2 posts tagged “jordan tice”
16 September 2009
I'm usually not caught dead buying this kind of CD. There's a fear that the first song will end up being "Simple Gifts" and then it's time to toss it out my car window. You know the kind of CD I'm talking about - that always end up at trendy country stores and those reeking-of-potpourri gift shops at rural tourist attractions. This is not that kind of CD. This one holds more than a few surprises and will hold your interest if you're into 'roots' music. I was already acquainted with the work of Sue Tice, so that was my main incentive for picking up this CD. I was faced with a 10-hour drive to Maine last week and ended up listening to this CD for most of the ten hours. The title is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the style of music (and also a quote from C.S. Lewis) - you've heard this stuff before, somewhere, at a lot of times during your life, but maybe you just can't pin-point the time, date, or place. It was there, for all seasons, all the time, before any of us were actually born. This is the sense of timelessness Sue Tice presents us with - a little bit of Celtic, a dash of hornpipe and jig, a few numbers that make you feel like you should get up and do some serious waltzing - maybe an old protestant hymn you heard in a musty wooden church - but none of the pedestrian stuff like "Simple Gifts." Sue is a purist when it comes to fiddle no matter what genre she's delving into. On this, her second CD, she's ably backed up by the rest of her family, husband Bob Tice (banjo) and son Jordan Tice (guitar). Jordan Tice is gaining recognition in his own right for his fine musicianship and it shows on his original piece, "Crossing Jordan." This CD is a winner and I highly recommend it if you love pure fiddling, American Appalachian-style. Nothing boring here. This is Sue Tice at her best to keep you interested and entertained.
(Sue Tice and Bob Tice appear regularly with the Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition Band)
Friday Night, 12 June 2009
They're back! and what a night of good music. The Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition, better known as "ABC," wowed the capacity crowd on this beautiful evening after another full day of threatening storms that never materialized. Fast becoming honorary citizens of our fair town, Roger Green never fails to mention how much the band enjoys playing for the Vienna public. They got off to a rocky start by being stranded in beltway traffic and showing up right before show-time. One never knows. Who can predict what will happen at any given moment on Metro D.C.'s wonderful highway system? When are the authorities going to get smart and begin issuing citations for idiots who cause traffic jams and the lolly-gaggers who slow down to see what's going on? Lead, follow, or get out of the way. But no problem - ABC took charge, set up all their equipment in about 7 minutes (I timed them) and then got a big round of applause for their thrown-together sound-check song. That's called professionalism. They barely had time to tune their instruments - which to any bluegrass musician worth his salt is a fine science. The good times continued for another hour and a half and concluded with a standing ovation encore song after the obligatory "Orange Blossom Special." You haven't lived until you've heard fiddler Sue Tice deliver her version of this old chestnut. It's obvious that Sue's fiddling is one of the strong glue-points that holds the whole group together. What she provides is most excellent nuance - never overbearing - coming in and out of a musical line with just the right touch. I could listen to her playing all night, but that's not the point. In this genre of music it's about the group and not anyone individual. She adds just enough color to each song on the program. This is great musicianship.
Thanks to Navy Federal for sponsoring ABC on this night's performance at our local Town Green music stage. The programs continue every Friday and Sunday evening until the end of summer.
Roger Green, Guitar - Dan Kimball, Mandolin - Bob Tice, Banjo - Sue Tice, Fiddle - Jim Duvall, Bass.
For more information go to www.annapolisbluegrass.com
Catch Roger Green's streaming Bluegrass Programs on WRYR 97.5 FM. Times and listings are available at www.wryr.org. The music and (Roger's interesting and expert commentary) is the Real Deal.
