Customer Reviews

Yonder

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

 

 

There is a spare beauty to this music that can only come from two seasoned masters playing timeless music without backup, orchestration or overdone production. Much of this album was recorded in Fleck's living room with an honesty and unpretentious style that will make you wish all music could be this way. There exists between these two a passion and synergy that would have you believe they've played together forever. Listen to any track (wayside tavern) and see if this music does not speak to you at a deep level. True original American music, played by giants with all the naked beauty intended.

Bluegrass fans will inevitably be drawn to this CD because of the principals involved, but what they and others will find is a spare evocation of country blues and folk stylings reminicent of Jimmy Rodgers, "The Singing Brakeman" of the Depression era. Rowan's singing and Douglas's incomparable slide work meld into a singluar, timeless marvel (the sound quality of this disk is astonishing, capturing the deep tones of the instrumentation as if they had been trapped in a time capsule and squeezed out note by note). The material is particularly well suited to Rowan's lilting "blue yodel" (particularly on "You Taught Me How to Lose" and "Lullaby of the Leaves"), while Douglas provides no-nonsense, bluesy accompaniment throughout. The highlight of the CD might be the stark rendition of "Texas Rangers," demonstrating the power of this remarkable duo.

I have long been a fan of Rowan's, enjoying most of his work in a variety of traditional settings and styles. Still, this CD came as a revelation. It's a wonderful recording from two unique musicians. The instrumentation may be a little sparse but it's always effective and only seems to add to the overall feeling, making each note seem that much more memorable. Rowan has an expressive, pleasant voice which works well with this nice collection of tunes with an oldtime flavor. Yonder reminds me of why I enjoy traditional music. The musicianship is inspired and flawless but the recording never loses a sincerity and simplicity that almost seems to come from another era.

I have tried to come up with a sublime description for this sublime record. All I can manage is this: hearing Peter Rowan and Jerry Douglas play together makes me glad I'm alive.

A nice change of pace for both of these newgrass old-timers... Rowan and Douglas dip back into the old-fashioned blues styles of the Jimmie Rodgers/Big Bill Broonzy era, sparsely arranged, plaintive material with a stripe of old-fashioned, turn-of-the-century, Gilded Age vaudevillian "pop" running through it. This is a pretty eloquent, masterful performance, which fans of revivalist acts like Squirrel Nut Zippers and Asylum Street Spankers should definitely put on their wantlists.

Could NOT believe this--- my two favorite bluegrass artists--- together! Played every day! I knew of them separately, and have purchased other CDs--- but the combination of these two is heaven!