Song of the Traveling Daughter

Song of the Traveling Daughter

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
On Song of the Traveling Daughter, Abigail Washburn sings simple haunting songs and plays the banjo. Musically, the album is one of the most bare-bones debuts in recent memory. Washburn and fellow producers Reid Scelza and Bela Fleck keep the focus where it belongs: on the singer and the song. The arrangements were built around Washburn's evocative vocals and clawhammer banjo style, and Ben Sollee's cello, an instrument that brings a dark, primeval feel to songs that sound like they're hundreds of years old. The sparse instrumental work of guitarist Jordan McConnell (of the Duhks), upright bass player Amanda Kowalski, fiddler Casey Driessen, percussionist Ryan Hoyle (of Collective Soul), keyboard and accordion player Tim Lauer, along with Fleck's national steel guitar and banjo, add subtle grace notes to Washburn's timeless tales.

Song of the Traveling Daughter is an old-fashioned album with a simple, textured beauty that unfolds with repeated listening. There's a flow to the music that draws you in and immerses you in Washburn's unique worldview. While the album is studded with gems, several tracks stand out. "Rockabye Dixie" is a brokenhearted lullaby full of loss and longing, co-written by Beau Stapleton of Blue Merle. "Coffee's Cold" is a jaunty ragtime blues, with a bouncy bass line and exuberant vocal delivery. "Eve Stole the Apple" is the most atypical tune on the album, full of odd rhythmic accents. Part field hollar, part old English folk song; the tune is marked by an impressionist lyric that blends Biblical and folkloric images. "Deep in the Night" is a poetic exploration of darkness that features one of Washburn's most stirring vocals and the accents of Tim Lauer's accordion. "Song of the Traveling Daughter," one of Washburn's Chinese songs, and another album highlight, was inspired by the classical Chinese poem "Song of the Traveling Son." "It's actually harder to put English words to music than Chinese," Washburn explained. "Chinese is all one- or two-syllable words and most have open vowels at the end of the word, so the language almost sings by itself. If it has a closed sound it's usually something soft like 'teng' or 'mang.' If you listen closely to 'Song of the Traveling Daughter,' you can hear how easy it is to put them to music."

Song of the Traveling Daughter,Abigail Washburn,Nettwerk Records,Folk,Folk & Traditional,Neo-Traditional Folk,Pop

Average customer rating:

Bela Fleck's favorite Banjo Player

Tibet or West Virginia - Sensational

Deserves more than 5 stars

Incredible New Folk Music

Phenomenal

Song of the Traveling Daughter
Abigail Washburn
Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0009X7704
Release Date: 2005-08-02

Tracks:

Sometimes
Rockabye Dixie
Coffee's Cold
Red & Blazing
Single Drop of Honey
Eve Stole the Apple
Who's Gonna Shoe
Backstep Cindy/Purple Bamboo
The Lost Lamb (Chinese)
Nobody's Fault
Halo
Song of the Traveling Daughter (Chinese)
Deep in the Night
Momma

Album Description

On Song of the Traveling Daughter, Abigail Washburn sings simple haunting songs and plays the banjo. Musically, the album is one of the most bare-bones debuts in recent memory. Washburn and fellow producers Reid Scelza and Bela Fleck keep the focus where it belongs: on the singer and the song. The arrangements were built around Washburn's evocative vocals and clawhammer banjo style, and Ben Sollee's cello, an instrument that brings a dark, primeval feel to songs that sound like they're hundreds of years old. The sparse instrumental work of guitarist Jordan McConnell (of the Duhks), upright bass player Amanda Kowalski, fiddler Casey Driessen, percussionist Ryan Hoyle (of Collective Soul), keyboard and accordion player Tim Lauer, along with Fleck's national steel guitar and banjo, add subtle grace notes to Washburn's timeless tales.

Song of the Traveling Daughter is an old-fashioned album with a simple, textured beauty that unfolds with repeated listening. There's a flow to the music that draws you in and immerses you in Washburn's unique worldview. While the album is studded with gems, several tracks stand out. "Rockabye Dixie" is a brokenhearted lullaby full of loss and longing, co-written by Beau Stapleton of Blue Merle. "Coffee's Cold" is a jaunty ragtime blues, with a bouncy bass line and exuberant vocal delivery. "Eve Stole the Apple" is the most atypical tune on the album, full of odd rhythmic accents. Part field hollar, part old English folk song; the tune is marked by an impressionist lyric that blends Biblical and folkloric images. "Deep in the Night" is a poetic exploration of darkness that features one of Washburn's most stirring vocals and the accents of Tim Lauer's accordion. "Song of the Traveling Daughter," one of Washburn's Chinese songs, and another album highlight, was inspired by the classical Chinese poem "Song of the Traveling Son." "It's actually harder to put English words to music than Chinese," Washburn explained. "Chinese is all one- or two-syllable words and most have open vowels at the end of the word, so the language almost sings by itself. If it has a closed sound it's usually something soft like 'teng' or 'mang.' If you listen closely to 'Song of the Traveling Daughter,' you can hear how easy it is to put them to music."

Customer Reviews:

Bela Fleck's favorite Banjo Player.......2007-05-09

I've read through these reviews, and so many of them are from people who were blown away at one or another folk festival, and my story is no different. i went to Merlefest, planning to see and be impressed by some of the great olds and maybe some newgrass types as well, but was MOSTLY knocked out, and repeatedly so, by ms. Washburn and her collaborators in Uncle Earl. There were other awesome groups there, like the Redstick Ramblers, Toubab Krewe, oh, lot's of them, but what I still hear in my head weeks later is all Abigail Washburn, and that's a good thing.

Tibet or West Virginia - Sensational.......2007-01-28

I heard Abigail and the Sparrow Quartet in Tibet and then on Mountain Stage.
She is an incredibly talented musician and she has things to say which are worth listening to - musically and lyrically. She plays a mean banjo and has the voice of an angel. Don't miss her - she'll by at Wesleyan University - the Crowell Auditorium - on March 31, 2007. Pu it on you calendar if you're in that corner of the world.

Deserves more than 5 stars.......2006-09-16

My husband and I are singers, and he dragged me to a bluegrass concert in New York City, where I had the great good fortune of hearing Abigail Washburn as the opening act. I had never heard of her. Her music and performance touched me so deeply. She is a consummate artist who sings from the heart without affectation or ego (a rare find in the performing arts). And what a beautiful heart! I excitedly bought her CD that evening. It is great, to be sure, but nothing can compare to this woman in concert. It would be worth a drive of hundreds of miles to hear her.
I've now had the additional great good fortune of meeting Abigail (we share the same first name!), and she is a warm and sincere woman. I haven't been this excited by a musician in at least 15 years.

Incredible New Folk Music .......2006-07-19

Let me start by saying I am not a big fan of folk music. I play bluegrass banjo. But recently I've been experimenting with clawhammer banjo on a little openback I use as a travel banjo. I figured I'd try out this CD to get some clawhammer ideas. Wow. It blew me away. Earthy tones that are simple yet very powerful. The songs range from upbeat to haunting to spiritual to Chinese. Washburn has a rare combination of talent and creativity that really sparkles in this project. It's definitely not your grandfather's folk music.

Phenomenal.......2006-07-16

Anyone who attended the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival knows that Abigail Washburn stole the show - a show featuring Ricky Skaggs, Del McCourey, Steve Earl, etc. She took the stage at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning, accompanied by Bela Fleck and others, and made history. She was the only performer who received a standing ovation.

This CD is what's right about music these days. More soulful and genuine than Old Crow Medicine show and more accesible than Gillian Welch, Abigail may be the best thing to happen to roots music in a long time. The song she sings in Chinese works so well. It doesn't even matter what the words really mean, because the melody and the singing are so beautiful the message comes across anyway. Each song oozes sincerity and life, from a singer a banjo player who knows her craft.

This is a great CD, and if she's ever in your area, got see and hear a wonderful musician.