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The Sounding Board by R J Lannan |
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RJ Lannan is the reviewer for The Sounding Board. |
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| Peaceful Journey: A Celebration of North Carolina |
| By Bill Leslie |
| Label: Capitol Broadcasting Company |
| Released 11/1/2004 |
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| Peaceful Journey: A Celebration of North Carolina tracks |
1. Quaker Meadows
2. Grip Fast
3. Montreat
4. Daddy's Car
5. Tin Roof Rain
6. Mattamuskeet
7. Bound for Boone
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8. Penny on the Track
9. Roanoke Rhapsody
10. Ocracoke
11. On Roan Alone
12. Kanuga
13. Bells of Bath
14. Wintry Walk
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This Just In |
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Cosby, TN. Just a little before noon it started to snow. Four to six inches are predicted, but in the mountains, it can often double. Tiny, crystal flakes fell at first, but then large fluffy flakes covered the hemlocks outside my window. And in the background was the glorious music of Bill Leslie. His new album Peaceful Journey, A Celebration of North Carolina is a serene multi-seasonal travelogue through North Carolina. Not only are his penny whistle and guitar playing creative, but his compositions are superlative. Secreted within the album are the sounds of nature, locomotives, storms and gentle voices.
Leslie has brought together an ensemble of musicians to give life to his mountain music. They include Bill Covington on piano, Jennifer Curtis on violin, Dan Gilvary on hammered dulcimer and Stephen Levitin on percussion. Additionally, Marc Walker plays saxophone and flute, Clark Wang on cello and Ed Yasick on organ. Together they make a novel sound which I have dubbed Appalachian Celtic.
Mellow guitar, euphonic Celtic whistle and haunting cello blends in the opening track Quaker Meadows. Leslie calls upon Revolutionary War history to bring us a lively tale of brave men, craggy mountains and a loyalty to the New World that would not be bound by British rule.
If you have ever lived in a house with a metal roof, then you know how the pattering of rain creates moods. You can feel energized, sleepy, and even romantic as the rain taps on the tin. Tin Roof Rain is one of those rare songs that you have to experience to understand it. Thunder booms in the distance as the drops tap like a friendly knock on the door and then fall in a staccato drumming. Gentle guitar and soft voices accompany Leslie’s whistle in this drowsy wonder.
If you head up Highway 264 about nine or ten miles east of Swan Quarter you’ll find Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge and the inspiration for Bill’s song Mattamuskeet. This tribute to the land, water and wildlife of one of North Carolina’s unspoiled regions is a song of melodic beauty that will twist the tears right out of your heart. The call of the snow geese echoes out on the lake and on the shore you can see the red wolf loping through the tall pines beginning the nightly prowl. This poignant tune is the best cut on the album and my absolute favorite.
In the North West part of the state is the town of Boone, named after the famed pioneer Daniel Boone. Bound for Boone is a melodious ditty that takes us to Appalachian State University where we hope a certain sweet daughter will realize her dreams. Growing up in New England, I lived about a half a mile from the railroad tracks. And yes, I put rocks and pennies on the track in the pursuit of scientific experimentation (don’t tell the kids). Bill rekindles the same kind of memories in a jazzy song called Penny on the Track. Replete with train whistle and bell sound, it features the lively sax lead of Marc Walker.
On Roan Alone could sit nicely on the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. It is a gentle tune that invokes verdant forests, pure flowing streams and the magical vision of acres and acres of pink flowering rhododendrons. I walked along those trails in the spring of 2001 as the wind blew, snowflakes fell and the rhodies continued to bloom despite the cold. Roan Mountain is so beautiful and so high you would think that you could just reach up and touch the fingertips of God. This is also a personal favorite.
Bill Leslie is the morning and noon news co-anchor for WRAL in Raleigh. He sang in the Sunday choir, scratched tunes out of an old Sears guitar and was the scourge of his high school band. Many songs and more guitars later he formed his own band, wrote and published songs, and did a little recording. But after hearing a concert by Celtic group Nightnoise (Shadows of Time, The Parting Tide) he fell for the penny whistle in a big way. He taught himself the instrument and began composing. I for one am glad he did. I wanted to review just about every track on this excellent album, but there is the constraint of space and time. Suffice it to say this one will get played a lot. This album is in my Top Ten for 2004.
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Rating: Excellent  |
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- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 1/14/2005 |
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