//  Today we hear about a mysterious recording on the radio.  Also,
//  Cheryl Wheeler, Iris, Dar, Nina Gerber, and Kimmie Rhodes.  - MF


From: Mike Chesman (chesman@preferred.com>                        
Subject: CD????                                                      

I had just got into my car this afternoon and flipped on the public radio
station in our area. They were just announcing "that was ??????? ???????
with Nanci Griffith on a new recording on the NO AGE Label"  I wasn't able
to call the station to find out the details.  I didn't catch the other
singers name but I'm sure I got the label right.  I want to say the other
name sounded like Scrivner or Scribner but I really did tune in with the
announcer in mid-sentence and that guess could be totally wrong.

Can anyone out there help?

Bill Lavery, do you know anything about this release?

Mike

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From: Bill Lavery (musicvil@gvi.net>                              
Subject: Re: CD????                                                  

I don't know of it but if someone else finds out please let me know!
Bill Lavery
http://villagerecords.com/

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From: "The Gerhardt-Kretzman Family" (pktaw@ricochet.net>         
Subject: Cheryl Wheeler and Nanci Griffith                           

Laura Osterbrock wrote:

> A friend in Boston sent me a list from Folk Radio 91.9 of
> the top 100 folk songs, as voted by their listeners.
> Nanci Griffith is the only artist to secure two spots in
> the top 10, with "From a Distance" (Number 9) and "Love
....
> *Someone* will probably want to know the Number 1 song
> chosen by the 91.9 listeners: It's "Arrow," by Cheryl Wheeler.

I'm about as big a Nanci fan as they come, but I'd second this:  "Arrow" is,
in my view, one of the best songs EVER written.  Cheryl has penned a number
of absolute classics (e.g., "75 Septembers", "When Fall Comes To New
England") that come close as well.  If you don't know Cheryl's music and you
like Nanci's, I guarantee that you won't be disappointed if you check out
Cheryl Wheeler.

On another note, I'm somewhat saddened to see the persistent bashing of Blue
Roses From The Moons.  To each his own, I suppose, but I still haven't
gotten it off my CD changer since it came out (it's lasted much longer for
me than Flyer did, for example, although I like that album too).  I think
BRFTM is actually among her best--"Two For the Road" and "St. Theresa" alone
make it so.  Anyway, just thought I'd pipe up for the "other side" in this.

Regards,
PK
 
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From: Bill MacKay (macbill@pacifier.com>                          
Subject: NanciTours No More                                          

On Fri, 16 Jan 1998, John G. Alvord wrote:

>
> I think she is working on getting a life after twenty years on the road.
>

John, Curt, & fellow NanciFans:

I believe that is her intention, too. It surely seems that her life
of late has been the road. I think she will take a well-deserved
period of time off. But, like the Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra,
etc., the likelihood that she will cease to perform forever is
small.

I as recall, her words at concerts have been along the lines of this
being the last WORLD TOUR.  I know that is what she said here in
Portland, Oregon.  One can speculate that this does not preclude
separate US tours, or Great Britton tours, etc. Even Maggie
dismissed the idea that Nanci could leave the world of music
forever.

In any event, revel in her works.  Should she never return to the
stage, we have a large body of music to enjoy.  I'm happy for what I
have (not that I wouldn't like more).

Bill MacKay
macbill@pacifier.com
Vancouver, Washington

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From: "Paul Musicant" (musicant@cax.es.xerox.com>                 
Subject: Iris in Portland (miniscule Nanci content)                  

        Just a brief report on the wonderful Iris Dement concert at the
Alladin Theater in Portland, Oregon, last Wednesday night.

        This concert offered all the advantages the Alladin can offer:

        General Admission seating: Arrive early and get a front-row seat;
        No opening act: You pay for Iris--you get Iris, lots of Iris;
        Fine beer, wine, pizza, & cookies in the lobby, but no obtrusive
vending noises at the performance stage (at least at the front row).

        For pre-show entertainment, the PA played Nanci's BRFTM album
exclusively for over an hour.

        Iris performed her own compositions solo with guitar and piano for
2 hours. The only notable omission was Wall in Washington; the song
was requested from the audience, but Iris indicated she needed backup
musicians to achieve an acceptable concert performance for that
number.

        Iris remarked on her initial Grammy nomination, where her
competition included Johnny Cash, and that her current Grammy
nomination for "The Way I Should" now must compete with Bob Dylan.
It's hard to compete with living legends.

        Portland was very beautiful, with a light dusting of 45-degree snow
surviving an accelerating thaw. Iris continually mentioned that
Portland residents had been stuck in their residences for 3 days due
to icy, snowy weather, and that Iris was the first live entertainment
they had experienced after 3 days of "cabin-fever". Since I had just
flown-in that day from Los Angeles, I just savored the pacified snow,
and let the others recover from "cabin-fever".

        Again, a very good show. I needed to enjoy Iris in a purposeful,
reverent, concert environment before experiencing her Southern
California night-club performances next week.

pmusicant@cax.es.xerox.com (Paul Musicant)
 
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From: Mike Chesman (chesman@preferred.com>                        
Subject: Nina and Nanci                                              

Hi gang,

    There is a short interview with Nina Gerber in the March issue of
Acoustic Guitar.  Nina was Kate Wolf's guitarist for many years and has also
performed with Nanci.  Below is a short excerpt which mentions Nanci....

What are the high points of being a side musician? "If I'm on stage playing
a song, and it moves me so much that tears come to my eyes, then something
good is happening," says Gerber. "Kate did that. There have been times on
stage with Nanci Griffith where the same thing happens. The other thing that
makes a performance enjoyable is when there's communication, contact,
between me and the singer."

     The article also mentions that Nina will be producing a Kate Wolf
tribute album due out in Fall of '98 and released by Red House.  It will
include a Greg Brown/Ferron Young duet, Nanci Griffith, Rosalie Sorrels,
Lucinda Williams, Peter Rowan, John Gorka, Utah Phillips and more.

Mike Chesman
 
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From: Shawn Kimbro (kimbro@planetc.com>                           
Subject: Bluegrass Rules (Review)                                    

Hi Folks,

Last year at the Merlefest I found myself with a few minutes between
shows so I checked my schedule and noticed Ricky Skaggs was playing on
the Watkins stage.  I thought I kill the time by listening to a few of
his country songs since he was a big star with his own show and all. But
I'd never forgiven Ricky for leaving bluegrass 15 years ago and selling
out to major-label pop country.  Was I in for a surprise.

I suddenly found myself in a sea of clapping, dancing, happy people who
were spinning and stomping to some great traditional bluegrass. Skaggs
and his band jammed on song after lightening-fast song with nary a
country ditty in the mix.  I looked around and found that everyone had
the same sort of happy dumb-founded look on their face.  Ricky Skaggs
was back in blue.

Since then Skaggs released a new album called "Bluegrass Rules" and
formed the band "Kentucky Thunder". Both are aptly named.  Bill Monroe's
legendary fiddler Bobby Hicks joins dazzling fast guitar picker Bryan
Sutton with Marc Pruett on banjo and Mark Fain on bass.  All band
members are stars in their on right but months of rehearsing have these
guys tight and polished together.  The instrumentation is accompanied
(yes I said that right) by clear, high-lonesome harmony.  Skaggs proves
again he's the best tenor in the business.

Highlights from the album include a mind-blowing version of Monroe's
all-time standard "Little Maggie", and Skagg's mandolin showcase "Amanda
Jewell".  But there's not a weak song on the disc.  Here's part of the
reason why: As Bill Monroe lay dying in a Nashville hospital Ricky
visited his legendary mentor on his deathbed and made this pledge,
"Bill, I wanna make you a promise right now. I promise you that I will
play this music as long as I live. I'll tell people about you and how
you started this music and gave it life. Don't worry about it. I promise
you it's in good hands."  Ricky Skaggs proves he's a man of his word by
making good on this promise with "Bluegrass Rules".
--

I didn't get this disc until after top-ten time this year but it would
certainly have been on my list.  And judging by the number of Alison
Krauss mentions I believe there are a few other folks on the NanciNet
who sense the resurgence of bluegrass and traditional music.  Maybe I'll
see some of you this April at this year's MerleFest.  Wonder who'll
surprise us this time?!

Warm Regards,
-Shawn

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From: Mark Gardner (danville@mindspring.com>                      
Subject: My first Dar concert also                                   

Based on hearing her name here, I saw Dar Williams last week in Atlanta. =
I think it was the first time in my life that I've ever gone to see an =
artist, never having heard anything at all. I was not disappointed. Her =
stories were great, and quite funny. I especially liked two songs, one =
about her babysitter and another about an ice storm that had me glued to =
every word.=20

Mark Gardner

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From: "kaydey" (kaydey@theonramp.net>                             
Subject: More Nanci, Kimmie                                          

Things seem to be relatively slow, but to me, we have so much to look
forward to with the release of OVOR 2 (or is it TOO?).  I don't know about
ya'll, but I learn so much from your postings, book recommendations and
all.  Nanci encouraged us in her liner notes to OVOR to experience the
artists whose songs she covered on the album.  From one who checked out of
radio (and music) in 1974-75, thanks to the
disco-induced-rip-van-winkle-hibernation-effect, I have so much catching up
to do, and thanks to Nanci, I have made better than glacial speed.  Even
though I lived in Austin, attending UT from 1972-76, I never once went to
the Armadillo World Headquarters or listened to KOKE.  Sorry Joe Gracey,
its my loss.  And in my defense, the "new" Student Union building was still
being renovated, so there was no Cactus venue to attend.

One thing I've learned is that music, like the internet, is a series of
links.  Thanks to John Stewart (thanks to the Kingston Trio), I discovered
Nanci on John's "Airdream Believer".  From Nanci and the NNetters, my
musical glacier broke free, discovering Iris, both Kates (Wolf and
Campbell), Dar, Beth, Cheryl Wheeler (thanks to Shelly Brisbin) Tom
Russell, Steve Earl, and Kimmie Rhodes.  So you see, even when Nanci isn't
touring, her influence continues, especially for neaderthals like me.  In
fact, my 16 year old daughter was shocked and stupified that I had actually
purchased a CD long before she heard its "hit" song on the top 40 (Loreena
McKinnet's Mummers Dance on the Book of Secrets CD). Am I progressive or
what?
btw..its a really good CD.

If any Houston area Netters are planning to attend the Kimmie Rhodes show
at the Mucky Duck on February 5th, lets get together before.  Kimmie's West
Texas Heaven CD is fantastic.  Were I to be stranded on a desert island
with a CD player and only allowed 3 CD's I'd survive with Nanci's "Poet In
My Window", John Stewart's "California Bloodlines" and Kimmie's "West Texas
Heaven".  My dream song, maybe on OVOR 3 or 4 or 5, would be Nanci and John
Stewart doing John's "Dreamers on the Rise".

Adios from Houston......Andy DeYoung

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From: Bill Lavery (musicvil@gvi.net>                              
Subject: Re: More Nanci, Kimmie                                      

Don't overlook:
Katy Moffatt, Julie Miller, Buddy Miller, Dave Alvin...and for a nice
way to get exposed to some others, check out the Merle Haggard tribute
"Tulare Dust".  It is a Who's Who for this scene.
Bill Lavery
http://villagerecords.com/
 
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