, especially for anyone who loves a 4-legged. "Zen Gospel Singing" is also excellent, with great, great harmony singing. Although "Dog" is kinda hard to sing along with,because its mostly spoken, the other two are perfect for driving alone and singing, hitting the repeat endlessly. I've not tired of either of them although I admit it's been awhile since I've played many of my tapes since I don't drive as much as I used to. These would get regular play if I did though. Pretty good for something approaching 20 yrs of liking them. By themselves, these three cuts alone are worth the cost of the album, nevermind the other goodies.

Bryan Bowers is extraordinary. I saw him many years ago in Rockford, IL & Chicago. He just keeps getting better and better.

Brian Bowers plays the autoharp. That's unusual, but that's not why I bought the album. His song "Zen Gospel Singing" is a playful country song about a guy who misses Gospel music now that he's a Buddhist!

What I didn't know was that Brian had several entertaining songs on tap. Check it out!

Steve Cavin