Album Notes

"A Voyage of Such Nature" is a collection of acoustic songs in celebration of the Zebulon Pike expedition of 200 years ago.

I collaborated with my good friends Don Richmond & Rex Rideout on a recording of songs of Pike's era that he might have had in mind as he trekked up the Arkansas River.

Pike was a mythic figure in the 1800's - commanding his first expedition at the age of 27 in 1805 as he sought the headwaters of the Mississippi & then the headwaters of the Arkansas & Red Rivers in 1806 to establish the boundaries of the newly-purchased Louisiana Territory. Ballads & poems were written about him in the 1800's & he may have attained the goal of the presidency had he not been killed commanding the first battle in the War of 1812. His journals of the southwestern expedition were published in five languages & helped establish the Santa Fe Trail trade & the southwestern migration that would eventually fuel the independence of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, & Utah from Mexico.

This CD was a major undertaking - culling a dozen songs from the hundreds from Pike's era that would express the flavor of the journey, but it was also a labor of love & acquaintance with a worthy man from the past. I can't tell you what joy there was in meditating on a passage from the journals in the studio & then commencing to put that feeling on tape. Bringing his story to a wider audience is a great responsibility & a great opportunity to share him with everyone.

The CD package includes Pike's map of the Arkansas River exploration & a full accounting of his journey. The songs are carefully placed at a chosen place of the journey with notes about the state of the men. There are also beautiful photos of the areas he passed through along with quotes from his journals carefully picked to bring an understanding of his personality & dedication to his task.

History is best served intimately & one character at a time. That's what we have sought to do.