Here are some reviews of A Devil of a Row:
| Kerry Blech is a walking encyclopedia of old time fiddle knowledge.
He is a reviewer for The Old Time Herald and judging by this CD,
an outstanding old time fiddler. He is joined here by his wife Sheila on
guitar and Allen Hart on banjo. They tackle twenty-five old time tunes
with a deft skill. The last cut is an original waltz by Sheila. The liner notes are extensive and full of details as to who was the source and the tunings that are used for the fiddle, banjo, and guitar. It is evident by the notes that these folks hold the old timers they learned these tunes from in high regard. This is not a revivalist rehash of tunes; these folks have lived with these tunes and opened their hearts and minds to this music. They are not professional musicians; they play for the love of the music. This is one of the strongest releases of old time music to come along in quite a while. If you are looking for new tunes to learn, you will find plenty here. If you are a fan of old time fiddle music, you have found it. ~Bob Buckingham Fiddler Magazine, Fall 1999, Vol. 6, No. 3 |
| This is a project of old time music delivered with love, care, and
historical perspective. The trio of Sheila Blech on guitar, Kerry Blech
on fiddle, and Allen Hart on banjo have been trading licks since the early
1980s, appearing on festival stages, dances, old time sessions, and music
camps. They have a deep love and commitment to the creators of early American
music and old time dance music. There are 25 tunes here and every one is
documented in six pages of booklet as to where they found the tune and
source background, and many times they give references for you to get the
recording. Also given is the key of the song and how the banjo is tuned.
This is about the best documentation of any recent CD, and the kind of
care that usually comes out of Smithsonian recordings. Kudos. Now, to the
music by these most proficient players. As a dancer, I continually wanted
to get up and dance to this exuberant outpouring of traditional music.
There is the hot tempo of Crow Little Rooster to the high note mid-tempo
of Wake Up, Children [sic, should be Wake Up, Chicken, though
there is something to what Chris wrote...] and I love
the energy on the romp on Holly Ding with great historic info. There
is a minimalist, hypnotic feel to swinging out of Tie Your Dog, Sallie
Gal that I enjoyed. Very well done and most recommended to old time
music and traditional music lovers. ~Chris Lunn Victory Review, September 1999, Volume 24, Number 9 |
| Most readers will recognize Kerry Blech as the reviewer with encyclopedic
knowledge of things, especially fiddlers, old-time. His grasp of the artists,
recordings and first-hand knowledge of fiddlers comprises a veritable trreasure
chest of information. He brings this wealth to us on this outing in a new
way, as a musician. He fiddles his way through 25 tunes, with the able
assistance of Allen Hart and Sheila Blech on banjo and guitar, respectively.
Their aim is to recreate their source performances with sureness and authenticity.
That they do. The band format is consistent over the course of the tunes
and the playing is always of a high caliber. The singing is what we have
come to expect of many old-time bands, adequate. Kerry has the good taste
to talk-sing his way through the incidental lyrics to the benefit of all.
One of the standout cuts is the band's adaptation of Clyde Troxell's French Waltz. Clyde did it as a banjo tune; here they have expanded it into a wonderful string-band tune. Another is Kicked Up a Devil of a Row. It just swirls through the mind long after hearing it. They end with the sweet original waltz by Sheila, written for their daughter, Mirabelle. The tunes come from far and wide; Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky -- you get the picture. There are many familiar tunes with interesting twists and more tunes that are rare or not all that common. It will take repeated listenings to digest them all. Chinquapin Hunting is a dandy with the great primitive mountain sound that draws the listener to it. Threr are tunes on this release that remind me of another time. Whether or not it is the same tune or if it is the feel, or music, or "atmosphere" that it brings with it, they conjure that aural response. The near calliope lope, and the gentle sweetness of tunes like Tuck Me In and California Cotillion transport this listener to another time some 40 years ago. All three of these musicians are accomplished and bring solid performances
to each tune. The detailed notes and the obvious love and care they bring
to these performances breathe life into this project. If this CD does not
set you to dancing, you aren't hearing it. The Old-Time Herald, Fall 1999, Volume 7, Number 1 |
| Hart & Blech, A Devil of a Row. Swing Cat Recordings
1610 CD. Clawhammer Banjo - Allen Hart; Fiddle - Kerry Blech; Guitar -
Sheila Blech.
Tunes: Kicked Up A Devil of a Row; Crow, Little Rooster; Wake Up, Chicken; Tuck Me In; Rockin' in a Weary Land; Red, White, and Blue; Holly Ding; Old Sharon; Train on the Island; French Waltz; Chinquapin Hunting; California Cotillion; Hook and Line; Yearlings in the Canebreak; The Roscoe Parish Waltz; Buffalo Gals; Battle in the Horseshoe; Tie Your Dog, Sallie Gal; Will Davenport's Tune; All Young; Leather Breeches; Go and See Your Own True Love, Leave Mine Alone; The Scolding Wife; Lightning in the East; The Mirabelle Waltz (1993 Sheila K. Blech) With half of 1999 still to be completed, I dare say this is and will likely continue to be my favorite album of the year. This is traditional old time stringband music at it's best. Kerry "with so many old tunes, why play new ones" Blech is to me one of the under-recorded stars of old time music. His classic fiddling is joined by the solid banjo playing of Allen Hart who is solid and quite enjoyable to listen to especially when the band is filled in by the sure and steady guitar work of Sheila Blech. Old time music the way is has been played for years. Solid, together and fun. This band has succeeded in compiling an old time album of 25 tunes (only one is a "new" one) - many of which I have never heard before. Add to that some wonderfully informative historic notes about the tunes AND the key and tunings for banjo and fiddle and you have the ideal formula for MANY hours and days of old time music listening and playing enjoyment! I like this kind of album since it is not often I get to have a recording to listen to and learn from. The first two tunes are so well done, that I had to get out my banjo and play along with them. I then got the fiddle out and think I just about have them down! Allen's banjo is incredibly clear and easy to follow on these and that continues throughout the disc. "Tuck Me In" starts out like a cool version of "Golden Slippers" but the second part takes you in a completely different direction! "Rockin..." has a nice bounce to it and features Allen's old time finger style playing as do several other tunes on the album. The band's version of "Train on the Island" is unique while at the same time familiar. It's origins has seemed to have eluded even this astute bunch. I don't know, the second part sounds a lot like "Sally Ann". I like it though. As I do this different version of "Chinquapin Hunting" and "Buffalo Gals" which I dare say is my favorite on this album. (Tabbed here in this issue). There is some singing on a few of the tunes, but not many. Sheila has the best voice for it, Kerry is more, shall we say, in the old time tradition. Not bad, but I love it for the tunes! On the cover side, this insert is as nicely done as they come. The black
and white portrait of the band is wonderful and the spot color in the title
and frame adds nicely. Inside, it is extremely informative with history
and notes about the tunes including recorded references when available.
There is also a nice piece about the band, dedications, thanks and complete
technical data and ordering information . Well, I could go on tune by tune,
but I'll let you do that for yourself. With your pardon, Kerry, this old
time music is as good as it sounds! If you love the stringband tradition,
or are ready to hear it for what it can be, get this disc! Contact info:
Kerry and Sheila Blech - 10832 Lakeridge Dr. Souut; Seattle, WA 98178. Phone
206-772-5567; e-mail Kerry@BlechFam.com;
Allen Hart - 206 NW 62nd St.; Seattle, WA 98107. Phone 206-784-5727, e-mail
SeaHart@MSN.com Notes on the tab: Allen uses an interesting technique on this tune in that he fingers and plays the 5th string. I show this as a brush on strings 4,3,2, & 1 followed by a thumb on the fifth string (sometimes referred to as a "Galax lick"). Now, while Allen plays "Buffalo Gals" in A, some of us tune up the whole instrument, others capo up G tuning and only tune up the 5th string. That can confuse the fret numbers for the 5thstring. In order to prevent that, I have put the fret numbers for the fifth string as though the open string were the 5th fret. Therefore, a 0 or 5 on the fifth string is the same thing! 7 and 9 are the 7th and 9th fret of the instrument. The confusion comes if you want to fret the 1st string to match. If capoed, 5, 7, and 9 on the first string are 2 frets HIGHER than they are on the fifth string. (Actually 7, 9, and 11 of the instrument) where as if you tune up, they are the same on the fifth and first string. That said, enjoy this tab and have fun working out your own arraignments
[sic]. |
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