Phoenix
January
2008
"Gallatin
and Stillwaters have...managed the delicate balancing act of being
both cohesive and eclectic. Phoenix is proof that this is a group
deserving of a listen from all."
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Cover
photo: Susan Forbes Hansen
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Phoenix is Amy
Gallatin & Stillwaters' long-awaited band project, the first
since 2001's Live in
Europe. Amy Gallatin has been a staple on the acoustic music
scene since the release of her 'Long Way Home' in 1998--a
collaboration with ace Nashville producer Rich Adler (Valerie Smith,
Iris DeMent, John Hartford, Dolly Parton)--which featured her shimmering,
heartfelt vocals and quality song selection. Veteran bluegrasser
Roger Williams, long known for his masterful touch on the resophonic
guitar during his tenure with White Mountain Bluegrass, Salamander
Crossing, and the IBMA-award-nominated Southern Rail, is now coming
into his own as a vocalist and songwriter. Together with long-time
bassist/harmony vocalist John Urbanik, they form the core of Stillwaters.
Frequent sideman Ben Pearce adds mandolin, along with young Mike
Barnett (Northern Lights, Tony Trishka) on fiddle. CMH Pickin'
On series producer Dave Dick, who lent his arranging skills
to the project, layers the tapestry with banjo, mandolin, and guitar.
The project was recorded by former Front Range bassist Bob Dick,
who guests on bass on three cuts. The all-acoustic songs explore
the gamut of American roots music, from the sprightly original instrumental
Bb Polka, to the country-flavored cuts of River of Love
and Buck Owens' You're For Me, from the dreamy traditional
tune The Water is Wide to the bluegrass makeover of the Burns
Sisters' Dance Upon This Earth.
Amy
found herself at a personal and professional crossroads in 2004
after struggling to pursue music as a primary occupation for almost
20 years. After a three-month hiatus during which she traveled the
world in pursuit of her other passion, scuba diving--a trip that
included Thailand, Micronesia, Australia, Cambodia, and Vietnam,
and living mostly on boats out at sea--she returned to the United
States to see what her future held. The commitment of dobroist/vocalist
Roger Williams, who had performed with her band in the past, reinvigorated
her musically, as well as personally. Together with Stillwaters
veteran John Urbanik, they entered into an ambitious recording and
touring schedule with virtually all new material interspersed with
some vintage fan favorites. The title Phoenix speaks of all
that is possible when artists surrender to the flow and live their
passion. Today Stillwaters is back and better than ever!
"Gallatin's voice is obviously well-trained, lending an effortless
purity to her delivery of each song. That, combined with her willingness
to feature her band, and the often-overlooked instrumental wizardry
and versatility of Roger Williams and Dave Dick, allows the collective
sound of Stillwaters to be exceptionally smooth and polished. Gallatin
and Stillwaters have...managed the delicate balancing act of being
both cohesive and eclectic...(and)...Gallatin adds her crystalline
voice and fine ear for a song...Phoenix is proof that this is a group
deserving of a listen from all."
Bluegrass Unlimited
Magazine, December 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"With a clear, true voice that's especially
suited to bluegrass, Gallatin works her way through a variety of material
on Phoenix...cleanly and intelligently produced, and a lot of fun
to listen to."
Sing Out Magazine, Autumn 2008
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