Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops

Subject: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Nehi
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 06:39 AM

Since I am partial to old style appalachian music, I had a friend recommend I take a look at a group of three young African-American musicians playing this style of music. To be honest, I was completely blown away by their talent. Their renditions of the old standards are superb.

I recommend you take a listen and give me your thoughts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xOxHyTP91c

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 07:45 AM

They ARE just a bit good !!

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 07:49 AM

Saw them on Jools Holland. They are VERY good. Would love to see 'em live.

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 08:16 AM

They spent a lot of time with Joe Thompson, one of the last of the old North Carolina old time musicians, who's still playing up a storm on his fiddle though he'll have his 90th birthday in December. Rhiannon Giddens is a trained opera singer as well as an excellent old time fiddler and banjo player - what a mixture! I met them when they launched their first CD at the Mount Airy fiddler's convention, and they are really nice guys.
Ray

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: KT
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 08:38 AM

Fantastic.   I've seem 'em live twice and they are each, and together, very, very talented. Workshops as well as concerts are wonderful. And they are nice people!

After attending a workshop with Rhiannon, I came away keenly aware that her sharing the gifts she has been given in the way of talent, knowledge and presence, is so much more than a career choice, but a responsibility.

And they're a lotta fun!   "Cornbread, butterbeans and you across the table....."

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Nehi
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 08:39 AM

Good input Ray.

I'm really amazed at the wide variety of their talents. Rhiannon, Justin and Dom can play interchangeably on banjo, fiddle and percussions.

And the vocals are very good as well.

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: nickp
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 08:58 AM

Seen the a couple of times, once in the US with Joe T. and again over here in the UK. Excellent.

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Arkie
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 10:32 AM

They are exceptional. Outstanding musicians, enjoyable onstage and off, and one does not need to be a nut about old time music to get a kick out their live performances. I took my wife, who has a low tolerance for old time music to see them when they performed in Mountain View, and she thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Others in the audience were wishing that some member of the family who had missed the concert had been able to attend. They held the attention of the audience with music and personal charm rather than running all over the stage like maniacs and outlandish behavior. They also had a multi-generational audience and satisfied all. They are worth some effort to see live and their music also holds up quite well on CDs.

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 10:49 AM

They are doing well, and making the rounds, including here at Mudcat ;-)

Carolina Chocolate Drops
Carolina Chocolate Drops in Ireland
Carolina Chocolate Drops news article

I hope to see them some day.

~ Becky in Long Beach this week

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Brian Peters
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 11:09 AM

Met them in the US - they're great! When were they on Jools show and how did I manage to miss it?!

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: topical tom
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 11:43 AM

A great group that I have not yet had the pleasure of seeing live but I'm hoping!

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 02:52 PM

Carolina Chocolate Drops on Jools Holland

It was a compilation of folk music on Jools Holland. Had Odetta, the Blind Alabama Boys, Devon Sproule, etc. teased out of JH shows and put together into one to follow the Folk America documentary on BBC some months ago.

I have it on my hard drive DVD recorder.

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 02:56 PM

You were probably Gigging Brian !

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 08:47 PM

They are fun, and GOOD!

Come on down for a visit, they play around here once in a while. Justin Robinson just did a gig at our little co-op's music series, great review solo.

KT, I LOVE that song, which I actually learned after hearing Tim and Susan Wells (at least half of whom will be at Getaway, I've learned) sing it. Can we sing it together NEXT WEEKEND?!!

Dani

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Azizi
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 08:59 PM

Nehi, here's the hyperlink to the video you posted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xOxHyTP91c

Subject: RE: Review: Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 02:23 PM

Saw them play @ The Cluny, they were gobsmackingly good.