Song of the Week – Angels, Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey
5. Kris Gruen, “In The Clearing” 3:00 ©2005 Mother West LLC (P) Mother West Music (ASCAP), Kris Gruen Music (ASCAP). (From the CD ‘Lullaby School’). Written by Kris Gruen. Produced by Charles Newman. Recorded by Charles Newman, Tom Rogers and Robert Stevens. Mastered by Tom Rogers. Kris Gruen, lead vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, percussion; Charles Newman, electric guitar; Julian Cassanetti; glockenspiel; Lori Michaels, backing vocals. Mother West / Papercup Music, 37 West 20th Street, Suite 1006, New York, NY 10011. (212) 807-0405, info@motherwest.com,
6. Jess Clemons, “For Mother” 3:20 ©Jess Clemons (ASCAP). (From the CD EP ‘Welcome Home’). Written by Jess Clemons. Produced by Carey Langille and Jess Clemons. Recorded and mastered by Carey Langille, Ocean Sound Productions. Jess Clemons, vocal and piano. Jess Clemons, 190 Lower Sunnybrook, Middlesex, VT 05602. info@jessclemons.com,
7. Paul S. Webb, “Through The Field” 3:25 ©1984 Paul S. Webb (From the CD ‘A Walk In The Woods’). Written by Paul S. Webb. Recorded by Todd Lockwood at White Crow Audio. Paul Webb, piano. Paul S. Webb, 64 Marble Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401. (802) 660-2426, paul@paulwebbsongs.com,
8. Dan Zura, “Jesse” 3:31 ©(P) 2006 Dan Zura. (From the CD ‘What Moves You Kid’). Written by Dan Zura. Produced and recorded by Bobby Domino. Mastered by Colin McCaffrey. Dan Zura, vocal and guitar; Colin McCaffrey, fiddle. Dan Zura, 260 Elm Street, Montpelier, VT 05602. (860) 514-1306, dan@danzura.com,
9. The Cush, “Searching For The Sun” 3:00 ©2005 Rose Machine Music (ASCAP). (From the CD ‘New Appreciation For Sunshine’). Written, produced, and recorded by Burette & Gabrielle Douglas. Mixed by Ryan Power. Mastered by Casey Rea. Gabrielle Douglas, Rhodes, Moog, vocals; Brett Hughes, live drums; Burette Douglas, guitar, synth bass, vocals. The Cush, 31 Pitkin Street, Burlington, VT 05401. (802) 318-2806, thecush@thecush.com,
10. Patrick Fitzsimmons, “Autumn” (Live) 4:12 ©2004 ItzFitz Music (ASCAP). (From the CD ‘Live 2005’/Itz Fitz Music). Written by Patrick Fitzsimmons. Recorded by Don Sternecker. Mastered by Gene Paul at DB Plus NYC. Patrick Fitzsimmons, vocal and guitar; Rob Meehan, upright bass and backing vocal; Loni Bach, cello and backing vocal; Leena Gilbert, violin. Patrick Fitzsimmons, 60 Spruce Street, Apt. 1, Burlington, VT 05401. (802) 324-3782 itz_fitz@yahoo.com,
11. Native Daughters, “A La Claire Fontaine” 2:22 (From the CD ‘Native Daughters’). Traditional. Produced by Michele Choiniere and Deb Flanders. Recorded at Charles Eller Studios. Mastered by Chuck Eller. Michele Choiniere, vocals and piano; Deb Flanders, vocals. Michele Choiniere, 122 Pearl Street, St. Albans, VT 05478. (802) 527-1337, chrisrottler@yahoo.com, Deb Flanders, 32 Lafountain Street, Burlington, VT 05401. (802) 652-0245, debflanders@adelphia.net,
12. Ken Mahren, “Risky Business” 2:15 ©1984 Sloppy Kisses Music (From the CD ‘Silk Brocade’/Sable Mountain Records). Written by Ken Mahren. Produced by Ken Mahren. Recorded at Sable Mountain Studios. Ken Mahren, guitar. Ken Mahren, 69 Joy Drive #B2, South Burlington, VT 05403. (802) 860-7198, kmahren@sablemountainrecords.com,
13. Social Band, “Serenade” 1:38 ©2004 (BMI). (From the CD ‘Vermont Composers Project’). Music written by Thomas L. Read. Lyrics by H.W. Longfellow. Produced by Social Band. Recorded and mastered by Peter Engisch at Ad Astra Recording, Williston, VT. Performed by the men of Social Band: Ken Brown, Jeff Fellinger, Michael Kellogg, Pete Land, Michael Brown, Bill Fellinger, Don Jamison, and Mark Kuprych. Social Band, 87 Coyote Ridge Road, Hinesburg, VT 05461. (802) 651-7616, info@socialband.org, . Thomas L. Read, 32 Cliff Street, Burlington, VT 05401. (802) 862-3650, tread@uvm.edu,
14. Paul Webb, Patti Casey, “Stone Boat” 4:23 ©2005 Paul S. Webb. (From the CD ‘Stone Boat’/Paul S. Webb). Written by Paul S. Webb. Produced by Paul S. Webb and Peter Engisch. Recorded by Peter Engisch & Rob Ostrander at Adastra Recording Studio. Mastered by Charles Eller and Lane Gibson at Charles Eller Studio. Paul Webb, piano; Patti Casey, vocal; Paul Asbell, guitar; Colin McCaffrey, violins; Peter Engisch, synth. bass. Paul S. Webb, 64 Marble Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401. (802) 660-2426, paul@paulwebbsongs.com,
15. Lar Duggan, “No. 15” 2:54 © r1978 Lar Duggan (Chiaroscuro Music, BMI). (From the CD ‘The Lake Studies: 1-16’/Aerie Records). Composed by Lar Duggan. Recorded at The New Music Building Recital Hall, University of Vermont. Recorded & mastered by Charles Eller. Lar Duggan, piano. Lar Duggan, 34 Front Street, Burlington, VT 05401. (802) 862-5831, larduggan@aol.com. The writing and recording of this music was made possible through a generous grant from the Public Arts Program of the and Vermont CETO.
16. Aaron Flinn’s Salad Days, “Goodbye For Now” 1:40 ©FlinnRa (P) Sun God Records (ASCAP). (From the CD ‘Giving Up the Ghost’/Sun God Records). Written, produced, recorded and mastered by A.P. Flinn. A.P. Flinn, melodeon, upright bass and vocals. Aaron Flinn, flinnra@aol.com, and CD Mastered by Egan Media Productions
Reviews
Soundbites [Music News], Seven Days Dan Bolles, 05.23.07
“…The folks at Big Heavy World are at it again. Never content to rest on their huge pile o’ laurels, BHW Executive Director Jim Lockridge, and his crew have put together a stirring compilation that highlights Vermont’s most talented and innovative acoustic artists. In Silver Light is a bit of a departure for our local-music archivists; their releases trend more toward the blistering hard-core favored by the 242 Main crowd. But even the most churlish metal-head has a soft side — our own nearly departed Dark Lord himself, Casey Rea, recently offered a glowing review of the disc in these pages, and I have to agree with him. It’s an intimately affecting and often heartbreaking collection of songs from the area’s finest singer-songwriters and instrumental artists.”
Casey Rea, December 19, 2006
“Green Mountain music archivist Big Heavy World has released several compilation CDs in the last decade, most of them documenting the local alternative and metal scenes. In Silver Light: Music of Vermont takes a different tack. A collection of acoustic-oriented music, it showcases the state’s mellower musicians.
Proceeds from sales go towards the Vermont Music Library & Shop, currently located at the organization’s Burlington headquarters. BHW’s commitment to promoting and preserving local music has won the attention of Governor Jim Douglas, who offers an expression of support in the album’s liner notes.
He’s not the only politico on board. The CD kicks off with “A Worthy End,” which features public servants Jim Jeffords, Bernie Sanders, Madeleine Kunin and Patrick Leahy each reciting a portion of text from President Theodore Roosevelt’s speech at the 1902 Windsor Fair. Local guitarist/songwriter Spencer Lewis provides crisp acoustic backing to the inspiring spoken word.
Lewis’ “Reflectin'” gets the second spot on the disc. It’s a meditative cut that evokes the transfixing beauty of a steady mountain stream.
The laid-back mood continues with “Hits and Misses” by James O’Halloran. The song’s amiable groove and warmhearted lyrics should appeal to fans of feel-good folk.
Karen McFeeters offers “My Only Son,” a heart-wrenching song penned for her military-enlisted progeny that has only grown more poignant since its original release in 2004.
Montpelier’s indie-folk troubadour Kris Gruen’s “In the Clearing” sounds like a modern-day Cat Stevens, while Jess Clemons’ “For Mother” is another familial tribute featuring introspective vocals and piano.
Speaking of ivories, Paul S. Webb splits the difference between Gershwin and Debussy with his ornate instrumental “Through the Field.”
Dan Zura’s Americana-influenced “Jesse” sounds like the aural equivalent of warm flannel. It’s followed by the Cush’s “Searchin’ for the Sun,” which places pulsing keyboards and ethereal vocals alongside relaxed acoustic guitar.
Native Daughters deliver the lovely a cappella cut “A La Claire Fontaine,” which is bookended by Social Band’s own choral contribution, “Serenade.” In between is Ken Mahren’s “Risky Business,” which features masterful fingerpicking.
Other standouts include Paul Webb & Patti Casey’s “Stone Boat,” a tune both comforting and melancholy. Lar Duggan’s instrumental “No. 15” is more on the somber side, with rivulets of minor-key piano.
The album closes with the aptly titled “Goodbye for Now,” from singer-songwriter Aaron Flinn. The tune’s rich organ and intimate vocals make for a fine end to a pleasant record.
Congrats to Big Heavy World for 10 years of service to the Vermont music community. Looking forward to more.”
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