Jeff Davis
Some Fabulous Yonder
River Driving; Indian Whoop; Doney Gal; Beulah Land; Adieu My Lovely Nancy; Libby Prison; Cumberland and The Merrimac; The Bold Privateer; Felix the Soldier; Cowboy’s Life; Old Paint; Wild Bill Jones; Mount’s Untitled / Setauket; Shortening Bread
On Some Fabulous Yonder Jeff Davis presents a wide variety of old music, from Appalachian songs (Frank Proffitt's Will Bill Jones) to Long Island fiddle tunes, American versions of English folksongs, civil war ballads, songs of lumbermen and cowboys, the moving Doney Gal and an unusual version of Old Paint amongst them. He demonstrates his grasp of traditional vocal styles with two unaccompanied songs, and his mastery of the banjo with a version of Shortening' Bread that makes this old chestnut come vigorously to life. Elsewhere on the CD Jeff's considerable skills on fiddle, guitar and mandocello are amply demonstrated
Accompanying Jeff on some of the songs are Howie Bursen (banjo), Brian Peters (button accordion, concertina and guitar), Jay Rosenburg (drum, vocals) and Chris Rua (cane flute, vocals).
Jeff Davis is as much an expert on the history of old music as on its performance, and the CD includes a 24-page booklet packed with information on the songs and the singers who sang them, accompanied by some fascinating photographs.
"American
traditional music at it's best and in its element. The passion and love
that he feels for the old songs and music is evident in every note he
utters and every string he plucks"
Deb Cowan, Tykes News (UK)
"One
of the most charismatic and widely-regarded of American oldtime folk revival
performers.. master of several different instruments as well as a darned
fine singer, a man of wholly unpretentious and completely natural musicianship
who makes everything he does seem totally effortless."
David Kidman, Netrhythms (UK)
"A
fine interpreter of traditional song"
Ian Robb, Sing Out! (USA)