Kowetha
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“Jim Wearne has produced
a CD that captures a wonderful sense of Cornwall – he is melancholy,
aggressive, witty and lyrical.
This is a singer whose
resonant voice expresses the complex perspective of the Cornish
descendant – he is increasingly confident of his cultural references,
and he has found a group of friends whose arrangements are an enigmatic
blend of America, Cornwall and the Celtic tradition.
It
is exciting to see Jim slowly but surely gathering together the lone
voices of the Cornish Diaspora into a musical community – There’s
Heather Dale of Toronto flying a wild harmony on The Oggy man, and the
best recording I’ve ever heard of Marion Howard duetting on Johnny Groat.
Kowetha is an
accomplished, confident collection. It is a well-balanced set that
explores Jim Wearne’s range. Mushy Peas and This Isn’t England are well
observed, witty and literate hits.
Throughout, there is
the deep, amused, passionate, resonant, and jolly, country, Cornish and
accomplished voice of Jim Wearne. It is a voice that takes up the
Cornish cudgel, and which has joyously found its cultural roots. The
whole emotional experience of the émigré feels as if it’s woven into
this voice, the sadness of the exile, the joy of the discoverer, and the
confidence of a singer growing in stature and tone.
I find this collection
deeply moving, and an excellent evocation of the enigmatic and
complicated thing that is modern Kernow. I only wish that Jim would
sing more of his own work – he is an imaginative, passionate and
literate writer.”
Bert Biscoe – review of Kowetha, Cornish World
#52, June/July 2007, p90
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ORDERING
INFORMATION BELOW
LIST OF TRACKS:
(Audio samples available through CDBaby
- see below)
1. Lovely Nancy
My version, based on fragments of
several older versions, of a traditional Cornish song.
2. I'm A Stranger To This
Country
I opened my set at Lowender Peran with this one, in case the
accent hadn't clued them in.
3.
This Isn't England
This one may annoy some people for different reasons. How dare I,
a foreigner, speak to this issue? Because I
care, I’m angry, and songs are the only tools I have with which to do something
about it.
4. Johnny Groat
(With Marion Howard)
A testament
to the sensitivity and kindliness of Cornish fathers.
5. Mushy Peas
My
(long-suffering) friend Harry (Safari) Glasson took my brother Tom and me to a
fish and chip shop near Hayle one day, and, in my innocence, I ordered “Fish
and Chips and Peas.” The result is in the song.
“…Jim Wearne
gives a great helping of Mushy Peas, one of the most amusing songs I’ve ever
heard…”
“Wat Trelawney” Cornish world review of “Music From a Cornish World
Vol. 1” Cornish
World #52, June/July 2007, p 92
6. The Oggy Man
(With Heather Dale on Whistle) (by Cyril
Tawney)
Mr. Tawney
gave me leave to include a recording of this on a previous “Live” CD. I’m
making bold to do it again on this one, as a memorial to Mr. Tawney, with great
respect and thanks
7.
The Eddystone Light (With
Alan and Lynda Jewell)
I felt
obliged to record this old standard, and when I feel obliged to do something,
mischief sometimes happens.
8. 9 Brave Boyz
I
re-wrote some of the fragmentary lyrics that I found for a traditional version
of this song, and wrote some more of my own. As to the spelling of the title,
I’m just trying to be cute
9. Jolly Tinner Boys
A bit of
Cornish bluster. A favorite of mine for a long time.
10. Some
Say The Devil's Dead (With
Robert Rose and Mary Lou O'Brien)
A sprightly
(and spritely) number, with versions to be found from Cornwall, Scotland and
Ireland. I found them.
11. There's Something About
a Pasty (By Brenda Wootton
with a verse by me.)
I have been singing this one live for
years, and people often ask me which of my CDs it’s on. I haven’t included it
on one until now, as it was mostly written by Brenda
Wootton, and I was unsure of how to secure clearance to record it. I
finally decided that it’s easier to get forgiveness (please?) than permission,
so I went ahead.
12. The Old Knight and the
Lady
An aging folkie’s
fantasy.
13. Farewell Shanty
But not, I hope, goodbye.
TO ORDER:
Order On Line! www.cdbaby.com/wearnejim3
(Ideal for non-USA orders)
-or-
I'm on
many on-line sources so you can purchase individual tracks, or the whole CD.
Just "Google" Jim Wearne
-or-
Please send a check for $10.00 (U.S.) plus
$2.00 shipping and handling per CD.
TO:
MR. BEAR ENTERPRISES
2521 Spring St
#2906
Woodridge IL 60517
U.S.A
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