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Tag Archives: Michael Baker

Hezekiah Jones and Family Sings Greatest Will Oldham Music @ World Cafe Live

May 11, 2010 – 2:04 am

The music this night proved to be absolutely amazing and simply unreal.

Sunday night (May 9, 2010) I went to World Cafe Live to see Hezekiah Jones and Family perform Will Oldham’s music. I don’t know Will Oldham’s music so I decided to attend the show with the hope of hearing “I Am a Cinematographer” – the only Will Oldham song I know. Actually, the only reason why I know that song is because of Hezekiah Jones. I thought that I might hear a song or two that I recognized and not realize that it was a Will Oldham song but that never happened. Even still, Hezekiah Jones and Family had a real awe-inspiring set. And it was quite amazing to see the effort and skill they put into their performance to bring Will Oldham’s music to life that night. Unfortunately, like I said before, I’m not familiar enough with Oldham’s music to tell you the setlist but I do know that they closed the night with “I Am a Cinematographer” which was the icing on the cake.

All I have to say is – Hezekiah Jones (Raphael Cutrufello) and Family (Brad Hinton, Andrew Keenan, Joshua Park, Kiley Ryan, Joe D’Amico, Daniel Bower, Philip D’Agostino, Michael Baker, Barbara Gettes, Bob Beach, and Emily Bates) played with such gusto as if they were some folk force to be reckoned with.

Thank you, all!

Tags Andrew Keenan, Barbara Gettes, Bob Beach, Brad Hinton, Daniel Bower, Emily Bates, Hezekiah Jones, Joe D'Amico, Joshua Park, Kiley Ryan, live reviews, Michael Baker, Philip D'Agostino, The Spinning Leaves, World Cafe Live | Permalink | Comment (1)

Album Review: The Spinning Leaves – ‘Love’

February 8, 2010 – 1:06 am

Love
The Spinning Leaves
release: 10-30-09
vinyl release: 1-23-10
Ropeadope Records

Track Listing
01. The Promontory Wind
02. Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try
03. Bridges For Free
04. Transistor Radio
05. Together
06. Marigolds
07. Bad Dream
08. The Morning
09. A Tale Of The Northern Lights
10. Sad Maggie
11. Fire
12. Lonely Firefly

The Spinning Leaves is the Philly folk group of Barbara Gettes and Michael Baker who share songwriting credit (both individually and jointly) on their newest release ‘Love’. An album that shows The Spinning Leaves at their best – delivering musical greatness through the words they so eloquently sing and the music they play so wonderfully. The two major themes that run through this entire album are love (as the album title would suggest) and a sense of freedom. ‘Love’ starts with “The Promontory Wind” a song that opens with some welcoming shouts, clear cut sound of a harmonica, and at that instant I knew that I was in for some folk fun – The Spinning Leaves style. “Bridges For Free” is probably the closest to being the title track and holds the powerful lyrics: “Love landed somewhere in Philadelphia and sat with a movement – a movement for change “. “Transistor Radio” is a fun sounding tune and an excellent display of Gettes’ beautiful voice. The only spoken-word track is “Together” as told by a child. “Marigolds” has a very interesting arrangement (gotta love that sitar) that works so perfectly with Baker’s vocal tone and is smoothed over by a precious chorus. “Through endless skies they danced and twirled with those who’ve passed on from this world” – sometimes you just have to stop and marvel in the lyrical imagery of “A Tale of the Northern Lights” and many of the other songs on this album. “Lonely Firefly” ends the album with a hootenanny or sorts and the final cry of “Freedom!” The Spinning Leaves’ ‘Love’ is one mighty fine listening experience for it takes on so many different styles all based in some form of folk music that I’m sure many will enjoy as much as I do.

The Spinning Leaves – “Lonely Firefly” (from: ‘Love’)

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