Walt Michael & Co.
New Windsor, Maryland, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1982
Music
Press
Walt Michael & Co. "Legacy" LTCD2001
An antidote to all the spoon feeding in-yer-face music that thrusts itself upon us - yes even in the folk world -,Walt Michael's music steadfastly refuses to show even a glimmer of lowest common denominator, and here remains resolutely intelligent, both in its selection and execution of the material. Recorded in Scotland, this particular incarnation of "- and Co." features Evan Stover on fiddle, mandolin and guitar; Frank Orsini on fiddle and viola, and Tom Whetmore on double bass, whilst Walt alternates between hammer dulcimer and guitar.
Starting with two sets of tunes, this "live" record of a night in Dean Castle, Ayrshire may well have immediately grabbed you on the night, but here its effect is more one of percolating into your conscious. By the time track three, (the song "Stepstone") is reached, you're well on the way to being gently pulled in; the approach as described being helped by informative introductions which avoid the dearth of live recordings, the flabby/gabby talk between tracks.
The combination of instrumentals and songs work well although my sole criticism would be one that with the vocal abilities in the band, the balance could have been a little more slanted towards song, as it seems a waste not to have used them more.
The range of material could be placed within several categories folk, Celtic, bluegrass, old time, and the virtuosity of the individual band members is emphasised, whilst splashes of tonal colour provided particularly by the dulcimer at key points of the evening ensure that the overall effect is a sparkling one.
The title track "Legacy" is a gem which fixes on the complex issue of racism through a story told with admirable simplicity and appearing midway through the album is perhaps its most obvious focal point, although it would be misleading to call it its highlight, in an album containing many.
Understated craftsmanship at its' finest, this is a joy of an album that deserves to be heard - widely.
Hector Christie - Livingtradition.co.uk
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Walt Michael's various incarnations,
including Bottle Hill, Michael, McCreesh & Campbell and Walt Michael
& Co. have spanned over 40 years and taken him from the coal camps of
Appalachia to the White House, from the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers to the Closing Ceremonies of the 13th
Olympic Winter Games.
Considered to be a virtuoso of tremendous influence in the revival of
the hammered dulcimer, Walts wide repertoire ranges from old-time
Southern Appalachian, to Celtic, to breath-taking original
compositions. As a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist and he has
recorded fourteen albums and instructional videos, appeared at the
Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and toured extensively throughout
the US, Canada, Europe and the UK. His music has been heard on ABC-TV,
NBC's Tonight Show, Broadway, BBC, TNN, CBC, OLN and PBS.
Walt has composed and performed collaboratively with both the Pilobolus
Dance Theater and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He was the
musical producer, composer and recording artist for the Outdoor Living
Networks documentary, Cowboy 101, which premiered in October 2004. In
2005 he collaborated with 5-time Tennessee State Fiddle Champion Jim
Wood to produce two instrumental albums featuring his signature hammered
dulcimer artistry. His music figures prominently in the feature length
movie The Last Blast in which he also plays two roles: a punk rocker
and a G-man.
Band Members
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