Album Notes

In 2006, David and Lisa Thurman started Aweberry Records, a small independent label with its music studio in Rutherfordton, NC. Santa Fe is the debut release for Aweberry Records and the Blackberry River Band.

Santa Fe, the album includes:

Folk:
'Sunshine and Rain','Tornado','Something New','No Song','Western Sky' and the title track: 'Santa Fe'

Rock:
'Changes' and 'I've Got a Feeling'

and Blues:
'Call the Doctor','Lovesick Crazy','Meth Blues'

An important aspect to this CD is the family experience. Travers Thurman plays cello and double bass in various songs including 'Santa Fe', 'Meth Blues' and 'Tornado'. Charlotte Thurman (saxophone) and Forrest Thurman (trombone), play in the song 'Lovesick Crazy'. Charlotte provided the CD disc artwork as well as much of the artwork used in the liner notes. Two of Lisa’s paintings are featured as the cover and in a CD insert.

David Thurman plays Bass, Piano, and Saxophone. He is a songwriter with over 150 songs, several of which are recorded on the new CD.

David wrote a stage musical called 'Las Vegas' featuring upbeat show tunes. In 1995 he was one of 5 finalists in the American Greetings Birthday songwriting contest. He won a trip to NYC to perform his song at the Power Station Studio. Gladys Knight was one of the judges.

Lisa Thurman wrote a string of heart-felt original songs, 7 of them included in this CD. Each song, folk or rock, takes on a unique quality of its own with catchy melodies and honest lyrics.

Lisa grew up singing in chorus, having spent her formative years in the Mississippi Delta and the Appalachian Mountains. She was influenced by both Delta Blues and Mountain Music.

In college she played guitar and sang in coffee houses. At that time, she had enough original material to record an album, but she pursued academics and social work instead.

In 2003, Lisa earned a Doctorate in Holistic Health Sciences.

Now, after having a successful year of songwriting and recording, Lisa is a full-time musician, promoting the band's new CD: 'Santa Fe'.

Todd Rollins and Vernon Hensley of the rock band Triad, lent their exceptional talent to this project by playing many of the solid rhythm guitar tracks, banjo, and mandolin. These guys rock on Saturday nights and pick in acoustic jams on Sunday nights, sometimes at Laura Allen's place. Laura plays harmonica in 'Meth Blues'. Todd Rollins performs his song 'Changes' on this album.

The CD's final track is a rocker named 'I've Got a Feeling' which features some great guitar work by Rich Hendricks, a lead guitarist who's played in various Carolina bands.

The violin you hear on this CD was performed by Sharon Lawrence. Sharon is a violin teacher who plays in the Asheville Symphony. Her improvisation in the song ‘Western Sky’ is exceptional.

The CD was mixed by Ben Holst, at his studio in Athens, GA. Ben is in this CD playing throughout, including impressive guitar work on the song Meth Blues using an antique 1930's era steel guitar.

Blackberry River Band and Aweberry Records is currently putting together a schedule for regional, Western North Carolina, and South Carolina festival perfomances. We hope you enjoy this CD and many more to come from Blackberry River Band and Aweberry Records.