This Friday marks the release of ‘Tell ‘Em You Were Gold’, the new album from Pharis & Jason Romero, their first release on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. As David Morrison’s album review mentioned, aside from creating music, they’re enablers for others to do so by handcrafting gorgeous instruments at their home-based business, J. Romero Banjos.
He goes on to say: “Learned, practised, and recorded live in their converted barn home studio in a mere six days, the album is split evenly between eight songs – i.e. with vocal – and eight instrumentals. It’s a perfectly balanced affair, beautifully showcasing the featured instrument, their breezy vocals, and an unassuming, organic approach to performance and recording in terms of the thrill of capturing the moment. It’s such an intimate, casual-sounding collection of charming folk tunes that it’s easy to picture oneself cosied up in that barn with them, admiringly appreciating these masters of their arena at work and play.”
What better way to celebrate the album’s upcoming launch than a short documentary about its making and a peek inside their world. Experimenting with a new-to-them process, the duo turned an old barn into a recording studio and used the sounds their banjos make as the inspiration for the songs on the album. Jason’s master banjo building, time in the banjo shop, life with kids and gardens, rivers, adventures and old musical friends are all part of the journey.
It was directed, filmed, and edited by Eva Anandi Brownstein and Trent Freeman.
Featuring Pharis & Jason Romero, John Reischman, John Raham, Indi Romero, Sy Romero, Grace Forrest, and Patrick Metzger.
‘Tell ‘Em You Were Gold’ is available June 17, 2022, on CD and digital. The LP version, which features bonus tracks, will be available in late 2022/early 2023.
Pre-Order here: https://orcd.co/pharis-jason-romero
WEBSITE: http://www.pharisandjason.com/
BANDCAMP: https://pharisjasonromero.bandcamp.com/music
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pharisandjason/