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Old-timey musicians Carl Jones and Beverly Smith are regulars on the traditional music circuit, and they even tour internationally with upcoming spring tours to France and the United Kingdom in the works. This debut project, recorded during the quiet late-night hours at Carl's Dittyville, North Carolina farmhouse, gives the duo a chance to illustrate the breadth of their instrumental and vocal talents on a combination of traditional and some original material. Beverly sings, and plays guitar, fiddle, and autoharp. Carl sings, and plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo. The songs they chose to put on this collection range from the Carter Family to Jimmie Rogers, Wade Mainer to obscure Library of Congress recordings by the likes of Charles Ingenthron. Three rousing fiddle tunes in the key of A originate from West Virginia. I especially enjoyed hearing Carl's four original songs, new-timey tunes with old-timey personalities. The title cut is a fingerpicked and bluesy call to love, give, and set your cares and troubles aside. Their vocal duet is tighter on "The Last Real Kiss" with its message to cherish special moments because it's said that all good things eventually may come to an end. That song has a good potential for being covered by country or bluegrass bands. Carl gives a heartfelt rendition of his "The Queen of the Night," a song of encouragement and support when one reaches their darkest times. "A.P." is a tribute to song-collector Alvin Pleasant Carter and member of the famous Carter Family. Just as Sara Carter might have done, Beverly Smith adds some beautiful autoharp accompaniment to this song.
On this album, Beverly and Carl sing with pleasant close parallel harmony, staying true to this genre's form. Old-time music need not be considered a genre that is out of date, with obsolete sounds and messages. "Moving Lightly Through This World" shows how a couple of talented multi-instrumentalists can breathe some new life into this simple and quaint, yet powerful, music. They have an authentic rural sound that celebrates yesteryear, and their songs elicit nostalgic images or give us inspirational messages that simply make us feel good. For this, I thank them for keeping the old-time tradition alive. Lester Flatt once said, "It used to be that a band was just a fiddle and a banjo." There's no reason that it still can't be that way.
Joe Ross, Staff Writer, Bluegrass Now Magazine (www.bluegrassnow.com) - Bluegrass Now
Discography
SOMEWHERE OVER YONDER
(Dittyville 002)
MOVING LIGHTLY THROUGH THIS WORLD (Dittyville 001)
SHOUT LULU (Yodel-A-Hee 050)
The Rockinghams - John Herrmann, Meredith McIntosh, Beverly Smith, Rafe Stefanini
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Bio
For Years Carl Jones and Beverly Smith have appeared on the traditional music scene: at festivals, on record, at contests and dances, in various bands and formations, playing just about anything with strings or tossing in vocal harmonies wherever there was the opportunity. In their recordings they bring those years of experience to the art of the duet - songs and tunes, old and new, done simply and with love.
Carl Jones toured with Norman and Nancy Blake as part of the Rising Fawn String Ensemble, playing mandolin, banjo, and fiddle. He often plays as a duo with James Bryan, and is sometimes found pickin' as part of a trio with Bruce Green and Don Pedi. Carl has been an instructor at Pinewoods, Port Townsend's Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Mars Hill Old Time Week, and the Swannanoa Gathering. His songs have been recorded by the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Rickie Simpkins, and others.
One of the most respected guitar players in old time music today, Beverly Smith is also in demand as a singer, fiddler, and dance caller. She has made numerous recordings, backing up fiddlers Bruce Molsky, Rafe Stefanini, Tara Nevins and Brad Leftwich, vocalizing with Irish musicians Mick Moloney and John Doyle, and also singing with bluegrass great Laurie Lewis. She has taught and played at many camps and folk festivals and, in addition to her collaboration with Carl, also plays with old time band The Rockinghams.
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