Tui is the traditional Americana roots music duo of multi-instrumentalist Jake Blount and classical violinist Libby Weitnauer. Their debut album, Pretty Little Mister, is a collection of Appalachian music with a particular focus on the range and diversity inherent in the simple instruments of vocals, fiddle, and banjo. Each of the songs selected in this collection was well researched and the findings are shared in the album’s liner notes. The details include: who originally recorded each song, what is known about each musician, why it was selected, and other information clear down to the tuning of the instruments used in for each recording. Standout tracks include: a cover based off a Lyman Enloe recording of traditional song “Crazy Horse”; a cover of fiddler Teodar “Teolee” Jackson “Old Aunt Jessie Get Up in the Cool”; a cover of a song by two Cherokee brothers entitled “Twin Sisters”; Mance Lipscomb’s “Sugar Babe”; the traditional song “Texan Traveler”; and Estill Bingham’s “Cookhouse Joe.” Tui’s Pretty Little Mister is simply a joy to listen to from start to finish. I look forward to more albums from this talented duo. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | The Black Twig Pickers/House and Land, Norman Blake, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Frank Fairfield, Pokey LaFarge