This 63-minute project is one of the longer ones I've reviewed in some time. With twice as much music as many albums today, one has to appreciate John and Heidi Cerrigione (pronounced ser-a-go-nee) for giving us a full set of songs and tunes. Inspired by Kate Wolf's song, "Wood Stoves & Bread Loaves," the album shows that the couple truly does love the old songs the best.

Their ten instrumentals and ten vocals come primarily from the traditional repertoire. However, they open with Hugh Moffatt's love song "Rose of my Heart," then cover Handel's "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." Songs from Stephen Foster, Albert E. Brumley, Kate Wolf, and J. H. Gilmore/W. B. Bradbury are interspersed with the traditional numbers. Their own instrumental composition, "Valley Center," was inspired by a friend's garden in southern California. The CD's 6-page insert presents the credits, artists' notes and lyrics for each piece.

From Ellington, CT., the Cerrigiones are multi-instrumentalists who play acoustic old-time music. Their instruments include autoharp, hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, banjo, guitar, mandolin, piano and bass. Heidi plays a "Schwyzerorgeli," a Swiss variant of the diatonic button accordion, on a beautiful waltz called "Kobeli-Walzer." She also surprises us with some dulcimette (tuned an octave higher than the standard dulcimer) and banjo-mer (a custom-built dulcimer with a banjo's voice). Her hammered dulcimer playing is first-rate on tunes like "Black Bottom Strut," "Old Grey Cat," "Knole Park" and "Peeler Creek." Her instrument built by David Lindsey has a full resonant sound that reminds me of one I've heard many times on Bill Spence's seminal albums from the 1970s and 80s. Music for their autoharp duet, "The Clayhole," can be found in their songbook entitled, "30 Old Time Songs & Tunes."

Besides their consummate instrumental proficiency, the Cerrigiones demonstrate very pleasant and relaxed vocal techniques. Their duets in songs like "A Mother's Last Words," their call-and-response in Albert Brumley's "Prettiest Flowers Will Be Blooming," and even Heidi's yodeling in "Weggiser Lied" are highlights. The album's closer, "Slumber My Darling," is a beautiful Stephen Foster lullaby.

John and Heidi perform as a duo. They also perform with another couple, Neal and Coleen Walters, in a group called "Doofus" (www.doofusmusic.com) which has released three albums.  Heidi and John also conduct workshops. On this album, the Cerrigiones sing with pleasant close parallel harmony, staying true to the form of old-time music, a genre whose sounds and messages are being revitalized in recent years. The album shows how a couple of talented multi-instrumentalists are on the leading edge of this resurgence of interest in the genre and are avid proponents for this simple and quaint, yet powerful, music. Celebrating yesteryear in a nostalgic or spiritual fashion, John and Heidi's songs and tunes have inspirational messages and catchy melodies that simply make us feel good. I commend these "song carriers" for keeping the tradition vibrant and alive. (Joe Ross)

www.doofusmusic.com
 
John & Heidi Cerrigione, 56 Egypt Rd., Ellington, CT 06029

Total Time - 63:14
Songs - 1. Rose of My Heart, 2. I Know That My Redeemer Lives, 3. Hold Fast to the Right, 4. He Leadeth Me, 5. Angelina Baker, 6. Knole Park, 7. Wood Stoves & Bread Loaves, 8. Köbeli-Walzer, 9. The Prettiest Flowers Will Be Blooming, 10. Peeler Creek, 11. Weggiser Lied, 12. Shepherd's Wife, 13. A Mothers Last Words To Her Daughter, 14. Old Grey Cat, 15. Will You Love Me When I'm Old, 16. Valley Center, 17. Big Eyed Rabbit, 18. The Clayhole, 19. Black Bottom Strut, 20. Slumber My Darling