Trees
Sometimes, an album comes along that is such a mix of genres and influences, it’s hard to find exactly how to describe it. Laurie Lewis’s forthcoming album, Trees, is just such a work that blends influences of bluegrass, country, old time and folk, but with a contemporary voice. Maybe it’s just easier to say this project is perfect listening for a spring Sunday afternoon.
Lewis, the multi-Grammy artist who has been making music for five decades, has created one of her best with this, her 24th album. Trees is being released on her own label, Spruce and Maple Music.
Lewis has said that the album reflects the emotional turmoil in her life while creating the music. Her work is certainly grounded in the natural world — she has put Wendell Berry poems to music — and that shines brightly on Trees. By contrast, there is the loss of playing by her longtime partner Tom Rozum who, due to Parkinson’s, was unable to play on the album (but does offer harmony vocals on three tracks).
“Just A Little Ways Down the Road” opens the album with a nice bounce. Written by Lewis and inspired by naturalist John Muir, it sets the tone for the listen and makes one wonder if the entire project was written to be best enjoyed on vinyl.
Lewis wrote five other songs and co-wrote another of the 12 cuts. Perhaps the best of the best is “Enough,” which evokes the California wildfires and threats to the environment.
“The Banks are Covered in Blue” is a lovely waltz number co-written with fiddler Brandon Godman, and “Long Gone,” penned by Bill Morrissey, is a solid bluegrass waltz. The title track is a gospel show-stopper, feeling of the cycles of life and nature and absolutely requires the repeat button.
Not to be overlooked is a song Lewis wrote as a tribute to John Prine, “Why’d You Have to Break My Heart?” — a line she says Prine once directed at her. She certainly captured the essence of her long-time friend in lyrics and sound. Also contributing to the album in addition to Godman and Rozum are Patrick Sauber (banjo); Hasee Ciaccio (bass); Andrew Marlin (mandolin); George Guthrie (banjo/guitar) and Sam Reider (accordion).
Lewis has a winner in Trees—one that offers plenty for the radio, but offers even more when you listen from start to finish, over and over.
