| CD REVIEW |
| This golden-voiced folksinger/songwriter, long-present and well-regarded on the Canadian and American folk music scene, mysteriously escaped my attention until I heard him perform at the first annual Winterfolk Festival in Toronto (January/February, 2003). It was his softly caressing voice that caught my ears initially at that solo acoustic performance, but this particular recording, one of several since the mid-�70s, reaffirmed his talent as a songwriter and singer. Discovering that Dennis Pendrith (Murray McLaughlan), Rodney St. Amand and David Woodhead contribute on electric and upright bass, as well as Chris Whitely on saxophone, Al Cross on drums, Brent Titcomb on percussion (and something called a �jaw harp�), Tom Leighton on accordion and Don Reed on fiddle, who also created the string arrangement on �Everything We Have�, further impressed me. Mr. Nigrini is obviously not stuck on the sound of his own voice, though, as there are several other well-chosen performers providing background and harmony vocals, such as Nancy White, Garth Mosbaugh, Eve Goldberg and Darlene (no last name given). Fellow fretmen Curly Boy Stubbs and Kevin Breit (electric and resophonic guitar and mandolin) alternately spice up these all-original compositions, along with Chris Coole on banjo, and Mitch Lewis on lap steel on the opening track, �Bed of Roses� (not to be confused with the Bon Jovi song of the same name). The 13 songs, mostly low-key, mid-tempo productions, are mainly a mixture of Celtic waltzes and rolling reels, First Nations (Cree/Ojibwe) percussive chants, folk-rock ballads and even a bit of blues-jazz fusion (�My Oh My�). My favourite tracks, including �My Oh My�, were �Cuckoo Crazy�, cleverly detailing an intention to escape from industrial pollution and modern urban decay, �Turtle Island� (a.k.a. North America) a beautifully crafted bit of Canadiana inspired by Hugh MacLennan�s novel, �Two Solitudes�, �Meant For You�, featuring Mitch Lewis on classical guitar, and �American Sons� (braveheart on another plain), a song about Crazy Horse and George Armstrong Custer, featuring David Woodhead on bass and Darlene (who also performed at the Winterfolk Fest, I believe) on background vocals and solo chanting. Ron gives himself a turn in the guitar spotlight on the memorable instrumental �Powder River�, capturing the giggling bubbles of gently flowing water, which recalled Brian�s Gladstone�s �Windy and Warm�, from his �Psychedelic Pfolks Songs� CD, although Ron�s song has a touch of melancholy in its prettiness. This is a great CD to while away the weary hours of long-distance travelling. Ron Nigrini is scheduled to perform with a host of other high-calibre talent at a benefit in Hamilton on March 1/03, which unfortunately clashes with a live recording session by Scott Merritt on the same evening. Whichever show you choose to attend, you�re guaranteed to witness quality entertainment! |
| SONGS FROM TURTLE ISLAND - RON NIGRINI |
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