THE CREEKING TREE STRING QUARTET
Side Two
Independent
· Member Andrew Collins was nominated for mandolin player of the year by the Canadian Bluegrass Association.
Of all the descriptions one could conjure up for the Juno-nominated Creaking Tree String Quartet, I think the group’s fiddler John Showman sums it up best: "instrumental acoustic roots music." Best to keep it short and simple when it’s as multi-layered as this. Look at the Calgary Folk Music Festival – you’ll hear everything from Latin beats to old-time fiddle tunes, strains of classical mixed with gypsy music, bluegrass and the blues. But you can’t call it a Latin Fiddle Classical Gypsy Bluegrass Blues and So On Festival.
Although their music is rooted in bluegrass, the Creaking Tree String Quartet deftly work elements of classical, jazz and folk music into their original compositions. On Side Two, they continue their successful experiment. For example, bassist Brian Kobayakawa’s "Longmorn" weaves haunting Eastern European melodies around both traditional and contemporary jazz riffs, then brings into play something that would sound just right on a Rheostatics album (the Rheos’ Don Kerr recorded their first album and calls the four musicians virtuosos). A great album for sharing with friends in a cozy kitchen this winter while reminiscing about the sun and music at last summer’s folk fest.
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