Winter 2025 Short Takes Brief Reviews
Woody Harris "Dreamscape" 2024
This work is an unhurried joy. Harris, who emerged on the fingerstyle guitar scene over forty years ago with recordings on Arhoolie and Kicking Mule, has more recently crafted a compositional approach that
is relatively spare, but commanding. The seven pieces on Dreamscape can be heard as a suite. He begins with "Pavane", which conveys both wonder and apprehension. He introduces wistfulness in the next piece,
"Gesture no. 1 (C.S.)", then sadness in its companion, "Gesture no. 2 (J.R.)". Subsequent pieces evoke emotions including solitude, peace, and foreboding, the last of which concludes the suite in "Stay awhile
(R.d.S.)". Collectively, the works are characterized by clear, deeply sonorous melodies, supported by spare bass notes and chord stabs. He plays a nylon string guitar on most of the set, switching to steel
string for the last two numbers, but maintaining a rich tone throughout. Dreamscape is simply beautiful.
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Patrick Ragains
Robby Hecht "Not A Number" 2024
It's telling to glance at a playlist on Spotify named "Written by Robby Hecht." Archived there is a listing of nearly 70 songs recorded by a mix of artists such as Mary Bragg, Danni Nichols and The Steel Wheels...
all the creative and prolific brainchild of Robby Hecht. It turns out that Hecht doesn't really need an army of songsters as a conduit for his work, he does just fine on his own, as evidenced by his release "Not a
Number." The title track is a poignant lyrical reference to the pandemic's human devastations, and Hecht levels whatever poetic justice can be garnered for the souls lost but not forgotten. The gentle fingerpicking
leading into "I Can't Save You Anymore" is reminiscent of the kind of magic that James Taylor likewise discovers when he intertwines guitar and vocals. The production professionally integrates stellar harmony vocal
contributions from a talented team from Nashville and beyond, including Caroline Spence, Jess Nolan, Jill Andrews, Katie Pruitt, Lydia Luce, The Sea The Sea, Ruth Moody, and Trousdale. "Not a Number" is a
heartachingly intimate tour-de-force.
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Alan Fark
Nic Weatherly "Home Again" 2024
Florida-based composer and guitarist, Nic Weatherly displays an impressive compositional skill and musicianship on the five tunes that comprise his First EP Home Again. Similarly, his guitar work is as
expressive as is his versatility. All five tracks display a different aspect of Weatherly's musical expression. From the light and bouncy Hawaiian groove of the opening track "Redemption," the sweet
melodies of "I Do" and "LaVonne" to the heavier jazz rock overtones of "Blind," Weatherly covers a lot of ground and holds the listener's interest throughout. Including violin and cello on slower tunes adds
texture and depth to these performances indicating his grasp of a wide sonic palette. The second track, the traditional Norwegian Christmas song "O Jul Med Din Glede," seems like a bit of a musical non sequitur,
and might be better placed as a closing track, particularly if this were a full album. Nonetheless, it is a delightful sonic moment. The closing track, "Blind," offers fretwork that is fast, melodic and energetic,
not to mention infectious. Should I find myself in the Orlando area, you can bet I'll be looking for one of Weatherly's gigs.
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James Filkins