Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Close your eyes and listen to this CD. The feeling is akin to sitting on the back porch of a long time friend, swinging in a hammock on the warm Texas summer night, while your two best friends play the blues on the steps not more than a few feet away. The new release from Aaron Burton & Cheryl Arena “Good Old Wagon”, is comforting and comfortable, both hypnotic and peaceful. Nothing forced, nothing fake, a natural pairing of two extremely talented blues musicians hand crafting introspective originals and reassuring covers.
This is the kind of CD that blues purist worship and yet has the power to make blues fans out of those teetering on the edge, taking their first dip into that big blues ocean. With so much debate about what is blues and what is not, it’s a joy to listen to a project where there is no question, this IS the blues. It’s so real, so honest, so soul baring. What else could it be?
Kudos to Engineer Pat Boyack and also to Roger Burton, who mastered the disc. Too many times songs with this kind sparse phrasing yet voluptuous weight are battered about unmercifully by the technicians in the studio. Not here. The subtle timbre of the guitar, harmonica and that most beautiful and complicated of instruments, the human voice, are all here, with a lovely round, rich sound. It almost breathes in your ear!
Chemistry in a musical relationship is a tricky thing, you either have it or you don’t. It can’t be forced, and that’s why “super groups” rarely work – technically it’s okay, but there’s just something missing. Nothing is missing here – the pairing of Burton’s warm rich guitar tone is the perfect match for Arena’s emotional and heartfelt harmonica lines. They both take turns at the vocals – again, in the best of natural interplay that musicians have when they respect each others talents. The musical connection is so complete; it’s hard to believe they have only been playing together about a year. It’s obvious, Aaron Burton and Cheryl Arena have come to this point from their own musical journeys, but it was meant for them to join forces. It was destiny that “Good Old Wagon” be born.
–BLUE LISA KNON 89.3 FM & Southwest Blues Magazine
- Southwest Blues Magazine
Discography
Good Old Wagon 2006
Photos
Bio
Cheryl Arena and Aaron Burton started playing together in the spring of 2005. Prior to that, Cheryl fronted her own 4 piece blues band based out of Boston and Aaron played as a solo act based out of Dallas Texas. Soon after moving to Dallas Texas, Cheryl caught Aaron’s act and was immediately drawn to his singing and playing. He was playing songs from the likes of Robert Jr. Lockwood, Blind Lemmon Jefferson, Skip James, Blind Blake, etc...the list goes on and on…just like the genre..Country Blues…one of her most favorite idioms in the blues.
So she asked him if she could sit in, and the rest is history…they’ve been a team ever since.
They’re continually expanding their repetoire including songs from the fairer sex like Memphis Minnie, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and many more.
Most importantly they now have more than 40 original tunes between them.
Their 1st Cd together, “Good Old Wagon” was released in Aug. of 2006. A second Cd comprised of all originals is already in the works for a 2007 release.
As well as playing locally in the Metroplex they have already toured in New England, Mississippi, Florida, and Arkansas and are slated to return in 2007.
The North Texas Blues Society has chosen them to compete at the IBC (International Blues Challenge) held in Memphis Tenn. Feb of 2007. After which we will be heading to Florida for a tour.
Having played in a variety of situations from barbeque joints, family restaurants, wine bars, festivals, blues bars, private parties, busking on the street and just continually gigging has helped them to hone their craft and become one tight unit, able to accommodate many different situations and appealing to all ages.
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