WHO is that harmonica player? Sense of Place liner notes

 Enjoy! Detour Road, Track 1
There is a new player on this project.  He is making his harmonica recording debut.  He is 83 years young and only began playing "the harp" about 4 years ago.  He has a natural sense of melody and crouches and sways when he plays, just like an seasoned old blues player!  He is my best friend and husband of...MANY years.  Introducing  Richard Rouse on his first record release, blowing along on Detour Road.

Nearly 10 years ago I got an email from Indiana farmer/scholar/birder/listener of my music, Bruce Allen. He asked if I would consider writing music to his favorite piece of poetry, To An Oriole, by Edgar Fawcett.  He sent me the poem and what he knew about the author (1847-1904).  It sat at my piano for months while I checked to ascertain if it was in the public domain to allow me to work with it. As I read it over and over, I was touched by the creativity of the poet and wondered how I could ever make it into a song. It emerged like a tiny baby bird chippping its way out of the shell, then it stretched its little wet wings to dry and strengthen for a flight out into the world.

To An Oriole, in its form as (what we used to call) an Art Song, is included on A Sense of Place as a sort of Breathing Space.  I hope it wings its way into your heart, as did the original poem.  Thank you, Bruce, for trusting your favorite poem to my muse.   More about this in next post!

A Sense of Place

Years ago I read words by Wendell Berry to the effect of of:
We can't really know WHO we are unless or until we know WHERE we are.

He seemed to be referring to the power of specific geographic location to influence how we function — how we develop as a community, what we eat, what we wear, the inspiration for poetry and music— based on the soil, the climate, the species present and a multitude of other factors outlined by the natural world.  Similarly, Michigan nature writer Stephanie Mills advises us, "Know thyself—and thy wildflowers!"  Good advice.

In the three years I've been working on this CD, I struggled to find a title, until I remembered the power of Place. It is a thread that runs through the songs from the first tune advocating for choosing Love, Peace, Compassion, and a Smile instead of the opposite, or you'll be on a "Detour Road."

One track on the project moves me deeply each time I hear it.  It is sung by the phenomenal late Keith Palmer, (1957-1996) who sang this as a demo for me in 1992. He later recorded for Epic Records.
(See and hear more about Keith here:http://www.mkoc.com/hidden/KeithPalmer/keith.htm)

 I always felt like the song was not quite finished until his family gave me permission to include it with new added lyrics which we wove into the old recording.   This song, now with a new name, "Only One" finally feels right.  Rob Matson, The World's Best Sound Engineer, in my book, did skilled job of weaving new harmonies and depth into a beautiful old recording.  I hope that I can keep a bit of the legacy of Keith's beautiful voice alive by including it on this project. Profound thanks to his family for allowing me to share it with you.

(samples of all the songs at CDBaby Earth Mama  and up on my website soon)
Please check back soon for more insider stories of A Sense of Place. I'll feature some of the other players, inspiration for the songs, humor in the studio, etc.  Please feel free to ask questions and leave comments.

Coming next:  Why a Christmas song for the bonus track?
Who is Edgar Fawcett?  What harmonica player is making his recording debut on this CD?