Critically acclaimed NYC jazz vocalist Hilary Gardner transports audiences to the nostalgic heart of the American west during two shows in the UK:
London 1st July at Crazy Coqs:
https://www.brasseriezedel.com/events/hilary-gardner-and-the-lonesome-pines-2
Milton Keynes 2nd July at The Stables
https://stables.org/event/hilary-gardner-the-lonesome-pines
In the early weeks and months of the pandemic, confined to my Brooklyn apartment in the silenced city, I dreamed of wide-open spaces and the freedom to roam. I started researching “trail songs” from the singing cowboy era of the 1930s – 40s, drawn to the images in the lyrics: silver stars, purple hills, slumbering shadows, and the lights of Old Santa Fe glinting in the distance. What heaven, to saddle up a reliable horse and wander, unworried and unhurried, under a vast western sky!
As I delved deeper, I learned that many trail songs were written not only by singing cowboys, but by jazz and film composers and lyricists like Johnny Mercer, Benny Carter, Frank Loesser, and others. A song making its debut in a Western film starring Roy Rogers or Gene Autry would often go on to be recorded by a swinging big band or the original hip cowboy, Bing Crosby – the lines between genres were, happily, blurrier back then.
The songs on this album evoke all the romantic mythology of the American West and remind us that the answers to many of life’s big questions can be found in contemplative solitude, the beauty of the natural world, and the arms of a loved one.
On The Trail liner notes
Ok, this is not a jazz album but it is a good example of what some people might call Americana and having heard the album through, I think it will go down very well in front of a live audience. Hilary Gardner sings with clarity, purity of tone and delightful timing. The backing band are good throughout and Justin Poindexter provides the listener with some excellent guitar lines. The addition of Sasha Papernick’s accordion on the two tracks gives added tonal depth and colour to the two numbers.
Many of the numbers on the album are ballads in style, and they are good, but it is Cow Cow Boogie and Jingle Jangle Jingle (I Got Spurs) that are the stand out tracks for me. Cow Cow Boogie has terrific guitar lines backed by crisp drumming from Aaron Thurston, and solid bass lines from Noah Garabedian. Jingle Jangle Jingle (I Got Spurs) is pure Americana with wonderful backing vocals from guitarist Justin Poindexter and features a delightful bass solo along with more excellent guitar playing – a real toe tapper of a number.
Tracklist: 01 – Along the Navajo Trail; 02 – Cow Cow Boogie; 03 – Call of the Canyon; 04 – Under Fiesta Stars; 05 – Silver on the Sage; 06 – Jingle Jangle Jingle (I Got Spurs); 07 – A Cowboy Serenade (While I’m Smokin’ My Last Cigarette); 08 – Song of the Sierras; 09 – Along the Santa Fe Trail; 10 – Lights of Old Santa Fe.
Musicians: Hilary Gardner (vocals), Justin Poindexter (guitars, mandolin, organ, background vocals), Noah Garabedian (bass), Aaron Thurston (drums, percussion), Sasha Papernik (accordion on tracks 4 and 5).
SimplyJazzTalk 