INDIE CD REVIEWS 119

Mark Olson & The Creekdippers - December's Child (Folk/Americana)

1). How Can I Send Tonight 2) Still We Have A Friend In You 3) Alta's Song 4) Back To The Old Home Place 5) December's Child 6) Nerstrand Woods 7) Cactus Wren 8) Climb These Steps (We Will) 9) How Can This Be 10) Say You'll Be Mine 11) One Eyed Black Dog Moses

Release Date: 2002 Label: Dualtone Records Producer: Mark Olson Official Website: http://creekdippers.com

If you haven't followed Mark Olson's career since he left the Jayhawks in 1995, his latest record with The Creekdippers may be a good place to catch up with him. That's because he reunites with his former Jayhawk songwriting partner Gary Louris on one track and another sounds like a living room party with Olson's wife, Victoria Williams and the sparklingly loose Creekdippers sitting in. It's all tied together with a spiritual sense of love and mystery. A great back porch sound and versatile vocals with a combination of fragile beauty, deep-rootedness and playful joy. Olson paints scenes of community and care, of dedication and love. It's all drawn from the life he and musical partner Victoria Williams have made for themselves in the California desert, as well as from his Minnesota roots and her Louisiana birthplace. Olson displays an endearing minimalist approach that allows Mark and Vic to refine their singing and songwriting talents. December's Child manages to be both homespun and spiritual. Mark Olson and Victoria Williams are still writing and singing songs that come from the heart and still sounding great doing it.

Recording Personnel:

Mark Olson (vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, dulcimer, banjo),
Victoria Williams (electric guitar, wah wah banjo, harmonica, vocals),
Joshua Grange (electric and acoustic guitars, bass, pedal steel guitar, vocals),
Michael Russell (violin, viola, bass, mandolin, vocals), Dave Wolfenberger (bass, vocals)
Danny Frankel (drums, percussion), Don Heffington (drums, vocals),
Jon Birdsong (trumpet), Gary Louris (vocals, acoustic guitar)

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