I just got a new favorite Art Thieme tune, and a revelation about one of the things that makes Art so great. The tune--or rather medley--is "What Does the Deep Sea Know--Cairo--The Lakes of Ponchartrain" and the revelation is that at his best--which is most of the time--Art is two fine artists at the same time, a wonderful singer/storyteller (one of the best) and a great instrumentalist. In this medley he is not so much accompanying himself with the banjo but doing duets, his banjo far more than a background for his singing. Since I first bought "The Older I Get the Better I Was" ten years ago I've been blown away by both his singing and his playing, but it was just this morning as I was listening to him that I realized that there is as much personality and expression in his playing as his singing. Art, thanks so much for the treasure that is your entire ouvre.

Charles