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Al
Petteway &
Amy
White
"Acoustic groove music that
sparkles and dances"
-- NAPRA magazine,
(New Alternatives for Publishers,
Retailers & Artists)
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A "caffeinated, jazz-spiked acoustic brew."
-- (The Washington City Paper)
Al & Amy present acoustic instrumental celebration
highlighting over a decade of musical collaboration. It's
a brilliant convergence of Celtic,
progressive bluegrass, rock, country, blues, jazz and
classical idioms
featuring Al Petteway's signature finger style acoustic
guitar- voted one of
30 essential guitarists in the USA ( Guitar Player) and
Amy White. Wama
winner "Best new -age artist" on piano, guitar,
mandolin and with guest
artists including Eric Rigler on uilliann pipes. This
new release features
the trademark sound of duo Al & Amy in new compositions
as well as new
arrangements and newly digitally remastered favorites
of their most popular
and frequently requested music from their touring concerts
throughout the
USA.
"[Al Petteway] is quickly
building a catalogue of some of the most beautiful instrumental
guitar work ever recorded."
- DIRTY LINEN MAGAZINE
"An innovative instrumentalist
known for his open tunings, Petteway offers a rich, dulcet
sound that features a fusion of old and new."
-- THE BOSTON GLOBE
"[Amy White]...music of
transporting power and beauty.shaped not only by a keen
sense of lyricism and dynamics, but also a quiet soulfulness
that continually draws in the listener."
- THE WASHINGTON POST
"Mesmerizing tone poems...just
pure music...[White] continues to paint sumptuous portraits
of life situations with a remarkable measure of clarity
and color."
- JAZZTIMES
1. Desert Dance/Mariposa (7:03)
2 Caledon Wood (7:48)
3 Sundog (5:27)
4 Midnight Ride (4:50)
5 You Make Me Smile (2:38)
6 Red-Haired Boy (3:56)
7 Loss (6:16)
8 Baker's Dozen (2:22)
9 Celtic Wedding (2:07)
10 Accokeek Shore (2:17)
11 Bareback (5:18)
12 Lullaby (3:12)
13 Ode to Ferdinand (4:05)
14 Silver Branch (5:59)
15 New Moon (5:16)
Liner
Notes
INTRO: When we first met, we had no idea that we would
embark on this musical journey together.
We've come so far in ten short years and are so grateful
for this time that
we've shared.
And we're excited about what new harmonies we have yet
to discover.
Acoustic Journey is a celebration of a decade of musical
collaboration. We
present this recording to you in two ways -
1) as a performance of sorts, and this is reflected in
the sequence of tunes. Those of you who have seen us perform
live will recognize the opening & closing selections
quite well; and
2) as a collection of the many tunes that best represent
the evolution of
our musical partnership.
Here are those first duets and favorite duets. Here,
also, are compositions
that have deep emotional significance for us and our history
together - tunes that could not be easily excluded from
this collection without being missed. Naturally, there
were many other tunes that we wanted to include but we
had to draw the line somewhere. So we did. 7 of the 15
tracks on this CD are original recordings from previously-released
CDs that we digitally remastered at high resolution.
The other 8 tracks are brand new high resolution digital
recordings of
favorites that we've performed over the last decade. This
recording
project has been incredibly rewarding for us and we hope
that you enjoy the results. As always - our heartfelt
thanks go to our family, fans & friends who have traveled
with us in spirit - as well as on, off & near every
stage.
And thanks to you, our listener, for joining us on this
journey. Al & Amy
TRACK LIST:
1. Desert Dance / Mariposa 7:01
by Al & Amy / Al - Guitar, Amy - Mandolin, Percussion
& Vocals,
Paddy League - Bodhran.
From our RACING HEARTS album: This is a favorite overture
in our live
performances. Although these two tunes were originally
recorded separately,
over the years we have enjoyed combining them in this
medley that travels
through the deserts of Arizona through Central America,
Galicia & beyond.
Our good friend & fine multi-instrumentalist Paddy
League joins us on this
track.
2. Caledon Wood 7:47
by Al / Al - Guitar, Amy - Ashiko Drum, Eric Rigler -Uillean
Pipes, Anderson Allen - Congas & Percussion
From Al's CALEDON WOOD album: Another favorite from our
live performances, this tune was inspired by a photograph
of one of the last standing virgin forests in Scotland.
This original recording features the plaintive & rockin'
sounds of our friend Eric Rigler on his fine Uillean pipes.
Eric was kind enough to fly out from California to perform
at our wedding
ceremony. On his birthday, no less. Soon after Eric began
playing at the
ceremony, a rainbow appeared overhead. (Is there magic
in them pipes?) And later on, about half-way through the
wedding, the entire wedding party & attendees sang
Eric a rousing "Happy Birthday." Al met Anderson
Allen at a studio session earlier in the year. He then
came home to tell Amy about
this great percussionist he just met (and what a nice
guy he was.) Well,
Amy & Anderson had been friends & had performed
together for many years before either had met Al. So -
here is to those inner circles intertwining
& to that great small world, which expands even as
it becomes more intimate.
3. Sundog 5:24
by Al & Amy / Al - Guitar, Amy - Piano, Anderson
Allen - percussion
From Al's CALEDON WOOD album: Among the many blessings
on our wedding day was that beautiful sundog-rainbow that
presided over our wedding circle. Thanks to the loving
spirit of family & friends for all the preparations
and the lasting power of that incredible day. Thanks too,
to Maggie & Richard of Maggie's Music for the beautiful
setting and for their friendship. Refreshing breezes,
circling ospreys, fairy cakes, music in the round &
miracles a plenty. That was a day to remember. This is
our music in honor of that memory.
4. Midnight Ride 4:48
by Al / Amy - Guitar, Al - Guitar, Mahdal Drum &
Fretless Bass
Originally recorded as a solo guitar piece on Al's WHISPERING
STONES album. This is one of the very first duets that
we performed together live. We
love how the latter sections lend themselves to ethereal
improvisation. After nearly nine years, we've decided
to bring this fine horse out for another ride. Hold on
tight!
5. You Make Me Smile 2:36
by Amy / Amy - Mandolin, Al - Guitar, Mahdal & Fretless
Bass
This is our first recording of this happy tune. Smile
was inspired by a
fellow Amy noticed while commuting to work in the early
90s. While most
morning commuters tend to resemble those morose drudges
from the film
Metropolis, this one commuter stood out of the crowd.
There he was,
briefcase swung over his shoulder, walking toward the
Takoma Park Metro
station with a light & happy gait - playing the flute!
He must have been
smiling too, though that could have just been his embouchure.
6. Red-Haired Boy 3:55
Trad / Al - Guitar, Amy - Mandolin, Myron Bretholz -
Bodhran
From Al's MIDSUMMER MOON album. This is one of the first
traditional tunes that we picked out together on the front
stoop of our old home in Takoma Park, MD. Our dear and
talented friend, Myron Bretholz joins us on this track.
Myron is a veritable treasure trove of information. He
is a loving
archive of all things musically-Celtic and of all people
worthy of praise.
And there are a lot of both, thank goodness. We sure miss
those inevitable
chance encounters with Myron at the local coffee-shop
where we'd hug like it
was long-time-no-see, indulge in culinary delights and
talk for hours about
all that is right with the world. And there is still a
lot of that, too,
thank goodness.
7. Loss 6:15
by Amy & Al / Amy - Piano, Al - Guitar
From BITTERSWEET - an American Romance, Amy's 2nd piano
album. -One of our favorites, even if we don't perform
it often.
This is the first piano-guitar duet that Amy wrote with
Al in mind.
8. Baker's Dozen 2:20
by Amy & Al / Amy - Guitar, Al - Guitar & Fretless
Bass
First recorded on our GRATITUDE album. Soon after meeting
each other, we discovered we both had a penchant for tapping
out rhythms - usually on the dinner table and nearly everything
else that is set on that table. (Perhaps
to the dismay of our fellow diners.) Amy had been playing
the pattern in
this tune for years but wasn't sure about the time signature.
Al decided
the tune was in 13/4 time - hence the title. So, the goal
of the tune?
Other than fun? Amy Zens out in her world of 13 while
Al time-travels all
over the place. This new recording was a blast to create
and Al's wild &
funky fretless bass takes the piece to a whole new dimension
and brings it
all together. Enjoy!
9. The Celtic Wedding 2:05
by Al & Amy / Amy - Mandolin, Al - Guitar, Bodhran
& Fretless Bass
First recorded on Al's WHISPERING STONES album. This
new version is among the first duets we arranged together.
When listening to the original
version, Amy heard another tune just begging to be played
simultaneously.
We have played this 'musical renewal of vows' happily
and often over the
years.
10. Accokeek Shore 2:14
by Al / Al - Guitar, Amy - Mandolin
Originally recorded on Al's THE WATERS & THE WILD
album. We're happy to be recording this new version after
playing it this way for so many years. Like Midnight Ride
& The Wedding, this version of Accokeek Shore is a
new duo-rendition of an earlier solo composition. It is
among the very first duets we ever played together.
11. Bareback 5:18
by Amy & Al / Amy - Piano, Al - Guitar
From Amy's BITTERSWEET piano album. Another midnight
ride with sensual interludes, but this time a Steinway
piano states the theme. -Written in
fond memory of the horses & stables near Amy's childhood
home - all of which are now gone by way of the usual symbols
of progress.
12. Lullaby 3:10
By Amy & Al / Amy - Guitar & Vocals, Al - Irish
Bouzouki & Vocals
From our RACING HEARTS album. One of the very few tunes
where we both vocalize. Instrumental music is our first
love. On this tune, however, we
use our voices, though in an instrumental fashion. No
words are sounded but
we like to think that our voices still offer the emotional
import of a song.
13. Ode to Ferdinand 4:04
by Amy & Al / Amy - Mandolin, Al - Guitar & Fretless
Bass
First recorded on Amy's PIANO DIARIES album (which is
now out of print) and inspired by the children's book
character, "Ferdinand the Bull," whose pacifist
spirit reminds Amy of Al. Al had not heard of this children's
book before he met Amy, so she gave it to him during their
first Christmas
celebration.
14. Silver Branch 5:57
by Al / Al - Guitar, Agogo, Percussion & Fretless
Bass, Amy - Mandolin,
Ashiko & Conga Drums, Ghungroo & Shaker
Originally recorded on THE WATERS & THE WILD. As
legend has it, if you possess 'the silver branch' you
may enter the land of fairy, join in the
celebrations and leave unharmed to return to your everyday
world. But why
bother? Why not use that silver branch to gain entry to
the magical realm
then conveniently misplace the branch for an extended
stay? As promised for
so many years, we have recorded this favorite once more.
This time we've
included our drum-jam which we are so fond of playing
- and which we
traditionally use to close our live performances. Ankle
Bells and all.
Watch out for the fairies! They joined in on this one
near the end.
15. New Moon 5:15
by Amy & Al / Amy - Guitar, Al - Guitar
Originally on MIDSUMMER MOON. This piece was our very
first collaborative composition and is dear to our hearts.
It was inspired by a trip to Swans Island, Maine during
the new moon & the Perseid meteor showers. This is
our favorite duet for closing a show - both as an encore
and as thanks to the audience for sharing their energy
with us...
CREDITS:
All Tracks Recorded & Mixed by Al Petteway at Fairewood
Studios, Fairview, NC or Takoma Park, MD and mastered
by William Wolf, Wolf Productions, Falls Church, VA, with
the exception of: - Loss and Bareback, recorded by Art
Isaacs & Al Petteway at Harmony Hall Regional Center,
Fort Washington, MD, and-Caledon Wood and Sundog, recorded
& mixed by Jim Robeson at Bias Recording, Springfield,
VA and mastered by David Glasser, Airshow, Springfield,
VA;Photography, Photomontages & Graphic Design by
Amy White, Fairewood Studios, Fairview, NC. Al & Amy
love their Kevin Ryan Guitars, their Weber Mandolin, Sobel
Bouzouki, Boston Grand Piano, & Gardner Ashiko Drum
- not to mention those Dean Markley & D'Addario Strings,
G7th capos & Planet Wave Accessories. (Olson &
Sifel Guitars were also played for these recordings.)
.
Artist Information: AlandAmy.com;
Booking Information: LoydArtists.com.
