“Weekend on the Tracks” Taconic Weekend, February 6, 2003
“Weekend
on the Tracks” Taconic Weekend, February 6, 2003
TRUE BLUE: Kate Goldsmith likes a little swing
with her bluegrass
Reviewed by Kate Goldsmith
Too Blue is an ironic name for a band that makes you feel so good.
This four piece ensemble takes the best from country, bluegrass and
swing to make their own unique, and very entertaining, brand of music.
Their debut CD, “A Little on the Blue Side”, is an understated
showcase of 13 original tunes that sound as though they’re old-time
classics. It’s a refreshing blend of banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin,
stand-up bass and fiddle, highlighted by female harmonies and spacious
arrangements.
What first struck me about Too Blue is how, despite the fact that
there’s a lot going on musically, you can hear each individual part
clearly. Although there is a lot of talent here, you won’t find any
divas stomping on anyone else’s toes – the parts fit together like
Lincoln Logs. The clarity and purity of the sound, especially in the
vocal harmonies, has an elevating effect on the mood.
When listening to something new, I draw from what I’ve already
experienced to form some frame of reference. In this case, Les Paul and
Mary Ford came immediately to mind, probably because of the way they
too combined jazz (swing) and roots (country) elements.
Too Blue is led by Joan Harrison (banjo and lead vocals) and Betsy Rome
(guitar and vocals). The ladies met in 1996 at a jam session and
hit it off immediately. Of Rome, Harrison says, “I admired her musical
confidence. She steps right up to the plate when it’s her turn to play.
She gave me a tape of her original songs that night and I played it all
the way home, singing along in harmony... We shared many of the same
heroes and had remarkably similar ideas."
Together, these women are an awesome force. Hearing them sing will
make you smile, and they play their instruments with aplomb and taste.
Harrison studied with banjo great Tony Trischka in the 1980’s, and Rome
has been profiled in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine. The ensemble is
rounded out with Jack Murphy (bass) and Michael Sassano (mandolin).
On the CD, guest artist Joyce Andersen lays down some tasty fiddle.
“A Little on the Blue Side” features well-crafted songs and tight,
thoughtful playing. The band members keep us on our toes by throwing
in snazzy riffs here and there. The CD’s atmosphere is not “studio sterile”–
you get the feeling everyone was sitting around in a circle and playing
(kind of like a Chieftains recording).
Harrison says, “Whether we’re writing a new song or arranging
a standard, we try very hard to listen to the needs of the song. During
the recording process, we did our best to avoid the seduction of
technology and remain true to our sound.” Find out more about Too Blue
by visiting www.toobluemusic.com <http://www.toobluemusic.com/> .
With such a live feel in the studio, imagine how Too Blue sounds in
concert! You’ll have two opportunities to catch their act this weekend —
Friday at 9 p.m. at the Rosendale Café, 434 Main Street in Rosendale,
(845) 658-9048, and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at Caesar’s Ristorante,
6270 Route 82 in Stanfordville, (845) 868-7915.
-----
Kate Goldsmith is editor of specialty publications at Taconic Press.