Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!

Subject: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 03:19 PM

This magnificent new CD, Dance To Your Shadow: Mouth Music Around The World, Pam Swan With A Cappella Tradition Bearers, is the Mudcat's own p.j.'s contribution to the preservation of mouth music from around the world. Pam has travelled far and wide, connecting with tradition bearers of mouth music, singing with them. She has immersed herself in this genre for several years and performs Scottish Gaelic mouth music herself. On this recording, Pam is paired with singers ranging from Scottish gaelic singing master Christine Primrose to the legendary Georgia Sea Island Singers, to singers from Thailand, Ghana, Japan, and several other countries. This is world music in its purest form.

The result of this worldwide exploration of mouth music is this exciting, beautiful recording. Pam takes the lead on several tracks, sings solo on the final track, and on the other tracks her voice blends in so well with each singer and each style of mouth music, her contribution never calls attention to herself any more than in her role as a supporting singer or as an equal partner in duet, complementing each singer and style.

Some singers names you may recognize: Peggy Seeger, Shay and Michael Black, Laurie Lewis, and the already mentioned Christine Primrose, and the Georgia Sea Island Singers. Others may be much less well-known outside their countries, but are all masters of their music. Here is the track list:

1. He Mandu (Scottish waulking song), with Christine Primrose.
2. Little Pack o' Tailors (Irish baby dandling song), with Shay and Michael Black.
3. Purty Little Girl Set (Appalachian chin music), with Laurie Lewis.
4. Siudhtha Bhalaichaidh (Scottish port-a-beul), with Christine Primrose.
5. Trip To Durrow Set (Irish diddling), with Shay and Michael Black.
6. Rattlesnake Mountain (Appalachian epenthetic song), with Peggy Seeger.
7. Tanda (Zimbabwean harvest chant), with Julia Tsi-Tsi Chigamba.
8. Dollo Day (Southern U.S. field holler), with Wendell Brooks.
9. Celia (Southern U.S. slave song), with Wendell Brooks.
10. Sino Adzinawo (Ghana dance-drumming song), with the Woe Ensemble.
11. Little Johnny Brown (Georgia Sea Island playsong), with The Georgia Sea Island Singers.
12. See Yambo (Ga. Sea Island Fishing Song), with The Ga. Sea Island Singers.
13. Chinyara (Zimbabwean lullaby), with Julia Tsi-Tsi Chigamba.
14. Nakile (Ghana coming of age song), with Julia Tsi-Tsi Chigamba.
15. The Saw (Inuit throatsinging), with Madeleine Allakariallak.
16. Ulluk Suli Tauva (Inuit pisiit), with Madeleine Allakariallak.
17. The Geese (Inuit throatsinging), with Madeleine Alakariallak.
18. Chang (Thai childen's song), 19. Bangkok (Thai spoken word), 20. Ramwong (Thai dance song), 21. Mon Sorn Pa (Thai childen's chant), 22. Mang Moom (Thai children's song), 23. Ri Ri Khao Sarn (Thai rice winnowing song), tracks 18 through 23 with Bo Leung.
24. Dyngyldai (Tuvan throatsinging), with Paul Pena.
25. Hotaru Koi (Japanese folk song), with Kyoko Fujita.
26. Dance To Your Shadow (Scottish peurt-a-beul), Pam Swan, solo, with harmony double-tracked.

For more information, and to order, here is Pam's website: www.pamswan.com.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Peter T.
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 08:44 PM

Omigod, it is out!!

Yippee!!!

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 08:47 PM

Pam's got a voice and a stage presence that would make angels wish they could stomp earthly feet and raise a mighty ruckus to the heavens. Congrats, PJ! Can't wait to hear your latest and greatest effort. Sounds like you've got some great company with you.

E-e-elmer

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 09:36 PM

I've been waiting for this!! Wonderful news!!! Can't wait to hear it.

Congratulations!!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 09:45 PM

Peter, that was a wonderful review. It's a stellar collection, masterfully performed, beautifully produced, and a joy to listen to. I only wish there was a DVD, as the Inuit throat singing duet must have been something to behold!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Big Mick
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 10:40 PM

One of my very favorite people, even is she is the better half of a duet with my fellow layabout, Dave Swan. I love these folks more than I can tell you.

Peej is one of those rare folks that is loaded with talent, loaded with personality, and with a an ability to interpret that is stunning to witness. Tie all that up with an inner beauty that beams right through, and you realize that you are privileged to be witnessing one who will be seen in years to come as one of the great talents of our time. Should you think that I overstate the case, I would challenge you to listen to the record of this woman's work.

Mick

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: DonMeixner
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 12:27 AM

And she wears my jewelry. Musical and fashion sense in one package.

Don

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: open mike
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 12:33 AM

I am most interested in hearing the Inuit and Tuvan selections!
She does mouth music and throat singing....this is a great niche!

thanks for letting us know, and best of luck to you, Pam!!

Laurel

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Peter T.
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 10:16 AM

Mick man is so right. Look at that track list, Jeez.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 11:27 AM

The Tuvan stuff will be great...well it all will be. But I've got the CD, "Deep int he heart of Tuva" which has Paul Pena on some of the tracks and it is fantastic stuff!

This looks like such an incredible mix, el Swanna...you are amazing!!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 11:32 AM

Also, if you scroll down on Pam's home page, you can listen to samples of many of the songs: clickety. Superb!

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: p.j.
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 02:19 PM

Thank you all so much for your kind words– I was away at an Irish session last night, waltzing with Chanteyranger and singing with the Black Brothers, then I get up this morning to all these lovely comments from you dear folks– life is good!

I am so proud of this album, I can't tell you. It was such an honor and privilege to work with these amazing singers over the past couple of years, and I am intensely grateful to them for sharing their music with me on this recording. I still can't believe I got to sing with each of them, and made such good friends along the way.

There were great stories too–

We had to cancel a recording session on Baffin Island (Arctic Canada) because the engineer went on a walrus hunt....

Peggy Seeger and I recorded our track at a house in North Carolina, where the biggest problem (aside from the sweltering heat) was to get through the singing and hand-clapping game without giggling like a couple of kids...

During a Zimbabwean recording session the singer asked me to take her 12 week old baby from her back into the other room, and she taught me a Shona lullaby to sing on the spot. In an informal moment while the baby was cooing and Julia and I were singing, the engineer turned on
the microphone to capture what became track 13.....

Because of his failing health, we brought the recording studio to Paul Pena's bedside to record Dyngyldai, a Tuvan riding song.   But thanks to the members of Huun Huur Tu and sound engineer Ted Levin, we were able to bring the steppes of Tuva into the studio by adding field recordings of the song as it was sung on horseback in Tuva when Paul was there years ago. The result is haunting layers of animals, people and instruments sharing an imaginary place and time in a traditional song...

Many more stories about recording in a Georgia swamp, working with Thai temple dancers, adventures in African percussion and chasing a song to a tiny island in the Hebrides where the last traditional singer who knew the words had just died....it was all quite a wonderful ride.

Over the next few months I'm presenting papers, doing lectures and demonstrations and teaching workshops on mouth music (along with my regular fiddle & piano concerts.) I'd dearly love to see any of you who live nearby if there's going to be a workshop or lecture in your area. Or drop me a note if you'd like to organize something.   

And if you see any of these wonderful musicians in your area for concerts, please support their shows– you'll be exposed to some amazing music from cultures you may otherwise have never heard. You can follow their links on my website to see where they'll be performing.

Let me know if you have any questions, and thanks again for your interest in this project.

love,
p.j.   


p.s. Thank you Rick, wherever you are.

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Amos
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 02:29 PM

PJ:

I am absolutely hornswoggled!! What an astonishing, rich accomplishment. Congratulations!! You are an endless amazement.

I knew Swanno was lucky.

:D


Love,


A

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Big Mick
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 05:30 PM

Now you did it, Peej, gawdammitall. Your p.s. made a tear roll down my cheek. I sure miss that man. But it seems to me that we can all continue to sing and perform and give him honor in not forgetting how we benefitted from his kindness and giving way.

And you have surely given him the biggest honor of all.

Good job, sis.

With Love,

Mick

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: karen k
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 10:15 PM

This sounds great! Can't wait to get one. Met Pam a few years ago at the Getaway. Great singer, fine person. Come back some time, Pam.

karen

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Tinker
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 06:59 AM

I've got to say, when you decide to "get off the porch and run with the big dogs" you definately do it big time. If the music only reflected half of the adventure it would be amazing and I'm sure given what I've heard of you before it actually brings us there. Thanks for sharing.

Tinker

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Barry Finn
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 09:42 AM

Hi Pam, Looks like you've been pretty busy & having fun at the same time. Your CD sounds fantastic. Gotta hear the Wendell Brooks stuff & the Georgia Sea Island Singers songs & you got to sing with them too, lucky girl, I'm green all over. It'll be good to hear your voice again. You go girl!!!


If your travels bring you to my neck of the woods you won't be needing sleeping bags & you might want to bring that guy you hang out with. What's his name Dave. Yup, him. It'd be nice to see you guys again.

Lot's of love & good luck with the CD.


Barry

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: p.j.
Date: 28 Sep 05 - 12:02 PM

Barry, it's so good to hear from you! I'm glad to know you're out makin' noise again-- I taught a bunch of prison songs in one of my workshops recently and thought of you and the gang. When do I get to sing with you some more?

p.j.

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Dave Swan
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 07:14 PM

O.K.,disclaimers applied. She's my wife and all. BUT! This still a hell of a CD. No casual romp in the fields of mouth music, this. There's a tremendous amount of scholarship involved in this work. While the research and careful observation of tradition are evident, in the end this is a CD which is a pleasure to listen to. Highly recommended.

D

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 09:29 PM

Wait a minute, Pam, you're going to have to explain that one. I taught a bunch of prison songs in one of my workshops recently and thought of you and the gang. Gang? As in chain gang? Press gang? Is there something about our dear friend Barry's history that's been kept a secret up till now?   'Fess up, one of you!

Aloha,
Mark

PS, Barry, if I come to Boston this summer with my daughter I will definitely let you know. That one pub session a few years ago wasn't nearly enough.

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: p.j.
Date: 01 Oct 05 - 02:46 PM

Mark, I'm sure there are many fascinating things lurking in dark little corners of Barry's history that we'll never know...and if I knew I wouldn't tell...but the gang in question here is no more
sinister a group than Daphne Glover, Barry, and Ken Schatz– the gang of late night singers at FSGW years ago that first turned me on to prison work songs.

I was pulled by the tractor beam of that sound into a room late one night at the Getaway a few years ago. Daphne, Barry and Ken were rocking the rafters with the song Early In The Mornin'-- and I was hooked for life. By dawn they'd taught me a dozen more prison songs just as powerful, and I knew this was a kind of mouth music I had to study.

Every time Ken or Daphne or Barry was anywhere near San Francisco, I dragged them into my livingroom to sing this stuff with me. They are incredibly talented singers of course, and they have a real love for this genre.

Ken Schatz and Alison Kelley have a wonderful self-titled album called NexTradition which showcases this great music, as most Mudcatters know. If you DON'T know, do yourself a favor and listen to the mp3 of Early In The Mornin' at Ken's website–www.kenschatz.com    It's a killer.

I went through hundreds of hours of field recordings and reams of papers over the next couple of years, and became truly fascinated with this genre. There's a huge link between the work songs of African American inmates in Southern prisons of the Jim Crow era, and the labor songs of Southern slaves. This oral tradition continued to evolve through emancipation and reconstruction, and by the time anyone started documenting prison songs, it had become a genre of its own.

Now it is easily one of the most popular kinds of songs in my mouth music classes.   People are seduced by the rhythmic soul of the songs and the power of the lyrics– then they're drawn in to a part of history they often didn't know much about as we explore Slavery, Reconstruction and the Jim Crow South through vocal music.

Thanks to singers like Daphne (and Stephanie and Donna) and Ken (and Alison), our own dear, mysterious Barry and a few others who sing and teach and learn– this music is being kept alive in the oral tradition as well as in National archives.    Come join the gang, Mark!

xoxo
p.j.

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 01 Oct 05 - 03:50 PM

Pam, you mean your CD should be filed under "Gangsta Mouth"?

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 11:28 AM

p.j., have just sent an email to our local community radio station urging them to buy your CD and book. Every npr station should own this, too!

Other Mudcatters might want to contact thier local stations, too.:-)

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 06:05 PM

refresh - how's it going, El Swanna? I ope the past year or more has been rewarding and interesting.:-)

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: rich-joy
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 08:52 PM

I bought this CD too, late last year and I have to concur with the above accolades - it's fabulous!!! - a recommended purchase!!!

Cheers! R-J
(Down Under)

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Dave Swan
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 11:44 AM

Here's the Pam update: She's been in Atlanta for the past two months caring for her parents. Pam's mother died last week, so the focus now is on getting her dad set up in his new life. Pam's been a pillar through this whole thing which has been intense and exhausting. She's going to be a Georgia/California commuter for the forseeable future.

Pam's looking for people to play with and places to play in the Atlanta area and she'd love to hear from anybody with ideas.

When she's in California she'll continue to teach classes, sit in on sessions and get into the studio when time permits.

She doesn't see the Mudcat very often, secondary to time constraints, but she was touched to hear that this thread has been refreshed, thanks to Kat. She was also glad to hear that her CD has made it Down Under.

If you would care to reach her, go to her website and drop her a line.

Cheers,

D

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 01:31 PM

Sorry to hear that, Dave. Thanks for letting us know. Email sent.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 02:40 PM

My deepest sympthy and condolences. I'll email her. Thanks, Dave, for the update. All my best to you, too. Call whenever you want to talk or just shoot the bull.*

*My special field of expertise

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: rich-joy
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 10:36 PM

Maybe someone can let Pam know of this one :


There's still a recent programme up on the ABC National Radio site, in Australia, that you can listen to, on Harmonic Overtone singing - re Dean Frenkel, the Guinness Book of Records holder for the longest held note (I think?!) ...

and his new book - also includes stuff on the reactions of animals to his singing ...

Cheers! R-J


http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/

Phillip Adams on "Late Night Live" ABC National radio in Australia

Throat Singing - The 8th Natural Wonder
Listen Now - 11102006 | Download Audio - 11102006

Throat singing is a tradition that has been practised by many cultures - in Mongolia, Tuva, Siberia, Canada, Tibet, India, Africa, Japan Papua New Guinea, Sardinia, Uzbekistan, Nagalan, Taiwan, Bashkortostan, Karakalpakstan, and Kazakhstan.

In his new book, renowned harmonic vocalist, Dean Frenkel looks at the long history of throat singing and explains the different throat singing cultures.
He gives instructions on how to do it and reveals the ancient secrets of this scientific phenomenon.

Guests
Dean Frenkel
Throat singer, Guinness world record holder and author.

Publications
Title: The 8th Natural Wonder
Author : Dean Frenkel
Publisher: Bonsai Books
120pp, 2006
ISBN: 0958068828

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Dave Swan
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 12:52 AM

Thanks R-J, I'll let her know.

Cheers,

D

Subject: RE: Mudcatter Pam Swan's new CD!
From: Amos
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 02:21 AM

Swanno:

Love to both of you from the San Diego contingent of the Swan Fan Club.


A