Country blues and swing with a voice that is a refreshing change of pace from most contemporary female singers, a reserved stately style conveying emotion and passion with dignity and restraint.

14 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Country Blues, COUNTRY: Western Swing



Details:
Album Credits:
Connie Townsend - guitar and vocals, Dave Parker - guitar, Randy (The Armadillo) Tucker - bass, harmony vocals, Billy Ward - fiddle, Pete Tenney - concertina, Larry (The Iceman) Eisenberg - blues harp, Harvey Reid - dobro, guitar & harmony vocals, Colleen Dugan - djembe, Jim Truman - resonator, guitar, Buddy Griffin - fiddle, Seth Maynard - mandolin, bass

Album Notes:
Produced by Seth Maynard, Connie Townsend & Dave Parker. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Lone Wolf Studio in Elkins, West Virginia July 2000 - May 2001 by Seth Maynard. Cover design - Harley Wood.


Description:
Connie Townsend is a true West Virginia singer-songwriter. Born in the Ohio River Valley, she now makes her home on a ridge top in the Allegheny Highlands region of the state. The roots of her music are set in the rock and tangled with the roots of the hardwood forests of her home.

Connie's vocal work often evokes comparisons to Emmylou Harris, Iris DeMent, Gillian Welch and a young Mother Maybelle Carter. Which would seem to say that she is a fine vocalist with a strongly rooted and mature presence. She delivers beautifully everything from funny little ditties to gritty blues to classic and alternative country. Her songs are a mix of covers and original work. Her style is her own. Her music has been aired on National Public Radio.

Connie's second album represents a significant step in developing her own style and substance as a performer. Ten of the fourteen cuts are original songs by Townsend and her partner Dave Parker. There is some world-class fiddling, funky resonator guitar, sweet, sweet harmonica, and concertina accompaniment on the disc.

Editorial Reviews:
"...one of West Virginia's finest singer-songwriters...the songs on Gentle Graces are obviously the work of a seasoned artist...The influences of [Emmylou]Harris and [John]Hartford are put to particularly good use on Townsend's recording, Gentle Graces. Throughout the record, her voice moves easily and forcefully between angelic, gospel-tinged high notes and twangy country inflections. Like many Hartford recordings, Gentle Graces has a rustic, at times even old-time vibe." (Charleston Gazette)

Customer Reviews:
The public response has been wonderful. One well-known singer-songwriter said recently, "That's some d--n fine songwriting." Then there are the fans: "It's on the CD player at home right now and I listen to it over and over." There's the occasional theft - "My son-in-law stole it out of my Jeep and plays it in his restaurant. He won't give it back."

"We are loving your CD Gentle Graces, and listen to it often on car trips. Lots of variety and lots of soul. Great job." - June & Bernard Pasco

*If you like pop, blues, country or folk, this album is for you. It crosses all the fences, just like an old tomcat on a full-moon night.