The
New River (actually one of the worlds oldest) and the deep gorge
it flows through in West Virginia is an area that draws me back
again and again. I've been rock climbing there for twenty years
and the quality of the climbs at the New stacks up against anyplace
else. Add in the world-class white water rapids and breath-taking
scenery and you can see why it's one of my favorite places to
be. This album is intended in part to be a musical tribute to
the New in appreciation of great climbs, natural beauty, and beer
around the fire with good friends.
New
River Suite
1. White Water (3:10)
2. Drifting (4:45)
The names of these two songs pretty much describe what I was
trying to capture. The New River has many moods, these are but
two…
3.
Ride, Gypsy Cowboy (2:38)
This song was originally entitled "Ballad of the Runaway
Coal Train", a nod to the mining history of the New River
area, but the image of a gypsy on horseback going hell for leather
kept overriding the train...so to speak.
4.
After the Harvest (4:12)
This is the song that I played when I won the 2008 Kent State
Folk Festival Talent Contest. It's an attempt to convey a feeling
of autumn, my favorite season. Such a beautiful time of year,
yet with a bittersweet center (if you listen for them, you may
hear a few snowflakes…)
5.
Red Haired Boy (3:03)
Aye, this is a fine old Irish fiddle tune, also known as "Little
Beggarman". Sometimes I play these traditional songs solo,
but I definitely heard the whole band on this one.
6.
Song for Melody (4:13)
This is a love song to my wife, and that's all I'm going to
tell you...
7.
Grandma's Typewriter (2:18)
Those who remember the pre-word processor era will recognize
where the name of this piece comes from. Too bad I don't get paid
by notes-per-minute…
8.
Midnight in the Gorge (3:46)
This atmospheric minor key piece tries to capture the feeling
of the New River Gorge in the middle of the night. When the moon
is down, it's one of the darkest and most peaceful places you
can imagine (unless you're staying in one of the river rafter
campgrounds in which case it's obligatory to work off the excess
adrenalin by carrying on until dawn…)
9.
5.10 Jig (1:41)
5.10 is a rating for a rock climb, specifically the grade where
traditionally protected routes start getting really hard for most
folks. I felt like dancing a jig after I led my first one (The
Entertainer, Junkyard Wall).
10.
Flow My Tears (3:02)
My daughter Lindsay sang this lovely Renaissance song for her
senior college recital and I was bustin' my buttons when she asked
me to accompany her on nylon string guitar. Here I played the
melody on steel-string over that accompaniment.
11.
Sarah and Lindsay and the Snail Stampede (3:43)
When my daughters were young, I used to make up stories for
them at bedtime. The one about a Snail Stampede was a favorite,
and although the tale itself is long forgotten, the slow stately
character of this piece reminded me of the story and of those
days.
12.
Aliens Came and Took the Cow (She's With Elvis Now) (1:41)
This one came from an experiment in playing with the nail side
of my index finger for a different sound. It combines a faux modal
fiddle tune with a spacey ending, and also the delicious irony
of being the shortest song on the album with the longest title.
13.
Fare Thee Well, Five Dollar Frank (3:12)
"Flying Frank Thomas" used to fly tourists on short
flights over the New River Gorge in an old Cessna 172 for five
dollars each. Thomas was a real character and played sometimes
scary jokes on his passengers but always brought them back safely.
"Five Dollar Frank" kept on flying nearly up until he
passed away on March 23, 2001 at the age of 80. I hope I can keep
on playing that long…
This album is dedicated to the memory of my father, Kenneth Kean
(1926-2009), who loved music and who was also an aviator. Dad,
meet Frank…
All
guitars played by Kerry Kean. All songs written by Kerry Kean
except Red Haired Boy (Public Domain) and Flow My Tears (John
Dowland, Public Domain). Recorded by Jay Bentoff at Dark Tree
Studios in Cleveland, mastered by Jay Bentoff, produced by Kerry
Kean. Cover and insert photo by John Gregel, back photo by Doug
Garmon. Cover design by Kerry Kean. © 2009 Kerry Kean
©
2009 Kerry Kean All Rights Reserved
