Jayme Stone – Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project (Borealis, 2015)
Canadian banjo player Jayme Stone is known for exploring various global musical traditions. On his latest album, Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project, Stone got together with an impressive cast of musicians and vocalists from North America and other parts of the world to recreate field recordings made by ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax throughout his travels.
The music selection includes:
“Lazy John,” a version of an original folk song written by Alan Lomax. Lineup: Margaret Glaspy on vocals, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Julian Lage on guitar, Joe Phillips on bass, Nick Fraser on drums, Jayme Stone on banjo.
“Before This Time another Year,” a Georgia Sea Island song. Lineup: Tim O’Brien on vocals, guitar; Margaret Glaspy, Moira Smiley, Mollie O’Brien, John Magnie, Martin Gilmore and Jayme Stone on vocals.
“Shenandoah,” a sea-shanty. Lineup: Margaret Glaspy on vocals, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Julian Lage on guitar, Joe Phillips on bass, Nick Fraser on drums, Jayme Stone on banjo.
“Goodbye, Old Paint,” a folk song. Lineup: Tim O’Brien on vocals, mandolin; Margaret Glaspy on vocals, guitar; Moira Smiley on accordion, Greg Garrison on bass, Jayme Stone on banjo.
“Sheep, Sheep Don’tcha Know the Road,” a work song. Lineup: Moira Smiley, Tim O’Brien, Margaret Glaspy, Mollie O’Brien, John Magnie, Martin Gilmore, Jayme Stone on vocals, handclaps.
“I Want to Hear Somebody Pray,” a song from the Caribbean island of Carriacou. Lineup: Margaret Glaspy on vocals, Tim O’Brien on mandolin, vocals, Mollie O’Brien on vocals, John Magnie on vocals, Martin Gilmore on vocals, Greg Garrison on bass, Alwyn Robinson on drums, Jayme Stone on prepared banjo (Stone used a piece of foam next to the bridge, evoking a West-African ngoni), vocals.
“T-I-M-O-T-H-Y,” a love song from Saint Eustatius, an island in the Dutch Antilles. Lineup: Tim O’Brien on vocals, fiddle; Moira Smiley on vocals, accordion; Margaret Glaspy on guitar, Greg Garrison on bass, Jayme Stone on banjo.
“Hog Went through the Fence, Yoke And All,” a fiddle tune from Kentucky. Lineup: Brittany Haas on fiddle, Eli West on guitar, Greg Garrison on bass, Jayme Stone on banjo.
“What Is the Soul Of Man?” a southern song. Lineup: Margaret Glaspy on vocals, Bruce Molsky on vocals, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Julian Lage on guitar, Joe Phillips on bass, Jayme Stone on banjo.
“Now Your Man Done Gone,” a prison song by Willie Turner, an inmate at Camp Livingston in Alabama. Lineup: Bruce Molsky on vocals, Margaret Glaspy on vocals.
“The Devil’s Nine Questions,” a Virginia ballad collected by Texas Gladden. Lineup: Moira Smiley, Tim O’Brien, Margaret Glaspy, Mollie O’Brien, John Magnie, Martin Gilmore, Jayme Stone on vocals, body percussion.
“Bury Boula for Me,” a calypso song. Lineup: Drew Gonsalves on vocals, cuatro, Margaret Glaspy on vocals, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Julian Lage on guitar, Joe Phillips on bass, Nick Fraser on drums, Jayme Stone on banjo
“Susan Anna Gal,” an Appalachian song from North Carolina. Lineup: Eli West on vocals, bouzouki, Margaret Glaspy on vocals, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Greg Garrison on bass, Jayme Stone on banjo.
“Maids When you’re Young,” a Scottish traveler song. Lineup: Margaret Glaspy on vocals, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Eli West on guitar, Greg Garrison on bass, Jayme Stone on banjo.
“Prayer Wheel,” a fishermen song from Virginia. Lineup: Tim O’Brien on guitar, vocals, Moira Smiley, Mollie O’Brien, Margaret Glaspy, John Magnie, Martin Gilmore, Jayme Stone on vocals.
“Old Christmas,” a fiddle tune from Kentucky. Lineup: Bruce Molsky on fiddle, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Julian Lage on guitar, Joe Phillips on bass, Jayme Stone on banjo.
“Whoa, Back, Buck,” a Lead Belly ox-driving song. Lineup: Eli West on vocals, guitar, Margaret Glaspy on vocals, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Greg Garrison on bass, Jayme Stone on banjo.
“Lambs on The Green Hills,” a song collected from the English poet Robert Graves. Lineup: Margaret Glaspy on vocals, Julian Lage on guitar.
The CD version includes a 54-page booklet with song notes by Stone, an introduction by music scholar Stephen Wade, and a photo essay by longtime Nonesuch photographer Michael Wilson.
Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project contains fascinating recreations of timeless folk songs and melodies.
Buy Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project in North America
Buy Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project in Europe
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
