DAVE NACHMANOFF: Snapshots (Live)

Dave Nachmanoff

Snapshots (Live)

© 1998 Dave Nachmanoff (634479804441)

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Clean live recording of a magic night, mostly solo acoustic guitar or piano with vocals. Just Plain Folks declared this "Best New Folk Album" in 2001.

tracks

1 Introduction
2 Square Peg Blues
3 A Cautionary Tale (Fender)
4 Memory
5 I'm From Nowhere
6 Civilization and its Discontents
7 Battle Scars
8 O'Carolan's Draught/Inside Connection
9 El Nino
10 Wash Us Clean
11 Cactus Juice
12 RL
13 Thing of Beauty
14 Waiting for the Light to Change
15 This Little Light of Mine

notes

Dave grew up surrounded by the active folk scene of Northern Virginia and Washington D.C.during the 1960s and 70s, where he was exposed to a variety of musical traditions and was inspired by performers like Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie.

At age 9, Dave wrote his first song - the same year he met the legendary Libba Cotton ("Freight Train") and was invited to accompany her on stage. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, he continued to write and perform, both solo and with several bands in the D.C. area, London, and New York City.

He studied music and philosophy at Columbia and Oxford universities, earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of California, Davis (1997), and promptly retired from academia to dedicate himself to music.

From a review in the Davis Enterprise (August 1998)by David Meyers:

"He may sing about being a square peg in a round hole, but a Dave Nachmanoff recording fits perfectly in anybody's music collection. His latest, "Snapshots," is quite simply a work of art. It's a safe bet that we won't find anyone who doesn't like this disc. One of the reasons for its easy appreciation, among other things, is that it bridges so many gaps.

Whether he's joking about love on-line ("Sometimes I Wish that You Could Spell"), anomalous weather phenomena ("Blame it all on El Nino") or how his new-found dog has changed his life ("He Threw Himself into Our Lives When He Threw Himself Into Our Car"), Dave's wit presents itself gently enough for everyone to understand, yet with a not-so-subtle sophistication that allows you to process it at your own pace.

Recorded to a packed Palms this past April -- it seemed like the whole town was there, until we realized they were turning folks away -- the disc also taps Dave's softer side, with some beautiful tunes about life and love, topped by "Thing of Beauty" and "I'm From Nowhere."

Of course, having a doctorate in philosophy certainly helps explain how he's able to present his ideas and weave those thoughts with such good music. Often hailed as a cross between Bruce Springsteen and Arlo Guthrie, it doesn't take but a moment to realize that Dave could open for James Taylor, Judas Priest or Ray Charles on any given weekend.

And the way he's going, he just might..."

reviews

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  • I'm from nowhere
    author: betty

    Dave, I love your music and how great you had perform with Al Stewart at Duke Island Park this past July 13, It was a performance that I am totally stunned. Remember me, I took a picture with you and told you that I was a truck driver. Hope to hear you and Al real soon again when you come back from Europe.

  • Outstanding Recordings
    author: Marvin

    Dave I really enjoy your music I'm now the proud owner of 5 David Nachmanoff CDs. Your awesome, Marv

  • Live performance that captures the essence of Dave Nachmanoff
    author: Marty

    Opening song, Square Hole Blues worth the purchase of the album alone! Many styles of music (and guitar) presented here with excellent music, witty and thoughtful lyrics, and excellent acoustic guitar! Worth the listen and should be part of any collection.

  • Lively and funny - America's Ralph McTell
    author: Tony Clothier

    A fine collection of songs by Dave Nachmanoff. Straightforward guitar - played beautifully - and a good mixture of poignant and funny lyrics. Particular favourites are Square Peg Blues (who hasn't been there?) and A Cautionary Tale: lovely words, great out line!

  • A brilliant live recording - you do feel like you're there.
    author: Patrick

    I'd never heard of Dave Nachmanoff until a few weeks ago when he opened for (and later played with) Al Stewart in my home town of Leeds, England. This CD recaptures a lot of the spirit of that (very spirited!) live performance. There are no bad songs on this disc. I don't particularly like blues - but I love "Square Peg In A Round Hole Blues". I've never liked gospel music - but "Waiting for the light to change" changed my mind! I'm a cyber geek so I loved "RL". "Thing of Beauty" is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard - I'm trying to learn guitar just so that I can sing it for my wife. In all, you've probably guessed I LIKE THIS CD! 2 months ago, I had none of Dave's recordings. Now I have 6, all on the strength of his live performance. Unless you invent a time machine, this disc is your best chance to hear what converted me. Buy it today. You know you want to.

  • Absolutely wonderful
    author: David Diskin

    This is a great CD!! There's not really a lemon in the bunch. And it is wide ranging, from gospel to blues to traditional folk to funny. Of particular note are the beautiful and haunting "I'm from Nowhere", "Thing of Beauty", and "Memory"; the funny and rollicking "Cactus Juice", and the Gospel like "Waiting for the Light to Change" and "Wash Me Clean".

  • Absolutely wonderful
    author: David Diskin

    This is a great CD!! There's not really a lemon in the bunch. And it is wide ranging, from gospel to blues to traditional folk to funny. Of particular note are the beautiful and haunting "I'm from Nowhere", "Thing of Beauty", and "Memory"; the funny and rollicking "Cactus Juice", and the Gospel like "Waiting for the Light to Change" and "Wash Me Clean".

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