Where We Go

Mandolinist and vocalist Jesse Appelman brings a wide world of musical inspirations and skills to his playing. He is joined by some of the West Coast’s finest musicians: Sami Braman on fiddle, Emily Mann playing bass, and Eli West on guitar. This core group is given some extra verve with guests like Alison de Groot, AJ Lee, Laurie Lewis, and Kathy Kallick. The album is a mix of originals like “Valley Springs”, a delightful old-time folk fiddle tune that keeps the focus on the melody, rather than picking pyrotechnics. Throughout the album, the feeling is that the players are always working in the service of the songs. This keeps the music rolling along in a friendly, familiar groove. I would hesitate to call it “Easy Listening,” but it sure is easy to listen to. The choice of other songwriters’ works shows a wide-ranging awareness of the acoustic music scene, both current and historic. From Gordon Bok’s “Hills of Isle Au Haut”, to Laurelyn Dossett’s “Anna Lee”, and the classic “Freight Train” from Elizabeth Cotten. All the material flows perfectly together to make a timeless treasure of an album.