The New Year Off with the Music of Tracy
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Volume 41 No. 1 January 2015 Start the New Year off with the music of Tracy Grammer Review by Darcy Greder musical genius as well as the humanity of ences to Carter songs performed by the High praise for Tracy Grammer came her late partner. Early shows were a bit of duo—Gentle Arms of Eden, The Mountain early in her career and accolades con- a struggle and the loss of Carter was palat- and I Go Like the Raven create a mosaic tinue to flow forth following her transition able as Tracy performed and talked about to reveal Tracy’s circuitous journey from from being one-half of the most promising him. Her grief work was, in part, played grief to acceptance of Carter’s death. For duos in the last twenty-five years—Carter out in the intimate clubs and venues that fans and reviewer’s alike, The Verdant and Grammer—to the solo work she has provided a stage as Tracy honored the Mile gave a promise for things to come, crafted since the untimely death of part- bookings. As in the arc of any grieving, and Tracy has kept faith through her sub- ner, Dave Carter. For five short years, there came a time for Tracy to evaluate sequent releases. Flower of Avalon is folk from 1997-2002, Carter and Grammer what would come next, both personally with a country-rock inflection. Produced produced four studio CDs, toured exten- and professionally. And the answers to by Tracy and John Jennings, the record- sively and garnered the attention of fel- those questions have given rise the next ing combines outstanding musical ar- low artists, critics and fans on the strength chapter of her musical story. rangements with peerless performances of Carter’s writing and the musicality of To say that Tracy has found her voice by Jennings on guitars, Tracy on vocals, their collaboration. Poised on the brink of may be an overstatement—of Tracy’s tal- fiddle, acoustic guitar, banjo and dulcimer, stardom and heralded as “the new voice ent, Joan Baez has said, “Tracy Grammer and features Mary Chapin Carpenter har- of modern folk music,” this next big thing is a brilliant and unique individual. Her monies on many of the tracks. Reflecting never reached their full potential due to the voice is distinctive, as his her mastery over on Tracy and this body of work, Carpen- passing of Carter. In those four years of the instruments she plays.” High praise ter states, “Her pure voice conveys the ascendancy, Carter and Grammer toured and indicative that those chops have al- simple truths of these songs; her gifts as relentlessly and honed their performances ways been evident. Although Tracy was a musician are like that of a painter who is shifting toward the end to feature Tracy’s born in Florida, she grew up in California a master of chiaroscuro, offering light and vocals, a direction that was planned to and was raised in a musical family. Her shadows at every turn.” Lesser-known take preeminence. It was Dave Carter’s father played acoustic, electric and lap instrumentalists play Dobro, mandolin, expressed desire for Tracy’s voice to be steel guitars and a distant relation played piano, drums, organ, bass and clarinet. In out front. By their last recording together, in the Lawrence Welk orchestra. It is said February 2006, Flower of Avalon received Tracy’s vocals were featured in half of the that Tracy began her musical journey on a the American Folk Alliance’s awards for songs on the album. borrowed violin at age 9. She would go on solo artist of the year 2005, song of the The loss of Dave Carter left a hole in to complete a degree in English literature year and album of the year. Her third solo the music community spurring shock and from the University of California, Berkeley. effort, Book of Sparrows, is a seven-song tributes. Just days after his death, Tracy In the business, she is known for her ‘clear EP released in December, 2007. Ever the went on to Falconridge where the duo alto voice and perfectly intoned violin, and multi-instrumentalist, Tracy plays mul- was set to headline. In place of their per- guitar work that are alternately softly nu- tiple stringed instruments on the disc and formance, the community of artists and anced or percussive.’ Village Records receives support on vocals and various audience combined for a musical tribute states that Tracy “flies solo with a style and guitars from Jim Henry. Tracy and Henry to the memory and artistry of Dave Carter. grace that must be heard to be believed… toured together for several years, begin- Tracy, feeling the loss most profoundly on she is a voice to be reckoned with.” ning in September 2003. Henry also both a professional and personal level, In her post-Carter and Grammer ca- shares co-producer credits with Tracy for found strength and comfort in that gather- reer, Tracy has released three solo al- Book of Sparrows. In 2014, in a commit- ing playing alongside fellow artists paying bums. Her first, The Verdant Mile, is an ment to grow as a songwriter, Tracy joined homage to Carter. Indeed, throughout the EP and the title track is her first original 21 other female singer-songwriters in a next year, Tracy would work to fulfill dates composition, a eulogy for Dave Carter. project headed by Cary Cooper called booked by the duo—interpreting both the The Verdant Mile is infused with refer- “RealWomenRealSongs.” The project re- Continued from pg 1 over 30 million views. He has been touring Mad Folk Concert Tickets quires each participant to write and upload nonstop since 2001 and has performed When you see this symbol – ee one song per week for 52 weeks to the Re- just about everywhere within the US. He – you’ll know that you’re read- alWomenRealSongs YouTube channel. has released three cds, including 2004’s ing about a Mad Folk sponsored Interspersed with her own solo work, “Moment of Clarity”, 2008’s “To Whom event. Advance tickets for Mad Tracy continues to give honor and tribute It May Concern” and 2011’s “Live at the Folk shows are available online to the creative brilliance of Dave Carter. In Guild” with longtime collaborators Mark at www.madfolk.org and at these 2005, her company, Tracy Grammer Mu- Paffrath and Jeff Ward. Born and raised in outlets: sic, made arrangements with Elise Fisch- Racine, WI, Johnson now resides in Saint er, Carter’s sister and copyright owner, to Paul, MN. He graduated in 2006 from • Orange Tree Imports, 1721 Mon- administer the catalog of Dave Carter, giv- Lawrence University in Appleton, WI as a ing her effective control over the duo’s mu- triple major student of music performance, roe Street sic. Since then, Tracy has released four theatre arts and psychology. Johnson will Carter and Grammer albums: celebrate his most exciting release yet: a • Spruce Tree Music, 851 East 2006—Seven is the Number stunning 6 disc, 125 song tribute to the Johnson 2007—American Noel music of Tom Waits. He is currently re- 2008—Little Blue Egg cording new original music for his next Purchase tickets ONLINE for Mad 2012—Joy is My Love (EP) release. Zach’s music has brought him to Folk concerts via Brown Paper Little Blue Egg is particularly notable as stages of all sizes across the country and Tickets (with $1.62 service it contains 11 previously-unheard duo re- onto multiple NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX charge): cordings that had been recovered from the morning and evening shows, radio around https://www.brownpapertickets. Carter and Grammer archives. Little Blue the country and more. Johnson’s mas- com/producer/10879 Egg consists of eleven songs (ten of them tery of many instruments lead to exciting Carter compositions) for which Carter had live shows, where Johnson performs on You can also purchase advance recorded vocals a decade or more earlier. piano, 6 and 12 string acoustic and elec- tickets by mail. Send a stamped self- Tracy found the tapes in their home and tric guitars, baritone guitar, dobro, banjo, addressed envelope with your check finished the songs herself. These post- mandolin, violin, lap steel, harmonicas, payable to Mad Folk, PO Box 665, humous releases provide a glimpse into octave mandolin, viola, bass, drums, per- Madison, WI 53701. If all else fails, call Tracy’s solo career and performances. In cussion, banjolin, dulcimer, ukulele, pedal 608-846-9214 for information. concert, Tracy deftly moves from Carter steel and more. His repertoire covers a and Grammer offerings to her own solo wide range of styles and genres, from folk work while telling stories about the duo’s to jazz, rock to spoken word, blues to pop, etc.) Noel Paul Stookey (from Peter, Paul first meeting, Carter’s quirks and fancies country to a cappella, gospel to instru- and Mary), Creed Bratton (from “The Of- or her own misadventures and missteps. mental and more. Johnson is a nation- fice” and The Grass Roots), Lisa Loeb, She is a masterful storyteller with a riotous ally touring artist, performing 75 or more Mary Gauthier, Mary Black, David Wilcox, sense of humor and is thus able to give dates annually and is a proud member of Ellis Paul, Lucero and more. Johnson has honor to Carter’s memory alongside the the Grammy Recording Foundation. His strong Facebook and Twitter fanbases. evolution of her life and career deftly bal- hit YouTube channel, thesongadayproject Please be sure to visit him on Facebook ancing life’s joys and sorrow to tilt toward has Johnson bringing a song--either origi- as well as his website www.zacharyscot- hope.