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Balladeer begins CD number two

26 Jan 06 - 11:34 PM (#1656299)
Subject: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: balladeer

On the Paul Mills CD release thread, Black Walnut mentioned my association with Paul. Here is some background. And by the way, I've never really felt a need to be disguised here.
Joanne (Hindley-Smith) Crabtree (Balladeer)


Sometime in the nineties, I first heard Paul Mills play live, and my life flashed before my eyes. Paul had perfected the "New York" style of finger picking that had so influenced my own development as a folk performer in the sixties. I felt an immediate kinship, a kind of coming home.

Some time later, Paul and I both appeared at the Lunenburg Folk Harbour festival, he with Bill Garret and I with The Ballad Project. We played the main stage on the same evening, but did not meet. I was too in awe of him to introduce myself.

I had been speaking with Rick Fielding about recording an album of traditional songs, possibly with Rick as producer, when I learned that Paul had a shop of his own - and he was looking for business. Still I was too shy to make a move.

Then as luck would have it, I got an e-mail from Paul, part of a blanket promo for a house concert. That gave me a way to make myself known to him without actually having to make eye contact. I took the step. We hit it off.

Turned out we had many musician friends from the sixties in common, and a commonality of musical experiences from those days. We had both toured the U.K. when we were quite young and had many resulting tales to swap.

In 2000, we made a CD together, and a labour of joy and merriment it turned out to be. Paul's guitar work is everywhere on the All The Good Times album, and five years on I still feel a thrill when I hear him highlighting my vocals on it - particularly on the Ruth Etting classic, Ten Cents a Dance.

It was on Ten Cents that we found a real meeting of minds. We discovered we shared a deep affection for ancient pop standards (especially the clever ones), and that neither of us had had enough opportunities to pursue that interest. We've been pursuing it ever since - now and then, here and there, as busy calendars and eventful lives permit.

And now we're beginning a second album, which will feature half a dozen pop songs, along with an assortment of the blues and folk-style songs we also have fun playing together.

Our up-coming concert at The Kitchen will be a reprise of album one and a sneak preview of album two. And after that, we roll right on in to the studio. If you're in town, please come to the show and help us build up a head of steam.


February 18,2006, 8pm at
The Kitchen
983 Victoria Park Avenue,
Toronto

personal message to Balladeer for reservations


26 Jan 06 - 11:50 PM (#1656305)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: Big Mick

Having had the great pleasure to hear Joanne sing, I can tell you this will be a good one. Keep us posted, Joanne.

All the best, and see you in Toronto this year.

Mick


27 Jan 06 - 09:47 AM (#1656435)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: balladeer

Thanks for the kind words, Mick. I'll look forward to seeing/hearing you too! Joanne


27 Jan 06 - 11:30 PM (#1656829)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: hesperis

Hi, how much? I'd love to be there.


28 Jan 06 - 03:40 AM (#1656896)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: balladeer

Hesperis:

Admission is $10.

Let me know if you're coming for sure, and that will count as a reservation.


04 Feb 06 - 07:28 PM (#1661756)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: balladeer

Hi all:

Some of you have expressed an interest in the Kitchen concert that Paul Mills and I are doing on Feb. 18 in Toronto. There are about ten seats left right now. Please send me a personal message if you'd like to reserve. We will each have cd's for sale.

Balladeer (Joanne)


06 Feb 06 - 06:46 PM (#1663205)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: balladeer

The Kitchen concert has sold out and we're keeping a stand-by list. Thanks for your support.

Balladeer (Joanne)


06 Feb 06 - 08:39 PM (#1663327)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: Paul Mills

Looking forward to this concert! We start making the record two days prior so we should be pretty pumped! Got some great tunes for ya'll. I just have to practice...their a challenge! Some of those old songs have too many chords!

Cheers,

Paul


06 Feb 06 - 11:31 PM (#1663467)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: balladeer

Speaking of old songs, some of you historians may remember that some time back I was trying to find the words to the Lennie Hayton-Lena Horne arrangement of I Love To Love. The best we could come up with then was the Nina Simone version, which is way less interesting. I finally found the tune on Lena's Live at the Waldorf 1950's LP - in Germany. Now it's morphing into a Crabtree-Mills arrangement, just in time for the new album. Whoeee!!! I'm pumped already!

Joanne


21 Apr 06 - 12:03 AM (#1723522)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: balladeer

Hi folks:

When Paul Mills and I began working on my second CD, I thought of it as - well - my second CD, but it quickly became apparent that we are actually making the FIRST-EVER Crabtree&Mills CD.

Crabtree&Mills, the album, is progressing nicely, and has given birth to Crabtree&Mills, the performing duo, and now it's getting to be time for another shot of adrenalin to keep up the momentum of both....

Paul and I are bringing our show to the Free Times Cafe in downtown Toronto on May 20th.

I sure hope you can come.

Joanne


21 Apr 06 - 10:34 PM (#1724372)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: hesperis

Sweet!

As ever, my first question is: how much?


23 Apr 06 - 10:38 AM (#1725283)
Subject: RE: Balladeer begins CD number two
From: balladeer

$10