Red Yarn Births More Deep Woods Music

American folk music has served as a storytelling and history preserving mechanism for generation. Its subcategories, including bluegrass, wistfully conjure up memories of mountain ridges, shady brooks, and running through the forest with your friends.

Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson), the roots revivalist/puppeteer (look up that hyphenate on LinkedIn) returns with BORN IN THE DEEP WOODS, his fourth CD and the conclusion of his Deep Woods song cycle trilogy. The CD chronicles music recorded during the pregnancy of his wife, Jessie Eller-Isaacs, of the couple's second child. Thus the presence of "Little Baby Born Today" and "Old Black Dog," which ends with the lyrics:

Big boogerman come flying 'cross the meadow
Swallows the world in his deep dark shadow
"Go away man, go away, man"
He can't have my baby
Cuz mama loves you...

BORN IN THE DEEP WOODS mixes six original songs with six covers of traditional songs, all presented in new arrangements with a first-rate ensemble of musicians, including multi-instrumentalist Dean Jones (tho not the album's producer). The CD was helmed by Adam Selzer, whose credits are a laundry list that includes Peter Buck (R.E.M.), the Decemberists, and John Wesley Harding. I would urge getting a hardcopy of the CD, which comes with full artwork and illustrations by Ryan Bruce.

Red Yarn infuses BORN IN THE DEEP WOODS with a harder edged sound than his past releases. There's more of a southern rock influence and guitar sound on "Born Again" (Allman Brothers) and "Old Mother Goose" (Black Crowes). Perhaps Andy wanted some more modern dance numbers to play at his concerts. But they are a welcome diversion from the somber reverence attributed to "Birdies' Ball" and "Leatherwing Bat."

Inclusion is a familiar refrain around the world, and children's music is no exception. American folk music is part of this country's frontier history. Red Yarn is on a quest to make sure root revival music doesn't become mired in amber, permanently crystalized and never explored. He has invested much time and passion into a deep dive to bring the past present, to make music for the future, his own progeny first and foremost. Dare you come for a run through the forest, by the crook, in the shadow of the mountains? If you do, be sure to bring the kids.

BORN IN THE DEEP WOODS is available March 10 from Red Yarn's website, Amazon, iTunes, and Bandcamp.

Here is a teaser video for Red Yarn's song "Born in the Deep Woods,":

Dancin' Around the Mountains With Cathy & Marcy

When you think about banjo music, is your first point of reference the movie DELIVERANCE? Or is it Steve Martin? If you think about bluegrass music, do you think about the theme for the Beverly Hillbillies? Or do you draw a blank.

Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer want to change your (and your family's) mind. Their brand of homespun countrified music seems diametrically opposed to the stereotypical perception of the Ozarks and Appalachian regions – theirs is a totally inclusive environment. Now stack that up against the residents of the mountain community from DELIVERANCE.

If bluegrass and banjo music are your thing, Cathy and Marcy are excellent gateways to introduce your kids to the genres. For their latest release, DANCIN' IN THE KITCHEN, Cathy and Marcy tout family as "a feeling of belonging," whether you have two same-sex parents, a transgender relative, or split your time between divorced parents. The symbolism of the kitchen is as a communal space where it's natural for people to communicate through word, music, and movement.

If you would rather concentrate on the musical aspects of the CD, stick to tracks like "From Scratch," a cover tune from Justin Roberts or "I'm My Own Grandpa" featuring the Riders in the Sky. Otherwise, the theme lands with a heavy-handed thump, typified in "Happy Adoption Day" and "Soccer Shoes," which traces the path of said shoes from residence to residence.

The production on DANCIN' IN THE KITCHEN is lean and clean. The guest lineup is packed with names such as the Savoy Family Cajun Band, Cherish the Ladies, the Canote Twins, and Kim & Reggie Harris.

The final song that is sung on the disc, "Everything Possible," harkens back more than 20 years. Originally Cathy and Marcy wanted to record the ode to unconditional parental love but were thwarted in efforts to gather a children's choir. Decades later, the world has changed enough that 35 children were gathered for the recording. That's a good thing and a progressive thing but not necessarily something I need to lecture my kids about. Especially to a four-year-old.

DANCING' IN THE KITCHEN is available from Cathy & Marcy's website, Amazon, and iTunes.

Here is the video for the title track, DANCIN' IN THE KITCHEN.