JOHN McCUTCHEON

JOHN McCUTCHEON
TO EVERYONE IN ALL THE WORLD: A CELEBRATION OF PETE SEEGER

Appalsongs
2019

This recorded tribute to Pete Seeger is neither old-time nor bluegrass, but it does have a few names you should recognize, aside from John McCutcheon. Hot Rize backs up the first cut, “Well May The World Go,” with John on old-time banjo. Stuart Duncan fiddles on Malvina Reynolds’ “God Bless The Grass” and on Pete’s “Sailing Down My Golden River,” “Living In The Country,” and “To Everyone In All the World,” which also features Tim O’Brien on harmony vocals and more clawhammer banjo.

There are lots of others too, including Suzy Bogguss and the bands Finest Kind and Steel Wheels. McCutcheon, of course, sings and plays lots of instruments, including six- and twelve-string guitar, hammered dulcimer, banjo, and Tibetan singing bowl. McCutcheon also added a previously recorded version of a guitar solo by the late John Jennings on “Waist Deep In The Big Muddy.”

John says that he selected most of these songs because he fell in love with them as a teenager. Thus, he makes a very personal selection from Seeger’s vast repertory. “Guantanamera” has a strong Latin beat and a duet with Nicaraguan singer Katia Cardenal. Bogguss duets on “Sailing Down My Golden River.” Cory Harris turns “Talking Union” into a funky rap piece. “How Can I Keep From Singing?” with just vocal, singing bowl, and organ provides an excellent finale. (www.folkmusic.com)SAG