Search - Celtic Tenors :: Hard Times

American Folk by the Tenors

Gertraut Seib | Wien/Österreich | 09/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's American Composers from start to finish -

Stephen Foster is first with the title track 'Hard Times' and this lively song is a good start, followed by Hank William's 'Ramblin Man' which is done very good, but not just my kind of music, but the next one - Bob Dylan's 'You ain't goin nowhere'- is lovely and sounds so good! Eric Clapton with 'Lay down Sally' is next and sounds really blue, sung plaintive and slow and I guess James Nelson did the whispered part... And then it's followed by an a cappella piece, 'Marie' by Randy Newman, the lovely tune with a bit satirical lyrics. Done very good, I like it. 'Wanted Man'(Dylan again) stands for me for roaming around the country and sounds thoroughly American (even the accents are different here). One of my best loved 'Four Strong Winds' by Ian Tyson (Canada) follows and then a simple and very lovely little piece of music is next, James Nelson with 'Come what may'. The composer David Baerwald accompanies him and I think it really should be dedicated to a very tiny baby, held by his father's warm hands and being told how loved it is... And the next one is as precious as the last one, 'Fearless Love' by Dillon O'Brian and is a solo by Matthew Gilsenan. A Kris Kristofferson Song comes next 'The Pilgrim Chapter 33'. Another song about ramblin through America, they do it very good. And again a cappella the lovely 'Shenandoah', these three voices weaving their way in and out of the harmonies... simply wonderful.

So it is 150 years of American or Canadian song writers (bar one who has a Canadian father and lives in the US) covered with these beautiful songs, done by singers with dedication and beautiful voices!"