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Various
Artists | High Meadow Songs: Benefit CD for High Meadow Arts Generally,
these well-meaning benefit CDs tend to get bought in a moment of lowbudget
philanthropy, spun once or maybe twice, and consigned to a pile of discs
in the corner, on the verge of disposal, but saved by a vague sense
of karmic guilt. And so they sit there, another thing you’re not
dusting. So, why pick up this one, other than it being for a very good
cause? Why not just give them the money and keep that pile from getting
any higher?
Because
this one is actually pretty doggone good.
I
should qualify that somewhat by saying that it is definitely pointed
to the very young (feel free to define that as you would), so it plays
well to the family crowd, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t
numerous charms available here for all. Hudson Valley favorite Dog On
Fleas represents on four of the 22 tracks, with their They Might Be
Giants-meets-Tom Waits charm (there’s that indefatigable Dean
Jones again). Jay Ungar and Molly Mason deliver a spot-on duet rendition
of “I Had An Old Coat,” and Medeski, Martin & Wood accompany
a feisty crew on a culinary rampage on “All Around The Kitchen.”
Mechanical Bulls’ Chase Pierson puts his good ol’ boy schtick
to good use on “’Fridgerator Box,” and Julie Last
turns in the beautifully sung (and impeccably recorded) “Nightingale
Lullaby,” appropriately placed at the end of the CD.
While
one would rightfully expect that the aforementioned artists would bring
enough quality to carry a compilation like this, it’s the lesser
known that make this a real keeper. Debbie Lan’s “I’m
On Your Side,” the opening song, stays positive without getting
corny, while Kristen Jacobsen (moonlighting from her day-gig as an ER
doctor) delivers the sweetly engaging “Blue Mountain Moon.”
Singer-songwriters Amy Poux, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mimi Paturel, Abby
Hollander, and Barbara Dempsey (with Dewitt Nelson) maintain the quality
level, and instrumental diversions from Fode Sissoko & Toby Stover,
Movement
keep things slightly askew, in a good way. The High Meadow Larks and
Hudson River Girls represent the school (several artists are, of course,
parents and faculty of High Meadow), and community pillars Bill and
Livia Vanaver, Artie Traum, and Mark Morganstern make contributions
to the mix, resulting in a friendly, communal vibe that makes playing
this CD worth repeating.
For more info about High Meadow Arts, High Meadow School, and this CD, please contact Amy Poux at 845.687.4855, and visit www.highmeadowarts.org Want
to give your review on this CD?
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