I love this new album from Don Flemons who is an Arizona born "old-time music, Piedmont blues, and neotraditional country multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter". Whew. He is a proficient player of the banjo, fife, guitar, harmonica, percussion, quills, and rhythm bones. And damned if this record isn't one of the best I've heard this year. " Georgia Drumbeat " is just one of 35 tracks I could have chosen to feature off this lone record.
Prospect Hill: The American Songster Omnibus liner notes: "This album is a meeting of a lot of songs and arrangements I've had in my mind for the past decade. When I made this record I wanted to focus on producing an ensemble of talented musicians that represent traditional roots music as well it's inroads into country & western, rhythm & blues, jazz, folk, bluegrass, and hip hop music. Visually, I chose to work with photographer and Music Maker Relief Foundation founder Timothy Duffy using his tintype photographs and images taken at the "Warren Store". In a final note, I cannot finish these notes without mentioning the work of engineer Jason Richmond. I chose to work with Jason after hearing his studio work with a wide range of jazz and world musicians. Instead of treating the album like a folk "field" recording with one microphone in the room, I wanted to get a big, clean sound like a classic bebop jazz record. "
