TOM WADSWORTH: Skeleton Man

Tom Wadsworth

Skeleton Man

© 2003 Tom Wadsworth (629048058127)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

Lyricly inventive, this rollicking roots music mixes rural rock, country blues, bluegrass, traditional folk and island beat into a curiously inviting sonic cocktail . . . . Drink it up .

tracks

1 Howes Cave Blues
2 Old Soda
3 Cherry Valley Waltz
4 Wayfaring Stranger
5 Sister Go
6 For The Knife
7 Jailhouse Blues
8 Longing
9 Is Returning
10 The Otis
11 She's Gone
12 Skeleton Man
13 Elise's Tarantella
14 White Freightliner

notes

Tom Wadsworth's original songs and music, available for the first time on his much anticipated first CD, Skeleton Man, have the same warmth, humour and emotional range that make him a favorite performer on the acoustic music scene in upstate New York.

Tom's playing is influenced by the sounds of American roots music: Ragtime, Western Swing, Blues, Old Time and Bluegrass as well as Celtic music. His curious and reflective songs, stirring solos and appearances at regional venues, including Caffe Lena, The Dance Flurry and Golding Park Cafe, have built him a growing reputation as one of upstate New York's finest musicians and song writers.

Tom's songwriting has taken inspiration from traditional song, local history, recent and contemporary writers as diverse as Nanci Griffith, Bruce Cockburn, Hank Williams, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Michelle Shocked, Pat Humphries and Bob Dylan. Instrumentally, he was first inspired by his discovery of the Doc Watson album 'Memories' in 1975.

Skeleton Man's fourteen tracks showcase seven of Tom's songs and three of his instrumentals including the memorable "Cherry Valley Waltz" and the plaintive, often requested "Longing". The songs range from hopeful to reflective with stories of love, loss, absence and healing.

The opener, "Howes Cave Blues", is a catchy country blues about being dumped by a carless fellow bandmate. A rollicking rural-rock-holler, "Sister Go", contrasts sharpley with "She's Gone', a meditation on the vanishing of mind and transformation of relationship, the inevitable effect of Alzheimer's disease.

"For the Knife", a hauntingly surreal ballad seems tenuously connected to the title cut "Skeleton Man", a funny, Iberian sounding anthem to archeologists. "Old Soda", tells of a train-station alcoholic whose bottled courage is never quite sufficient for him to get out of town and "Is Returning" offers an island-flavored, current-age cry to re-engage in the process of creating our world anew.

The four covers on the album include the traditional "Wayfaring Stranger," the obscure, "Elise's Tarantella", Townes Van Zandt's "White Freightliner" and the Delmore Brothers' classic "Jailhouse Blues".

On this first release, Wadsworth is joined by his long-time musical collaborator Frank Orsini on fiddle, viola and mandolin, Ed Lowman on fiddle, guitar and mandolin, Stephen Orsini on upright bass, Kevin Maul on dobro and Hawaiian guitar, Tom Wetmore on upright bass and Sam Zucchini on snare, hi-hat and brushed bodhran.

The renowned jam-band bassist Tony Markellis plays acoustic bass guitar on the title track and on "Is Returning".



Skeleton Man marks the recorded debut of musician / songwriter / singer Tom Wadsworth.


Wadsworth is currently booking concert, coffeehouse and festival appearances in support of Skeleton Man.


www.tommywadsworth.com

reviews

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  • Really great
    author: Chris Defendorf

    This CD is incredible. The emotions are deep, true, and Tom is a truly great writer.

  • poetry and great tunes
    author: Melora Wolff

    A cd with musical innovation and spirit, plus true lyric poetry! Can't wait for another CD--you're on a roll, Tom!

  • Terrific!
    author: Jach Pursel

    Immediately Tom's music captures your attention and then gently holds that attention for the entire CD. You smile and feel a powerful urge to dance. Tom touches your soul with this music, and your soul laughs with joy. Terrific!

  • you're the cat, tom.
    author: Allan Ploth

    great to hear you, finally, on CD. i like the ensemble, and the recording is really nice. be seein' you onstage one day, tom. till then, keep a pikkin-and-a-grinnin.

  • Good job Tom!
    author: Jim Gillespie

    Great album Tom, Howes Cave BLues..... Been there!

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