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 In the early days of country
music, improvisers who didn't read or write music were able to take their
instruments and be flexible enough to adapt to most any style of music, other
players, and vocalists. Chet Atkins' group produced distinctive instrumentation
with a relaxed, tensionless feeling and loose, easygoing beat. The commercial
sound emphasized the guitar, and his basic style was patterned after that of Jim
Mason, a black guitarist from Kentucky who played a "choke" style. Mason taught
it to a white coal miner, Mose Rager, who taught it to Ike Everly (father of the
Everly Brothers). Reger also taught Kentuckian Merle Travis who influenced
Atkins' playing.
Another skillful proponent of the Kentucky thumbpicking style (aka Travis-style
picking) is Eddie Pennington who also hails from the Bluegrass State. As a
teenager in 1974, Pennington began visiting Mose Rager at his Drakesboro, KY.
home. These 20 tracks were recorded in 1994-96. He's a man who clearly knows how
to make his Git-box sing! Pennington plays a few from Mose Rager - "Walking the
Strings" and "Mose's Blues" and "The Pig Got Up."He also picks a few from Travis
("Information, Please" and "So Round, So Firm"). Other tunes on the project
credit William Kent, John Travis, Billy Grammer, Joe Maphis, Uncle Collie
Barnes, Hezekiah Jenkins, Hal Riley, his father Norman, and his brother Larry.
Perhaps his most impressive technical skill on guitar is demonstrated on "John's
Smoke Turns Blue" and "Over the Rainbow" and "Stealing Time." The former has a
genesis that takes it to an uptempo dazzler that exudes contagious energy.
Besides being a astonishing picker, Pennington's baritone voice is well suited
to humorous offerings like "Fertile Liza," "The Pig Got Up," "Information
Please" and "The Panic is On." Pennington has toured nationally as a member of
the "Masters of the Steel String Guitar," showcased at the Kennedy Center and
the Barns of Wolf Trap, and he received the prestigious National Heritage
Fellowship in 2001 in recognition of his artistry and excellence in performing
Kentucky thumbpicking-style guitar. Eddie also holds an Honorary Doctorate
degree from Western Kentucky University. The National Thumbpicking Champion in
1986 and 1987, Pennington was inducted into the Thumbpickers Hall of Fame in
2003.
Eddie Pennington sure knows how to tickle the strings . and he even sings. This
album on the Smithsonian Folkways label is a real treat to hear in that it
documents and will help spread the sound of one of American's living national
treasures. Pennington has six other projects available that were released
between 1993-2000. It's uncertain if any of the cuts on those projects duplicate
those on this release. A 24-page CD booklet provides excellent notes from Joe
Wilson (Director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts) and Dr. Erika
Brady (Professor of Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky
University). Check out this amazing guitar picker who performs with distinctive
aplomb. (Joe Ross)
EDDIE
PENNINGTON - Walks the Strings.and Even Sings
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings SFW CD-40146
750 9th St. NW, Suite 4100, Washington, DC 20560-0953
www.si.edu/folkways
Playing Time - 56:11
Songs - 1.Walking the Strings, 2. Mose's Blues, 3. Wabash Cannonball, 4.
Information, Please,5. John's Smoke Turns Blue, 6. Home, 7. Nine Pound Hammer,
8. Pig Ankle Rag, 9. Raindrops,10. Fertile Liza, 11. Stealing Time, 12. Sweet
Georgia Brown, 13. The Pig Got Up, 14. Stone's Rag, 15. Bye, Bye Blues, 16. So
Round, So Firm, 17. The Panic Is On, 18. Bluebell, 19. Duncan and Brady, 20.
Over The Rainbow |
