There are many singer-songwriters on the folk music scene … and many singer-songwriter recordings, both great and less so. What there is not an abundance of are great instrumental recordings. It takes great talent and compositional ability to construct a fine instrumental and recording. The project must be a cohesive creation, and not just a series of jams. For the next two weeks, we’ll feature some of the best of those instrumental outings … this week featuring music from Russ Barenberg, Richard Thompson, The Rebirth Brass Band, Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen, along with a few surprises. There are no words … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

LISTEN:

Artist / “Title” / CD / Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways
Russ Barenberg / “Little Monk” / When At Last / Compass
Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas / “Keeping Up With Christine” / Ports of Call / Culburnie
Joel Mabus / “Ukulele Scrabble” / Ukulele Crimes / Fossil
Rebirth Brass Band / “You Move Ya Lose” / Rollin’ / Rounder

Don Pedi / “Walking in the Parlor” / Little Songs from The Southern Mountains /
              Walnut Mountain
Bill Frisell / “Surfer Girl” / Guitar in the Space Age / Okeh
Richard Thompson / “Rockin’ in Rhythm” / Strict Tempo / Carthage
Russ Barenberg / “On Milo’s Back” / When At Last / Compass

Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen / “Playing with a Full Deck” / Cross the Water /
              Sleepy Creek
Davey Graham / “The Road to Lisdoonvarna (Jig & Reel)” / The Complete Guitarist /
              Stefan Grosman’s Guitar Workshop
Chris Thile / “Panhandle Rag” / Leading Off / Sugar Hill
Flaco & Max / “Fiesta alegre” / Legends & Legacies / Smithsonian Folkways
Fleetwood Mac / “Albatross” / The Pious Bird of Good Omen / Columbia
Al Di Meola / “I’ll Follow the Sun” / Across the Universe / Ear Music
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle /
              Smithsonian Folkways