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by Mark Maxwell Abushady, NYC MUSIC
What a well-named album! Mara Levine has a great, warm folk voice, and has put together an album in the grand country/ folk style. The harmony is terrific. The song selections will please many folk music aficionados. Some great takes on, and fresh new revisits of, songs many of us are familiar with … how wonderful to hear By My Side (Peggy Gordon/ Jay Hamburger/Godspell), Summertime (Gershwin), and April Come She Will (Paul Simon) … along with lesser known, but often equally compelling offerings. Straw Against the Chill is simply beautiful. Mara’s outstanding jewelry, a business that she states has sustained her and her music career, is featured in the liner artwork. Mara is joined, by a large posse of musicians, who harmonize and “duet with her” beautifully. An offering to enjoy again and again … this one’s going on my iPod!
Flying Dream gets off to a great start with the opening, titular cut. Lush, smooth, jazzy pop, which leans country at times, and a voice soft as silk leaves the listener eager for the next cut … and the one after that. Catie Curtis has a gift for sharing intimate moments of her life in song in a way that allows the listener to be a part of the experience, rather than observer/ listener. The especially lovely When You Find Love is one of the most beautiful love songs ever. This Girl’s in Love With You is a surprise standout. She is joined by Jim Gwin (drums), Richard Gates (bass guitar), Duke Levine (guitar, banjo, mandolin), Jamie Edwards (keyboards), and Kristen Hall (backing vocals). An exceptional offering!
Medieval Celtic Rock? Maybe, but Blackmore’s Night is an enjoyable listen, however one categorizes it. They are a lot of fun! I think they don’t take themselves too seriously . . . and in so doing, come up with some very nice music … A Darker Shade of Black is a great rock instrumental ballad in the tradition, of course, of A Whiter Shade of Pale. A pleasing cut of Long, Long Time (of Linda Ronstadt fame), a classical guitar offering (Queens Lament), an expected but enjoyable version of I Got You, Babe, and driving rock lament Where Are We Going From Here are included in this varied, fun album. Blackmore’s Night band consists of Ritchie Blackmore (acoustic and electric guitars, hurdy gurdy, nickelharp, mandola), Candice Night (vocals, Renaissance and Medieval woodwinds, tambourine), Bard David of Larchmont (keyboards, background vocals), Earl Grey of Chimay (bass and rhythm guitar), Troubadour of Aberdeen (percussion), Scarlet Fiddler (violin), and Lady Lynn (vocals). Uplifting and full of heart!
Creations Magazine receives a plethora of music in the “New Age” category to review. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of “generic” sounds in this genre, so a submission really needs to stand out. Bill Leslie’s Across the Water does. The combination of instruments is pleasing, as to be expected, but the compositions (all but two are originals) really shine. Across the Water suggests travelling, movement, spiritual growth, etc. Somehow, Bill Leslie captures these things, perfectly, in his music. It is variously cinematic, programmatic, romantic, yearning, intimate, and always beautiful. The opening Across the Water is a touching, tender, emotional piece; Lorica, another standout, has the flavor of a fine Irish ballad, yet is original to Mr. Leslie. Actually, there are many standouts on this superbly crafted offering. I even enjoyed the liner notes! The extremely fine-sounding ensemble is made up of Bill Leslie (guitar, Celtic whistles and keyboards), Joseph Akins (piano), John Brown (bass), Brandon Bush (accordion), Jennifer Curtis (violin), Nancy Green (cello), Melanie Wilsden (oboe), Brian Dunning (flute and pipes), and Anita Burroughs-Price (harp). Another truly fine, exceptional offering. I’m running out of room on my iPod …
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JEWELS AND HARMONY
FLYING DREAM
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
ACROSS THE WATER