****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This CD is a journey through the old American songbook of folk, Appalachian, Shaker and fiddle tunes. Imagine going into the backwoods of rural America where life is more laid back, and you get the flavor of this CD. Flutist Sir James Galway is joined by folk singer Molly Mason and Bluegrass fiddler Jay Ungar, who are accompanied by mandolinist Peter Ostroushko and bassist Steve Rust, with percussionist Michael Merenda lending his talents to a rousing fiddle tune.Most of these songs are meticulously arranged and crafted by Galway and Unger, which makes for a wonderful toe-tapping experience.Among highlights are "My Cape Breton Home" with Galway on the tin whistle, and Mason lending her vocals to songs such as "A Roving on a Winter's Night" and "Pretty Saro" (with Ruth Unger on harmony vocals). There is a beautiful rendition of "Shenandoah," where Galway starts on solo flute, eventually accompanied by the mandolin and violin. This then segues to the delightful Shenandoah Falls. You then get a feel of simple, pure love with "The Lover's Waltz" and pure joy in "Bound For California." Then there's the wonderful "Heart of the Heartland" written by mandolinist Ostroushko. Another effective piece is "Pretty Saro," which starts off with Mason and Ruth Unger on a capella vocals, followed by an instrumental segueway by Galway, Unger and Ostrousko on both mandolin and guitar, with the vocals eventually joining in again. The album concludes with a plaintive, yet beautiful, rendition of "Amazing Grace."If you wish to harken back to the days of simpler times, and can picture yourself jamming with friends on homemade instruments on a wooden porch surrounded by greenery and blue skies, then this CD is for you!
