folk: original but rooted in tradition

14 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Traditional Folk, GOSPEL: Traditional Gospel



Details:
"Sweet Mimosa" is the first release of Mary Rocap, a songwriter from the piedmont of North Carolina. It is a collection of twelve original and two traditional songs, all within the traditional folk genre.
In the eleventh grade Mary Rocap received two gifts of great significance, one was a Yamaha guitar; the second was a Folk Life recording of Odetta. Having grown up with opera and church music, hearing the simplicity of a voice, a song, and an instrument was transforming. The response to this hearing was a desire to do likewise.
She developed as a singer and performer with a range of musical formats but upon reaching her forties came to the realization that there were songs within her that were longing for expression. She was awarded a NC Art's Council's Artist Fellowship for Songwriting grant year 2001/2002 which helped fund "Sweet Mimosa".
Mary's songs find inspiration from two main sources. One source is the natural world and our place within it; the sea and stars are prominent features of her landscape. The other is her attempt to walk in faith, acknowledging that doubt is never far behind. She sings of the beleaguered hopeful. Her voice is described as clear, strong, honest, warm as melted gold.
Jeffrey Lent, author of In the Fall and Lost Nation says this of "Sweet Mimosa": "I love the delicate and melodic instrumental work which supports but never overwhelms the absolutely beautiful range and scope of Mary's voice and writing. I love the fact that each song stands out individually but the arrangement of the album flows sweetly. The songs sound as if they were found somewhere complete and whole."
Album credits: Mary Rocap (vocal, guitar, and backing vocals), Linda Phillips (mandolin, backing vocals), Curt Stagner (guitar, backing vocals), Bob Mutter (percussion), Robbie Link (bass), Tracy Feldman (violin), Steve Smith (piano) TGS Studio/Steve Gronback (recording, mixing, mastering)