Album Notes

From the rugged North coast of California comes the music of Earl Oliver & Butch Kwan.

Before moving to the Mendocino Coast, Earl Oliver had a distinguished career as a band leader, concert and recording producer, street entertainer and studio musician. As "The Walkin' Blues Man", Oliver was a familiar figure in parades and other outdoor events throughout Northern California.

As the driving force behind several important bands over the past 30 years, Butch Kwan is a legend on the North Coast music scene. A popular teacher of both guitar and violin, Kwan has been featured with the Symphony of the Redwoods, and teaches violin to kids every year at Mendocino County's famous Lark Music Camp.

Oliver & Kwan met in February of 2004 at a charity concert event. Their immediate chemistry produced a partnership. They have since gone on to appear at the 2004 and 2006 Caspar World Folk Festival, Art in the Gardens at the North Coast Botanical Gardens, and Fort Bragg's World's Largest Salmon BarBQ anually since 2005, and headlined the 12th annual "Local Licks Live" concert sponsored by KOZT-95.3 FM, affectionately known locally as "The Coast".

In April, 2005, The Walkin' Blues Man was hired to entertain passengers on the historic Skunk Train, which departs from Ft. Bragg and Willits, CA, each day.

This album was produced specifically because Earl wanted a CD to offer to passengers on the train, and it therefore leans decidedly toward the "Old Timey" side of the repertoire.

Regardless, the formidable combination of Oliver's "big" voice and dramatic delivery and Kwan's exquisite instrumentation make for some very exciting musical moments.

We think you will agree...