Now 89, the legendary folk singer Alice Gerrard has been creating music for nearly sixty years, including her groundbreaking early musical collaboration with Appalachian singer Hazel Dickens.
Alice Gerrard
“In the dark of the night I think sometimes about how this might be my final recording, my final mattress, my final car, my final dog—but then you never know….”
Alice’s last studio album was the Grammy-nominated Follow the Music (2014); it was her fourth. It was produced by MC Taylor (Hiss Golden Messenger) and featured contributions from Megafaun’s Brad Cook (bass, guitar) and Phil Cook (keyboards). In her review of that album, Helen Gregory concludes: “…it exudes a gentleness borne of strength, revealing its heart and soul, its depth and beauty, in its own sweet time, over successive listens. In my opinion, it’s easily the equal of 1994’s Pieces Of My Heart, regarded by many as her finest work…”
Nine years on, Sleepy Cat Records will release Sun to Sun, Alice’s fifth solo album (October 20th – Pre-order). Joining Alice on this release are Tatiana Hargreaves (fiddle, harmony vocals), Reed Stutz (mandolin, banjo, harmony vocals), Gail Gillespie (banjo), Hasee Ciacco (bass), DaShawn Hickman (pedal steel), Nick Falk (drums), Phil Cook (Rhodes piano, synth), Marcy Marxer (Lead guitar, banjo cello) and Joseph Djarnette (electric guitar).
Gerrard is an incredibly well-connected, much-loved and respected folk singer and musician. Since her last album, she has been seen regularly performing alongside and collaborating with a new generation of folk artists, including the Appalachian folk duo Anna & Elizabeth and, more recently, North Carolina banjo whiz and folk interpreter Joseph Decosimo.
Below, we have the immense pleasure of premiering her second album single, “You and Me,” which will be released on August 29th.
Originally written to celebrate the wedding of two dear friends, “You and Me” is a classic country love song that’s as good as they come. It’s about two people who choose to love one another despite all that’s wrong in the world around them: “You know there’s lots that’s wrong with this old world / But there’s nothing wrong with you and me,” Alice assures us in each refrain. Mandolinist Reed Stutz kicks the song off and is joined by fellow bandmates Tatiana Hargreaves on fiddle and DaShawn Hickman on pedal steel, Hasee Ciacco on bass and, of course, Alice holding it all down on acoustic guitar. Nestled in the middle of a collection of songs dealing with today’s weighty issues, “You and Me” is a simple, refreshing reminder to treasure the love in our lives.
The pleasure of your company
My mind’s delight and my heart’s ease
Keeper of my secret dreams
I want to tell you how I feel—
You know there’s lots that’s wrong with this old world
But there’s nothing wrong with you and me.
There is humour and political astuteness across this album. As hinted at in the accompanying press – This kind of songwriting is expected by those familiar with Gerrard’s career.
Sun to Sun came together during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Gerrard was at home, flooded with memories and stories as she reviewed her personal archive for an upcoming book of her documentary photographs. She and collaborator Tatiana Hargreaves worked on the project to digitize Alice’s 35mm negatives, which would often turn into jam sessions, testing her new material with Hargreaves on fiddle and Reed Stutz on mandolin. Soon, Alice began to feel a need to get these songs out into the world. “I have never considered myself a solo artist,” Alice explains. “I’ve always collaborated with others… To me, it’s much more fun hearing what other musicians bring to the table and how they help flesh out the songs… I love that process.” This should come as no surprise, considering her groundbreaking musical collaboration with Appalachian singer Hazel Dickens during the 1960s and 70s.
The album was recorded at STUDIO 808A and MAGNETIC SOUND in Durham, NC, with additional recording at Jack Fleishman’s Studio and Phil Cook’s Studio.
It was engineered by Joseph” joebass” Dejarnette, Dave Tilley, and Phil Cook, mixed by Joseph “joebass” Dejarnette and mastered by Mike Monseur at Axis Audio.
Pre-Order Sun to Sun – https://alicegerrard.bandcamp.com/album/sun-to-sun
Website: http://www.alicegerrard.com/index.htm
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