Artist Guide » Folk » Traditional Folk » PETER FELDMANN & THE PEA PATCH QUINTET: Grey Cat On The Tennessee Farm
A collection of 14 songs and tunes associated with Uncle Dave Macon, "The Dixie Dewdrop", first star of the Grand Ol' Opry. Performed by Peter with Byron Berline - fiddle, Dan Crary - guitar, Dennis Caplinger - banjo, Wayne Shrusball - banjo, and Bill Bryson - bass.NEWS FLASH! - "Grey Cat" ranked #5 in the TOP TEN Bluegrass CDs for 2005 by the Chicago Tribune - Dave Royko, columnist.
"YOU'VE DONE IT! ... Great sound, great job, great layout! ..
high quality workmanship, both visually and audio."
- Dave Macon (Uncle Dave's grandson)
"What a wonderful recording ... exceptional!"
- David Holt
"A unique idea! .. well produced by excellent musciains..."
- Mike Seeger
While Uncle Dave was an "old time" musician, we've arranged and adapted these songs into bluegrass format, often with two banjos, fiddle, mandolin, bass, and guitar. Singing ranges from solo vocals to four and five-part harmonies. The musicians here are all top notch, with 3 time National fiddle champion Byron Berline, Dennis Caplinger of "Bluegrass Etc." on banjo, Dan Crary, king of the flatpick guitar players, Bill Bryson of "Desert Rose" on bass, and Banjo Newsletter columnist Wayne Shrubsall on clawhammer banjo.
Peter Feldmann is a long-time bluegrass favorite in California; founder of the Santa Barbara Fiddlers' Convention, the famous Bluebird Cafe (Santa Barbara), with more than 21 years' of experience on radio, television, and recordings. He can also be heard with his band "Peter Feldmann & The Very Lonesome Boys", based in California's beautiful Santa Ynez Valley.
======== New Review *** December 2, 2005 ==============
"When Peter Feldmann's "Grey Cat on the Tennessee Farm - Songs of Uncle Dave Macon arrived in my mailbox, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. After all, Uncle Dave brought a powerful and unique personality to the stage along with his vast banjo tune and minstrel show repetoire. I was afraid I was in for yet another folk revivalist rehash of Mr. Macon's greatest hits.
Instead, Peter Feldmann has put together a very entertaining "concept album" that combines spoken word and some of the West Coast's best instrumentalists in an imaginative yet sympathetic updating of some very tuneful Old Time music. This is truly an album that has "something for everyone". Feldmann serves as lead vocalist and "master of ceremonies" for what is essentially what you might expect to hear if you were lucky enough to attend one of Uncle Dave Macon's tent shows in the 1930's but presented with the musical sophistication demanded by present day audiences.
Though it's accessible enough for the uninitiated, Bluegrass afficianados will marvel at Fiddler Byron Berline and Guitarist "Deacon" Dan Crary breaks and backup-flawless without being stale-they still manage not to overshadow Peter Feldmann's warm vocals. Berline is featured on two fiddle tunes which are worth the price of the album on their own merit. Feldmann provides some good solid Monroe style mandolin and Dennis Caplinger plays impeccable three finger banjo - he neatly combines the melodic and rhythmic content of Dave Macon's banjo with the sparkling drive of Bluegrass style picking and is worth a listen by any student of the five-string.
Old Timey banjoist Wayne Shrubsall pops in briefly on a couple of tunes to remind us that there was a fully developed banjo tradition before Scruggs put the banjo into overdrive and his duet work with Caplinger is exquisite. Most importantly however, this album is a true "family" fare-something both adults and children can listen to without annoying one another. Respectful without being precious, plain spoken with being condescending, these guys obviously had a lot of fun making this album-and you'll have fun listening to it."
- Emily Salisbury Keene
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Check out the artist's website:
http://www.BlueGrassWest.com
Track List:
1. Intro
2. Old Plank Road
3. Jordan Is A Hard Road
4. Take Me Home Poor Julia
5. Rabbit In The Pea Patch
6. Roll Down The Line
7. I'm Goin' Back To Dixie
8. Grey Cat
9. Bull Moose
10. John Henry
11. Kiss
12. Johnny Gray
13. Rye Straw
14. King David
15. Rise Whe The Rooster Crows
16. Deer Chase
17. Forked Deer
18. Sail Away Ladies
19. Outro
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- FOLK: Traditional Folk
- COUNTRY: Bluegrass
- TYPE: ACOUSTIC