Black Twig Pickers / Jack Rose

I have seen since there fly the sonorous details that like small drops of water falling due to the puddle surrounded with dry land, the last consecutive condition that the physical interfaces of his announced end, the green one that exists in thinking, cultivosfolk and printed roots, the music to the meeting of primitive paces associated with the situation, the man opposite to his destiny does not write any more to torment the energetic beginning of the kindness before, now your commentaries give form to the hills that replete with fruits have given you the new food, probably understand that the guitars are listened in the distance they are the echo of your hands in the plough, dirty, but ready to live another day more with contemplative fullness.

He visto como vuelan los detalles sonoros que a modo de pequeñas gotas de agua cayendo al charco rodeado de tierra seca, el ultimo estado consecutivo que las interfases físicas de su final anunciado, un verde que existe en pensar, cultivos folk y raíces impresas, la música al encuentro de ritmos primitivos asociados al trance, el hombre frente a su destino no escribe más para atormentar los principios energéticos de la bondad antes, ahora tus comentarios dan forma a los cerros que repletos de frutos te han dado el nuevo alimento, quizás entiendan que las guitarras se escuchan a lo lejos son el eco de tus manos en el arado, sucias, pero dispuestas a vivir otro día más con plenitud contemplativa.

vhf#108 Black Twig Pickers Hobo Handshake CD

4th full length from the Black Twigs finds a slightly reshuffled lineup and a renewed emphasis on kicking out raw, percussive takes on both Appalachian traditional and original material. With Ralph Berrier Jr.’s retirement from the group, Mike Gangloff has added fiddle to his already considerable arsenal, and along with stalwart guitarist Isak Howell, brought in Nathan Bowles (Spiral Joy Band) on percussion and several guests who make substantial contributions to the party. The Twigs work the fine line between the Friday night old-time dance party and the wellspring of grim and evocative tragedy that runs through the tradition, delivering these laments, travelogues, and wild whoops with sawing, rocking joy. This is a sprawling collection, with visceral group takes on “Crossing the James,” “Cherry River Line,” and “Old Joe Clark.” Charlie Parr and Lane Prekker join the crew on “Last Kind Word Blues,” “Train 45” and “Twin Sisters” (first essayed by Pelt way back in 98) with Parr’s amazing, ragged voice leading the charge over Bowles and Prekker’s driving percussion. Along with the full group material, the Twigs throw in other welcome oddities such as Howell’s Fahey-like “At the head of Every Creek,” “P.E.A. Vine Blues,” an arrangement of a tune from Portuguese Africa, and a book ending solo version of “Crossing the James,” with Gangloff on baritone banjo. In tri-fold digipak. CD $10.

vhf#92 Jack Rose Kensington Blues CD

Fourth full-length from Jack, an inspired mix of styles and sounds that brings his in-person mastery down to CD scale. Kensington Blues is Jack's most diverse outing by far, with straight ragtime, heavy 12-string, and that sweet sweet Weissenborn lap guitar all checking in. Honed during endless touring in 2004, the repertoire here is delivered with maximum authority in a series of first-take performances recorded in early 2005. "Cathedral et Chartres" and "Calais to Dover" are dense, brooding 12 string numbers, recalling the key tracks on 2004's Raag Manifestos CD. "Calais" features a sequence of right hand picking furious enough to evoke a dream state ala Charlemagne Palestine's "Stumming Music." "Rappahanock River Rag" and "Flirtin' With the Undertaker" are pure syncopated ragtime, while "Kensington Blues" offers an almost regal take on the intersection of Anglo and American trad. The epic "Now That I'm A Man Full Grown" was the signature piece of many of 2004's live shows, a display of mind-boggling slide invention that straddles the line of east and west ala "Yaman Blues" from the Opium Musick LP. In something of a surprise inclusion, Jack's take on Fahey's "Sunflower River Blues" (long a staple of Pelt and J.R. gigs but never included on a record) is subtle and expressive, with a wonderful rise and fall that perfectly accentuates Fahey's beautiful melody. LP is a new cut by John Golden, pressed by RTI, and sounds glorious. Gatefold cover. CD $9, LP $13

*Jack Rose Kensington Blues
*Black Twig Pickers Hobo Handshake

Hobo Handshake [2008] (part1/part2)

Kensington Blues [2005]

Jack Rose & The Black Twig Pickers at Terrastock 7