Debra Cowan - 'Dad's Dinner Pail' CD !!!

Subject: Debra Cowan - 'Dad's Dinner Pail' CD !!!
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 11:12 AM

Wow!!!!!

In the mail yesterday, I received my copy of Debra's new CD "Dad's Dinner Pail" on the Falling Mountain label. I have been anxiously waiting for this CD since Debra mentioned the project to me last year. It was worth the wait!!!!!!   

The songs on this CD are from the Helen Hartness Flanders collection. If Debra is online, perhaps she will give us some details as to how the CD came to be. Briefly, the project was started when Helen Flander's grandaughter approached Debra about recording some of the songs. Debra spent a great deal of time studying, listening to the source recordings, and choosing the songs for this magnificent CD.

I am always enthralled when an artist breathes life into songs that illustrate how folk music is a living tradition.   The settings that Debra has chosen honors the songs - simple settings that allow the beauty of the songs to shine through, which in turn honors the work that Helen Flanders put into her monumental collection.

In my estimation, Debra is the head of the class for American folk singers and a reminder of why folk music first captured my imagination.   She is blessed with a beautiful voice and a deep appreciation for the tradition. Too often, folksingers repeat songs by rote, with Debra each song is a new story to be shared and experienced.   

Debra has some fine help. Micheal DeLalla's subtle guitar playing sets the pace for the CD and allows Debra to showcase the songs. Other guests include Tabby Finch who adds hammered dulcimer and accordion on two cuts. I particulary enjoyed hearing Debra sing two songs with John Roberts. Stirring!!!

I urge everyone to check out this CD.

Debra, when do we get Volume 2?????? :)

Subject: RE: Debra Cowan - 'Dad's Dinner Pail' CD !!!
From: DebC
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 02:05 PM

Wow Ron! Thanks for the wonderful kind words.

I'll have to write a bit more later answering Ron's question about how this project came about. It was a real interesting journey.

Volume 2?? Oh my. So much music, so little time. If anyone is interested in purchasing a copy you are welcome to PM me.

Deb

Subject: RE: Debra Cowan - 'Dad's Dinner Pail' CD !!!
From: DebC
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 12:44 PM

Hi all,

Please excuse the SSP (shameless self promotion) here, but I wanted to alert folks to the news that there will be three (count 'em! THREE)East Coast CD Release events for this recording. Each one of these will have as my special guest,composer and guitarist Michael DeLalla, who came up with some beautiful guitar arrangements for these songs and also co-produced the recording with me. This is a real special treat as you get to hear these arrangements live, with the beautiful guitar work that only a guitarist of Michael's calibur can achieve.

The dates and places are:
Sept. 17th-Greater Washington DC area, venue TBA. This is a FSGW sponsored concert and as soon as I have additional information, I'll update the thread
Sept. 30-The Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, MA
Oct. 1-St. John's Coffeehouse in New Haven, CT
There are also details and links on my website

Thanks all.
Deb Cowan

Subject: RE: Debra Cowan - 'Dad's Dinner Pail' CD !!!
From: Ferrara
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 01:30 PM

This sounds like a great combination. Nancy-Jean Seigel, Helen Hartness Flanders' granddaughter, has been doing a wonderful job of exploring the Flanders recordings and raising people's awareness of what a treasure house they are. And I agree with Ron that Debra Cowan has a special quality of respecting and caring about each song she sings. Sounds as if it's a very special combination.

Hooray that there's a release party/concert scheduled for the DC area. We are in a craft show that weekend but if we aren't totally exhausted on the 17th we will be at that concert.

Subject: RE: Debra Cowan - 'Dad's Dinner Pail' CD !!!
From: DebC
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 02:01 PM

Nancy-Jean will be joining us at the DC event to give us a bit of an insight into her grandmother's life and work.

She was a fantastic help to me in making this recording. You folks in the DC area are fortunate to have her in the vicinity. Not only is she knowledgeable about Flanders, but folklore in general.

Deb

Subject: RE: Debra Cowan - 'Dad's Dinner Pail' CD !!!
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 02:50 PM

Hi Debra,

I've been doing similar research and work with songs from New York State collectors, including Anne & Frank Warner, Harold Thompson, Marjorie Lansing Porter, Cazden-Studer-Haufrecht, and Bob Bethke. I haven't recorded anything yet; too busy running around the state sharing the songs with audiences. It would be great to compare notes sometime....

Cheers!

Subject: RE: Debra Cowan - 'Dad's Dinner Pail' CD !!!
From: DebC
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 04:07 PM

I guess my last post didn't make it...maybe I clicked something that I shouldn't have clicked.

Anyway, I was saying that Jeff Davis has some interesting info on New York collections. I heard him perform a fiddle tune this summer that was collected on Long Island.

Deb

Subject: RE: Debra Cowan - 'Dad's Dinner Pail' CD !!!
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 09:52 PM

From William Sidney Mount, perhaps. He was a Long Island fiddler, painter and song collector. I heard Jeff Davis play one of his songs called "Indian Whoop", which was terrific.

Subject: RE: Debra Cowan - 'Dad's Dinner Pail' CD !!!
From: DebC
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 10:32 AM

Dave,

That's the one!!

Deb