Kim Johnson
(Hur Herald Photo)
West Virginia traditional music stalwart and clawhammer banjo player, Kim Johnson, has released her long-awaited CD, "Keepers."
Variety is the word here. The 19 tracks include, as might be expected, banjo pieces ("Mouth of Stinson") and banjo and fiddle duets ("Cherry River Line" with Lester McCumbers and "Boatin' Up Sandy" with Tracy Schwarz).
Best known as the banjo player for fiddlers McCumbers and Bobby Taylor, Johnson was for many years the musical partner of the late Wilson Douglas, until his death in 1999. Douglas' playful, bittersweet Clay County fiddle is found on "Yew Piney Mountain," "June Apple" and the wondrously squirrelly "Camp Chase."
West Virginia tunes can have more twists and turns than the Elk River, and nobody knew the shoals of Douglas' music like Kim Johnson.
"Keepers" also features four guest vocalists, Kentuckians Rob McNurlin and Karen Byington, singer-songwriter John Lilly, and Linda McCumbers.
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus" captures the beautiful, lonesome voice of Linda McCumbers. Now retired in Calhoun County, this is one of her last recorded performances.
"Lay Your Body Down" is a modal tune with great singing from Byington.
On "The Cuckoo," Rob McNurlin is in fine form.
Lilly offers a heartfelt "May You Never Be Alone." Lilly is the editor of Goldenseal magazine, where Johnson is the editorial assistant.
Rounding out the Culture Center talent is fiddler (and W.Va. archives library manager) Taylor. Joined on guitar by Andrew Dunlap, the trio pays tribute to Ed Haley ("Dunbar") and Clark Kessinger ("Sixteen Days in Georgia").
"Tom Carpenter" is another great track, and presents a bit of oral history as Wilson Douglas recounts a story he was told about Tom Carpenter, a Clay County preacher-fiddler and the father of Douglas' mentor, French Carpenter.
Great tunes, fine selection, well done all around. And lastly, love that mystery track.
The CD layout is first rate, and was designed by Jason Myer.
For more information, check out banjowv
"Keepers" is available for $15 postage paid from Kim Johnson, P.O. Box 1607 Clendenin, WV 25045
(Charleston Daily Mail Review)
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