Clawhammer banjo player Allison de Groot (Molsky’s Mountain Drifters) and accomplished fiddler Tatiana Hargreaves (Gillian Welch, Laurie Lewis) have teamed up to create a polished, vibrant debut collection of traditional songs that draws upon material from Mississippi, Missouri, and the Arkansas Ozarks to Appalachian stringband music. The collection aspires to highlight some of the contributions from people who have been too often overlooked in music history. To quote the album’s liner notes: “As two musicians who have come from outside of the cultural and geographic communities this music originated in, we are so appreciative of those who have welcomed us and shared their musical and cultural knowledge. We would like to thank all of the musicians who came before us, especially those who never received the credit they deserved: the Indigenous, Black, Queer and female musicians who weren’t always visible but kept, and still keep the music moving forward.” Album highlights include: the joyful and cheeky version of The Poplin Family’s “I Don’t Want to Get Married”; the toe-tapping “Eighth of January”; the cover of Alice Gerard’s “Beaufort County Jail”; an homage to avant-garde fiddler John Hatcher on “Farewell Whiskey”; a cover of Blue Sky Boys’ “Who Wouldn’t Be Lonely”; and excellent renditions of “Buffalo Gals” and “Wabash Blues.” Allison De Groot’s and Tatiana Hargreaves’ collaboration showcases the talents of two of the most accomplished old-time musicians of their generation. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Alice Gerrard, Hazel Dickens, Laurie Lewis, Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, Gillian Welch