January 2012
January 2012
Every month I put together a list of the recordings I’ve been listening to most over the past few weeks. Here’s my list for January 2012. I’ve played multiple songs from each of these CDs on my radio show, Ramblers’ Retreat.
- Blink: Blink (Norway / Denmark / Sweden / Finland)
Blink put out their debut album last year, and it’s a world-class collection of traditional and original Nordic tunes with some stellar arrangements. This album was on last month’s list. - Downtown Ramblers: On The Other Side Of The City (Sweden)
Downtown Ramblers is an impressive bluegrass band from Sweden, and they’ve put together a very nice collection of original compositions. - Wylie & The Wild West: Rocketbuster (Montana)
I’ve mentioned Wylie & The Wild West often on this blog; Rocketbuster is the first 2012 release to make the list. - Hal Cannon: Hal Cannon (Utah)
Hal Cannon was also on last month’s list; I wrote a review of this CD for RootsWorld magazine. - Jen Hajj: Orn-I-Tho-Lo-Gie (Utah)
Jen Hajj’s new collection of songs about birds runs a big emotional gamut, much bigger than one might expect from a collection of songs about birds.
Downtown Ramblers: “I’ll Go”
Sunrise at Wilson Ponds
Sunrise at Wilson Ponds
January 2012
On the banks of Trophy Pond
Wilson Ponds is an area a few miles south of Nampa, Idaho that is managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. It’s one of my favorite places to stroll. It’s also a great place to watch birds including cormorants, herons, and osprey.
This photo and many of my other photographs of Wilson Ponds are posted on Flickr.
Mia Edsall
Mia Edsall
Wednesday’s episode of Ramblers’ Retreat featured a live performance from Mia Edsall, a singer-songwriter and horse trainer from Bellevue, Idaho. She brought her guitar and her banjo and put on a great show.
There was also plenty of music from Idaho, Utah, and around the Intermountain West along with some music from the Nordic countries. As always, the full playlist is posted.
Here’s a video of Mia Edsall performing with Johnny Shoes at last fall’s Folk Alliance Region West conference.
Mia Edsall: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Hal Cannon
Hal Cannon: Hal Cannon (2011)
Hal Cannon is best known as the founding director of the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. He has been collecting songs and stories from the people of the American West for the past three decades. This self-titled CD is his debut recording as a solo artist, and it was one of my favorite recordings of 2011. Read my full review of Hal Cannon and listen to the album streaming on RootsWorld magazine.
Django Reinhardt’s Birthday
Django Reinhardt’s Birthday
Yesterday’s show was inspired by the life and music of Django Reinhardt who was born on January 23rd, 1910. Reinhardt was a jazz guitarist and founder of the Hot Club of France. He was born in Belgium to a Romani family. I played a few covers of his compositions, music from Belgian and Roma traditions, and a few Django-inspired surprises. As always, the full playlist is posted. Below are a couple of videos of songs featured on today’s show.
The North Idaho Hat Band: “Minor Swing”
Aurélia: “Boléro pour Aline”
Utah Statehood Day
Utah Statehood Day
The state of Utah was admitted into the union on January 4th, 1896, and today’s Ramblers’ Retreat featured songs about Utah as well as musicians from the Beehive State. And I celebrated a birthday a few days ago, so I indulged myself with a few birthday songs. As always, the full playlist is posted. Below are a few videos of songs featured on today’s show.
Black Irish Band: “Train To Utah”
Otter Creek: “Iron Horse”
Laurie Lewis: “Going Away”
Nordic Choro: “Happy Birthday To Me”
Grace Dayton & Alina Geslison: “Josefin’s Waltz / Nicaraguan”
Ramblers’ Retreat 2011 Favorites
Today’s Ramblers’ Retreat looked back at the show’s favorite music of 2011. (Here’s a list of my personal Favorites of 2011.) As always, the full playlist is posted.
Below are a few videos of songs featured on today’s show.
Downtown Ramblers: ”Singing With The Birds”
Hal Cannon: “Alone Town”
Utah Slim: “Sigurd”
John McCutcheon: “Pretty Boy Floyd”
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