Meetings with Remarkable Friends

Meetings with Remarkable Friends

Track Listings

1. Long Journey

2. Golden Gate Fog

3. Fourteen Turtles

4. Swing Shift

5. Butternut

6. Mondello

7. Catskill Thunder

8. Safety in Numbers

9. Serpa

10. Mean Low Water

11. Yankee Swamp

12. Early Frost

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Artie Traum does, indeed, draw upon some talented pals for this instrumental collection, recruiting the likes of Adrian Belew, Bela Fleck, David Grisman, and the Band's Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson to sit in on the sessions. Such cohorts and Traum's own distinguished career as a sideman, composer, and guitar teacher prompt one to anticipate an updating of that old Woodstock sound with flashes of folk and blues mixed in for grit. Meetings, however, is a foray into adult instrumental territory. The playing is, of course, sterling, but with the exception of a few flashes (Jay Unger's moody violin on "Catskill Thunder," Hudson's trademark organ excursion on "Yankee Swamp"), it errs on the polite side. The nicest moment comes with the coda, "Early Frost," a lovely guitar duet with Artie's brother, Happy. Makes one think that maybe a few of those remarkable friends should've sat this one out. --Steven Stolder

Tracks:

Long Journey
Golden Gate Fog
Fourteen Turtles
Swing Shift
Butternut
Mondello
Catskill Thunder
Safety In Numbers
Serpa
Mean Low Water
Yankee Swamp
Early Frost

Amazon.com

Artie Traum does, indeed, draw upon some talented pals for this instrumental collection, recruiting the likes of Adrian Belew, Bela Fleck, David Grisman, and the Band's Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson to sit in on the sessions. Such cohorts and Traum's own distinguished career as a sideman, composer, and guitar teacher prompt one to anticipate an updating of that old Woodstock sound with flashes of folk and blues mixed in for grit. Meetings, however, is a foray into adult instrumental territory. The playing is, of course, sterling, but with the exception of a few flashes (Jay Unger's moody violin on "Catskill Thunder," Hudson's trademark organ excursion on "Yankee Swamp"), it errs on the polite side. The nicest moment comes with the coda, "Early Frost," a lovely guitar duet with Artie's brother, Happy. Makes one think that maybe a few of those remarkable friends should've sat this one out. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Just Beautiful........2000-07-11

Simply put, one of the best, most evocative instrumental albums I've ever heard. Anyone who thinks this kind of music is "light" or "dull" will change their mind after listening to this passionate & often haunting music.

rich, haunting, moving.......1999-08-12

masterful playing, wonderful musicians, haunting, rootsy, jazzy, americana. I hear new things with every listen. highly recommended.

Magical. His mastery of guitar style is amazing. Great!.......1999-04-18

I'm constantly amazed at this guy's work. It's been a few years since his last CD, and his 1995 release, Letters from Joubee, is still a favorite. When is he coming to town?

A remarkable collection of music and musicians.......1999-04-02

This is a tour de force of acoustic music! It touches on so many genres and Artie is equally at home with all of them. From the world-beat/blues of "Long Journey" to the folky(with John Sebastian on harp and guitar)"Fourteen Turtles" to the very hip atmospherics of Traum and Adrian Belew on "Mean Low Water" this CD is good, really good.Also check out the duet with Lawrence Juber, his stunning work with Sam Bush and Bela Fleck, Traum's "swamp-romp" with The Band and the closing duet with bro Happy... For fans of great, inventive, melodic, fun acoustic music...this CD is perfect!

inspired writing, gorgeous playing, excellent sound.......1999-03-23

Forget all that stuff about "adult instrumental" and "errs on the polite side." So did Mozart, Schubert, Ellington, even Miles Davis in the Birth of the Cool and Kind of Blue days. I love this CD. It's beautiful. Traum's compositions are elegant, mature, satisfying as great French cooking. And his friends cook, maybe politely, but what's wrong with politeness? If you want your food crude and served rude, go to Denny's. You people with good taste, to you I recommend this record -- highly!

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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