Customer Reviews

River Of Time

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"River of Time" features six Jorma originals...one, "Been So Long," which will be familiar to fans of Hot Tuna's second album First Pull Up, Then Pull Down, plus one written with Barry Mitterhoff (mandolin) and Larry Campbell (mandlin, guitar, fiddle, percussion), who play on most of the tracks. Campbell also produced the album, recorded at Levon Helm's Studio in Woodstock, NY. The Rev. Gary Davis track for this album...pretty much a prerequisite for Jorma's albums...is "There's A Bright Side Somewhere."

Levon Helm plays drums on "Cracks In The Finish," along with Lincoln Schleifer on bass plus Mitterhoff and Campbell. While it's primarily an acoustic piece, it easily could have been a Hot Tuna track. That's the strength in most of Jorma's music...his songs effortlessly due double-duty as electric stompers or living-room jams. Levon also plays on "Trouble In Mind" and Merle Haggard's "More Than My Old Guitar."

"Another Man Done A Full Go Round" is prime Jorma, reminiscent of so much of his solo and acoustic Hot Tuna work, the narrative songs like "Killing Time In The Crystal City."

"Izze's Lullaby" is a sweet, laid-back instrumental, the kind of composition that Windham Hill's musicians attempted many times during the label's heyday and only succeeded at delivering on rare occasions.

On "Nashville Blues" and Mississippi John Hurt's "Preachin' On The Old Camp Ground," Jorma shares vocals on the choruses with Teresa Williams. It adds nicely to the overall down-home feel of the album.

Grateful Dead fans will cheer "Operator," Jorma's tip of the hat to the late Ron "Pigpen" McKernan.

The combination of the right time in Jorma's life, the right studio, the right songs and the right musicians adds up to a winning one for you if you decide to purchase this album. From start to finish, it's all that you've come to expect from Jorma and more. Let's hope that this winning streak continues for many, many years.

Jorma Kaukonen is a top-notch musician who plays and sings with feeling, sincerity, and authority. This excellent recording is another example of his fine writing and interpretive skills. And of course his blues fingerpicking ranks with the best.

The songs cover a lot of ground on the American acoustic roots-music landscape, beginning with several originals by Jorma and reaching back through the early Jazz Age and even to the Civil War.

"Preaching on the Old Campground" is Jorma's take on Mississippi John Hurt's ballad of the same title, which is a lyrical rewrite of Walter Kittredge's 1863 Civil War classic, "Tenting Tonight."

The version played here shows how an independent-minded musician like Jorma Kaukonen selects and arranges material according to good taste, instinct, and imagination-and not by the specified formulas of the fad-a-week mandates of the dreadful electronic entertainment industry.

Every song deserves its own commentary and review, but space considerations prohibit doing that here. Congratulations are in order for everyone who invested time, talent, and financial backing for this project. It is a wonderful recording and will be enjoyed by anyone who likes good music.

First of all, let me say straight out, that I love Jorma's previous works.

I have enjoyed his music since he and Jack Casady formed Hot Tuna. I enjoyed them in their electric format, however, the beauty of their acoustic playing really caught my attention. Jorma has always been a musician's musician. The beauty of his style is that the notes are played with such distinction and clarity. Jorma and Jack's "Hot Tuna Live in Japan" is a great picture of what magic these two masters can weave together.

I purchased the "River of Time" after reading a positive review and taking note that Levon Helm was a guest on the album. I have to say, that

my money was well spent. I have listened to the album three times and enjoyed it more with every listen. The music on this CD is played beautifully by a master who has learned much over the "River of Time"

Jorma has grown much spiritually over the course of his career. In one of the songs on "River of Time" he talks about loving his guitar, and about how much God has loved the world. Jorma reworks some older material on this CD, presenting it with new energy and beauty. I would recommend this CD to both older fans and those thinking about exploring Jorma's work.

Like a fine wine, Jorma and his music just get better and better. He is a master guitarist, one of the finest (if not the best) guitar pickers alive. His music has encompassed rock to blues to country and bluegrass. What more can be said but that he is simply one of the all time masters and it is truly a shame more are not aware of this man and his music and contributions to the world of music. The latest compilation is a tribute to his wide ranging abilities. If you ever have a chance to see him live in concert, do so. He usually tours with his long time partner Jack Cassidy, as Hot Tuna, the longest touring band in music (he and Jack have played together since 1957 I believe).

It's been six months since the release of Jorma Kaukonen's "River of Time" CD. At first, I thought it was still another stellar collection of Americana from one of the world's best musicians. But I've been listening to it for six months. I am intimately familiar with these songs. It has become such a cherished friend, Jorma's River of Time has now reached that exalted place: one of the five CDs I'd want on that mythical desert island.

It's worth owning the whole CD, but five songs in particular belong in your heart and home: "Been So Long," "Another Man Done A Full Go Round," Izzy's Lullaby," "A Walk With Friends," and "River of Time." These are five haunting jewels.

The American music of Jorma Kaukonen, like that of Louis Armstrong and Aaron Copeland, deserves to be celebrated for many years to come.

Thanks Vanessa for getting our national treasure off the road and into the studio.

The tracks have been dissected by people wiser in such ways than I, so I'll speak of the overall impact of this recording.

Full Disclosure: Except for a few random "I think I know that guy" reactions to something on the radio or heard in a party's background music, I have played little attention to Jorma's career. The last time I heard the Airplane live was in 1966, at the Berkeley Folk Festival.

Was it Jorma who started a set with "we usually don't explain the songs, but they told us we had to, because this is a folk festival"? Not sure, but it sounds right.

My primary memories of Jorma were from San Jose, at a coffee house on 1st, and another near the SJ State campus. These are the memories brought back by this album. Two or three years of hearing him play all kinds of music, and spending hours at home trying to figure out how he did it. Not for any purist "gotta do it my self" reasons -- I couldn't afford his $14.00 per lesson fee.

I don't even have to close my eyes; it's that "middle 60's before it all got out of hand" time, I'm sitting in a recycled movie seat, nursing a hot spiced cider, and wishing I could make it sound that good and look that easy. For an old guy (hey, I was 16 - 19 .... a seven year age gap was gigantic!), he was one of those "I'll never that cool, but it gives me something to shoot at" people.

So here we are, alive 40-plus years on, and the man still has that easy relationship with the music, expressed with instrument and voice. Somebody talked about him "getting back to his origins." From listening to this, I don't think he really left. Certainly seems they didn't leave him.

River Of Time by Jorma Kaukonen shows Jorma is clearly still at the top of his game. Jorma Kaukonen is a relatively new artist to me but he can already consider me one of his loyal fans! The music on this album is wonderful folk, country and even blues mixed together at times for a terrific, powerful effect. That acoustic guitar playing shows off Jorma's talent all the more; and the quality of the sound on this CD is excellent. I really like that artwork, too.

The CD starts with a great number entitled "Been So Long." The guitar works very well for this number and Jorma Kaukonen sings this to perfection. Despite his age Jorma's voice sounds quite good and his excellent diction bolsters his performance. "Been So Long" makes a strong beginning number for this album. Jorma then performs a cover of the Rev. Gary Davis' song, "There's A Bright Side Somewhere." This song has a rather upbeat flavor to it that charms me with its beauty; Jorma performs this with panache and that's grand. Jorma never sings or plays a superfluous note, either! "There's A Bright Side Somewhere" has an arrangement that I really like a lot; and Jorma infuses this ballad with a lot of warmth.

"Cracks In The Finish" is a very good number; and listen for Jorma to do Roy Book Binder's "Another Man Done A Full Go Round." "Another Man Done A Full Go Round" sports a fine arrangement with Larry Campbell on guitar; and it's a major highlight of this album. "Izze's Lullaby" charms me with its beauty; and Jorma does great justice to Merle Haggard's "More Than My Old Guitar." "More Than My Old Guitar" has an upbeat, infectiously catchy melody to it with Levon Helm, who was a drummer and a vocalist for The Band, playing along to make "More Than My Old Guitar" another very fine tune.

"Walk With Friends" has an excellent musical arrangement; and "Operator" has a country/folk style flavor as Jorma Kaukonen sings this without a superfluous note. "Operator," as you might know already, pays a fine tribute to Grateful Dead's Ron "Pigpen" McKernan who is no longer with us. In addition, there's also Mississippi John Hurt's "Preachin' On The Old Camp Ground." I really like "Preachin' On The Old Camp Ground;" Jorma's vocals mixed with those of Teresa Williams for each chorus truly makes this number very special.

"River Of Time," the title track for this CD, gives us yet another fine number that Jorma Kaukonen does with panache; and the album ends strong with "Simpler Than I Thought." "Simpler Than I Thought" again puts Jorma squarely front and center--and, with his talents and experience, is right where he belongs!

Overall, Jorma Kaukonen's CD entitled River Of Time gives us incredible music. I'm very impressed. This CD is a "must-have" for Jorma's fans; and people who like country, folk and bluesy music will not be disappointed.

There is nothing really outstanding in the way of "Hit" material on this album, but the whole album is very nice to listen to. I bought this along with the new JJ Cale album and found them to be a great combination to listen to while doing some long distance driving.

It is truly good to hear new material from old friends.

I recently had the pleasure of seeing Hot Tuna in concert a few weeks ago in Fort Lauderdale, and let there be no doubt: At nearly age 70 Jorma is as vital, engaging, and as remarkable a musician as he ever was (if not better).

Although I personally preferred the swinging backporch sensibilities of 2005's Blue Country Heart over his more recent (and more laid-back) Stars in My Crown, I believe the new release takes the best of both and raises it up a notch.

River of Time is an exceedingly pleasing record to listen to, as Jorma takes a stroll through faves Rev. Gary Davis, Grateful Dead, stopping for a brief Merle Haggard detour before adding a few superior originals, including the very heartfelt "Simpler Than I Thought."

I had this record playing in my car for nearly a week, and found myself actively enjoying every second of it.

while stars in my crown let a lot to be desidered, this a beautiful album!! May one of the greatest!!!!!!!!!

Been so long is one of the best songs I ever heard, and this arrangement is very beautyful!

There's a bright side somewere is a beautiful fingerpiking trip written by the master rev gary davis, still very good

Cracks in the finish is a great original song with non usual violins.

Another man done a full gone round has a great fingerpicking guitar and vocals.ii't really beautyful.

Trouble in mind is a very well done blues traditional ballad (althought i don't like very much the drums on it)

Izzie's lullaby is may too slow, and actually is (in my opinion) the worst part of the album)

The title track is a beautyful original folk song that they played very well in a concert i saw here in italy too

THE WHOLE ALBUM IS JUST GREAT!!!!!!!!BUY IT!