Herdman's voice soars over pedestrian material.Byline: Paul Denison The Register-Guard Critics rave about Priscilla Herdman's singing. "One of the clearest and most compelling voices of contemporary folk music folk music: see folk song. folk music Music held to be typical of a nation or ethnic group, known to all segments of its society, and preserved usually by oral tradition. Knowledge of the history and development of folk music is largely conjectural. " (New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times). "Elegant, pitch-perfect" (Rolling Stone rolling stone Noun a restless or wandering person ). "Miraculously pure and effortlessly beautiful" (Boston Globe). "Exquisite voice and intelligent approach" (Great Hudson River Hudson River River, New York, U.S. Originating in the Adirondack Mountains and flowing for about 315 mi (507 km) to New York City, it was named for Henry Hudson, who explored it in 1609. Dutch settlement of the Hudson valley began in 1629. Revival). "Rich, almost opulent, timbre timbre Quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument, voice, or other sound source from another. Timbre largely results from a characteristic combination of overtones produced by different instruments. " (Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia Inquirer Morning newspaper, long one of the most influential dailies in the eastern U.S. Founded in 1847 as the Pennsylvania Inquirer, it took its present name c. 1860. It was a strong supporter of the Union in the American Civil War. ). Listening to her 2003 album, "The Road Home," one can understand the kudos. Herdman does indeed have, as Scott Alarik wrote in the Boston Globe, "a voice that immediately draws people in and wins them over." Think Joan Baez. Judy Collins. Kate Wolf. But on the first two tracks of "The Road Home," Herdman seems to squander squan·der tr.v. squan·dered, squan·der·ing, squan·ders 1. To spend wastefully or extravagantly; dissipate. See Synonyms at waste. 2. her voice on pedestrian material, Tanya Savory's "Big Town" and Lennie Gallant's "Island Clay." Her impeccably clear diction makes every word clear, and after one verse you know exactly where these songs are going and how they will get there. This is also more or less true of a few other tracks: prosaic, predictable, unpoetic. They all run true to form. Herdman delivers them with singing and storytelling skills honed over a quarter of a century, and they fit snugly in the album's "journey" concept. But they do not stand out. Others do. Dave Carter's "Gentle Arms of Eden" is a joyous celebration of natural life and love in a world that is "ill with greed and enterprise of war." Anne Hills' "Exile" is a Tibetan's haunting lament. Herdman sings it exquisitely, accompanying herself on a Tibetan singing bowl Singing bowls (also known as 'Himalayan bowls' or 'rin gongs' in Japan) are a type of bell, specifically classified as a standing bell. Rather than hanging inverted or attached to a handle, standing bells sit with the bottom surface resting. . Delicate harmony vocals by Hills and Cindy Mangsen lift Kate Power's "Wild Wind" a little higher than it might otherwise fly. Herdman's voice, Artie Traum's gentle lead guitar work and Neal Hagberg's sensitive lyrics are perfectly matched in "Here," the closing track that brings the album to a resting point, rather than a conclusion: "Stars are falling, the night is full, and I promise you this love won't disappear. All we've got is here." "Whether performing ancient ballad or modern topical song," Scott Alarik wrote in a 1998 Boston Globe article, "Herdman doesn't seem to be singing anything that would sound odd in everyday conversation. It is a wonderfully generous way to spend such a talent." And that might be a wonderfully kind way to say that sometimes Herdman's voice is better than her material. Later on in that same concert review, Alarik characterized the varied songs in Herdman's program as "stanzas in the same timeless song, the nostalgic past tied to the fleeting present through the constancy con·stan·cy n. 1. Steadfastness, as in purpose or affection; faithfulness. 2. The condition or quality of being constant; changelessness. Noun 1. of hard times and love's loss, and by the sweet pull of place and family. ... `Their value is of reassurance more than revelation. Like her voice, they are fashioned not to dazzle but to last." Herdman made her solo debut with "The Water Lily water lily, common name for some members of the Nymphaeaceae, a family of freshwater perennial herbs found in most parts of the world and often characterized by large shield-shaped leaves and showy, fragrant blossoms of various colors. " in 1977. Since then she has released eight other solo albums on Flying Fish, Stardreamer Music and Redwing Music labels, plus three trio albums with Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen. CONCERT PREVIEW Priscilla Herdman What: A Eugene Folklore Society concert When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Tsunami Books, 2585 Willamette St. Tickets: $12 advance, $14 at the door, 345-8986 CAPTION(S): Priscilla Herdman made her debut as a solo singer in 1977. |
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