Customer Reviews

Land of the Sky

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My first introduction to Al Petteway and Amy White was the "acoustic Journey" album that I received by donating to National Public Radio. As an acoustic guitarist myself, I really appreciated the great talent and wonderful arrangements. Curious, I checked Amazon.com for more of their music and was attracted to "Land of the Sky" which focused more on southern Appalachian folk music, albeit in a more stylized form. Still, I found it very soothing and at times, emotional, especially the intrumental version of "Shady Grove". I also bought the "Holiday Sampler" because it's a wonderful alternative to the traditional music-box albums I normally play at Christmas time. I'd give it three thumbs up if I had them!

While I do not consider myself an expert in acoustic guitar music, I have over the years collected and listened to a lot of such music. Like most everyone, I know what I like, and I like the music of Al Petteway and Amy White a great deal.

This CD may be their best. It is musically rich and as all are of their CDs, it is innovative. A good example of that is their version of the standard folk song, "Pretty Polly".

There is not a bad cut on the CD, and like other great artists, the CD's theme of an Appalachian journey not only holds together, it works quite well. I have listened to this CD over and over and find something new every time. This is one to buy and keep.

Al and Amy have produced a series of albums that are wonderful to listen, interesting, and memorable. Like their other albums this one contains a great mix of instrumental sounds and some vocal from a pair of blessed artists. The music of Land of the Sky will form pictures in your mind of being outdoors and experiencing the beauty of nature. I can think of no better way to alleviate the stress of city living than to spend the evening listening to beautiful music.

When the Scots, Irish, Welch, and English settlers populated the mountain valleys, hills, and mountains of Southern Appalachia, they brought their music with them as an integral part of their culture. In Land Of The Sky, Al Petteway and Amy White deftly collaborate to memorably perform within that Southern Appalachian music tradition and heritage for the benefit and delight of a new generation of listeners with recorded performances that include both original and traditional compositions of mountain melodies played on acoustic guitars, the mandolin, the Celtic harp, the banjo, fiddles, the Irish Bouzouki, Fretless Bass, percussion, and vocals. Entertaining listening with a total running time of 53:06, the fourteen pieces comprising this outstanding and recommended CD for personal, music department, and community library New Age & Contemporary Folk Music collections include Black Bear's Picnic (4:16); Shady Grove (4:39); Across the Blue Mountains (4:11); Bobcat in the Brambles (3:03); Sunny Day (3:08); Pretty Polly (4:00); A Walk in the Woods (4:20); Western Highlands (3:30); Wayfaring Stranger (4:33); The Cuckoo (2:42); Swannanoa (4:44); Ryan's Rambles (4:05); Trillium Waltz (2:33); and the title piece, Land of the Sky (2:58).