Geoff Oelsner
Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
Music
Press
Review by Emily Kaitz:
Fayetteville singer-songwriter and poet Geoff Oelsner's new CD,
"Ordinary Mystery" debuts 15 new songs and includes musical performances by his wife Leslie Oelsner,their daughter Amy and son Adam. With the addition of 16 poems by Geoff and a series of nature photographs by Leslie in the CD booklet, "Ordinary Mystery" could be considered a multi-media family project as well as an artistic venture of the highest order.
Geoff Oelsner is concerned with historical themes, reverence for the natural world, equality and dignity for human beings, and expressions of love for those close to him. He is masterful with words and has a very creative approach to presenting his songs, which was evident on his first CD, "Morning Branches." Oelsner
generally accompanies himself on guitar, but also uses the droning Indian shruti box and harmonium as well as the harmonica, sometimes building layers of meandering tonalities into an aural labyrinth in which the listener may wander in a trance-like state.
And this CD is for serious listeners. With many of the songs over 5 minutes long, Oelsner is less concerned with commercial airplay than with presenting each song as a world unto itself, unfolding like a short story in breadth and description. Such is the opening song, "Cherokee Trail of Tears," which gives an unvarnished account of the Native American relocation.
All proceeds from CD sales go to selected Native American and indigenous Canadian non-profit groups.
Oelsner's soulful voice is showcased on "I Been in the Storm So Long," his psychedelic rendition of a traditional spiritual. And his keen wit is evident on "Pawhuska Poppa," replete with an imaginary ethno-musicologist's lenghty introduction to a "seminal release" in the history of
Northeast Oklahoma swing music.
Co-produced and engineered by Kelly Mulhollan of the group Still on the Hill, "Ordinary Mystery" also features Mulhollan on acoustic and electric guitars,
acoustic and electric bass, mandolin and octave mandolin, recorder, ukulele, pump organ, and guiro. Leslie and Amy Oelsner contribute harmony vocals, Adam Oelsner plays accordian and electric bass, and Robin Rues and Andrew Sieff add powerful performances on upright bass and percussion respectively. - Fayetteville (AR) Free Weekly
Discography
CD--Morning Branches (2004)
CD--Ordinary Mystery (2009)
Yes
Photos
Bio
I grew up in Kansas City. I've been writing songs and poetry for 46 years. My first CD, Morning Branches, came out 5 years ago. Early
influences were Dylan, Bessie Jones from the Georgia Sea Islands, the Incredible String Band, and
my KC friend Maple Byrne.
I attended Oberlin College,
where I met my wife and part-time singing partner
Leslie Berman Oelsner. I've been performing since my early 20's. Now at 60, I usually include some bits of spoken or chanted poetry in my sets, as well as originals and covers. The quality of my lyrics
and my harp playing add to the uniqueness of my music.
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