Jean Ritchie, now 91 years old, was born in
1922 to a rural Kentucky family with a rich legacy of singing and preserving
the traditional ballads that originated centuries ago in the British Isles and
were handed down from generation to generation in the Appalachian Mountains.
Jean arrived in New York City in the 1940s
as a social worker but quickly became an important part of a folk scene that
included such contemporaries as Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Pete Seeger, Alan Lomax and Oscar Brand.
In a career that remained vital until she
suffered a stroke in 2009, Jean's contributions were highly significant on a
number of levels. She was, of course, a source singer for the many traditional
ballads in the Ritchie Family tradition – many of which became standards of the
folk revival. She was a folksong collector of note in both the southern United
States, and in the British Isles. She was responsible for popularizing the
Appalachian dulcimer during the folk revival. She was a compelling singer and
she was one of the greatest and most authentic of traditionally-steeped
songwriters.
On the two CDs of Dear Jean: Artists
Celebrate Jean Ritchie, a remarkable group of artists – some very famous, some
relatively unknown – pay tribute to Jean’s legacy with loving, joyous performances
of 37 songs, many of them Jean’s own songs, others traditional folksongs from
her repertoire.
While every one of these tracks is more
than worthy of praise, I’ll call attention to just a few of my favorites. Among
Jean’s own songs that list would have to include the version of the environmental
song “Black Waters” that features John McCutcheon, Tim O’Brien and Suzy Bogguss
trading verses; “The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore” by Robin & Linda
Williams; an almost chamber-folk interpretation of “Morning’s Come, Maria’s Gone” by Janis Ian; a chilling a cappella
rendition of “West Virginia Mine Disaster” by Susie Glaze; a lovely,
piano-based version of “One I Love” by Judy Collins; a joyous interpretation of
“Roll On Clouds in the Morning” by Kim & Reggie Harris; and a sweet “My
Dear Companion” by Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer.
Among the traditional songs, I particularly
like the versions of “Pretty Betty Martin” by Kathy Reid-Naiman; “Shady Grove”
by Sparky & Rhonda Rucker; “Jubilee” by Kathy Mattea; “Fair Nottamun Town,”
sung in two-part a cappella harmony by Elizabeth LaPrelle with Sandy Newlin
LaPrelle; the driving, old-time rendition of “Jemmy Taylor-O” by Big Medicine and "Hangman," sung conversationally by Ralston Bowles & May Erlewine-Bernard.
The album ends with Jean herself and live
recording of “The Peace Round” recorded in 1992 with overdubbed harmony vocals
by many of the artists who contributed to this collection.
Congratulations to Mick Lane, Charlie Pilzer
and Dan Schatz who, quite obviously, co-produced Dear Jean: Artists Celebrate Jean
Ritchie with much love.
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--Mike Regenstreif
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