Carry Me On

Birds of all kinds. The moon and stars. Angels and the mystery of crossings to an unknown shore. These are recurring themes in this fine new folk album from Sutton-based singer and musician, Trisha Pope. 

The Heart Of The Album

Nine joyful, tender, heart-warming songs. Five are traditional: three from African-American sources, one from Québec, and one from the Innu people. The four numbers written by Trisha sound equally traditional and right at home with the rest.  

The beating heart of this compelling album is… the banjo. But, attention, not the brash bluegrass variety, this is the gentler “minstrel” banjo with silky gut strings tuned low. Fiddles, percussion and guitar weave in and out of its soft but oh-so-steady pulse, allowing space for Trisha’s strong, clear vocals to shine, along with those of her chief collaborator, Daniel Haché.

Musicians

Daniel also contributes fiddle, didgeridoo and a plethora of percussion, plus French lyrics for the poignant, bilingual “Great Unknown.” Trisha plays banjo, and flute in one song, “Yellow Jewel,” giving us a hint of her jazz background, with fine guitar work from Jerry Bowers. Recording engineer Pascal Gemme chimes in with occasional guitar, vocals and percussion. He also plays and an achingly plangent fiddle in the opening track, Trisha’s “Carry Me On.”

When Trisha announced she had taken up the banjo, some, aware of her life in jazz and her work as a choir director and voice coach, may have raised a discreet eyebrow or two. They were not to know that she was revisiting her formative years as a teenager on the American folk scene. And listening to the result of Trisha’s return to her roots – this glorious album – any arched brows will surely give way to broad, grateful smiles.

Concerts

Launch concerts will be held at the Sutton Junction Community Hall on Saturday, September 10 at 6:45 p.m. and at 8 p.m. on October 22 at The Bistro in Bolton-Est. Reserve your spot with Trisha at popetrisha@gmail.com or for the Bolton concert with Alain Déry at: info@rucherboltonnois.net or 438 837-0560. You can find out more at www.trishapope.com or download and stream the album “Carry me on” at www.trishapope.bandcamp.com.

Stephen Jones