Search - Mac Martin & Dixie Travelers :: Venango

Mac Martin & Dixie Travelers
Venango
Genres: Country, Pop

Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
1. New Curly Headed Baby - Mac Martin,
2. Venago - Mac Martin, Orrvick, Michael
3. Old Lonesome Time - Mac Martin, James, Sonny
4. My Faithful Servant - Mac Martin, Colleran, Bill
5. Are You Sad - Mac Martin, Lawson, Glen
6. We Buried Her Beneath the Willow - Mac Martin, Davis, Karl
7. Chokin' the Strings - Mac Martin, Reno, Don
8. Rock My Cradle - Mac Martin, Bond, Johnny
9. In My Heart You Will Always Be Mine - Mac Martin,
10. Blue Skies in Your Eyes - Mac Martin, Blankenship, Ruth
11. Backtrackin' II - Mac Martin, Colleran, Bill
12. When I Reach That City - Mac Martin, Oatman, Rev. Johnso
13. Sunny Side of the Mountain - Mac Martin, Gregory, Byron
14. In the Cool Light of Dawn - Mac Martin, Colleran, Bill

CD Details

All Artists: Mac Martin & Dixie Travelers
Title: Venango
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Copper Creek
Release Date: 5/3/2005
Genres: Country, Pop
Style: Bluegrass
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 722321023529

Synopsis

Album Description

This new CD commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Dixie Travelers, the premier band from Pittsburgh that is headed by the venerable Mac Martin. This is the band?s first new recording in a number of years and it embodies the best traditions established on earlier projects: a mix of obscure material and original compositions delivered in a finely honed traditional style. The current line-up of the band includes Mike Carson ? the band?s same fiddler since 1954, Norm Azinger (a 25-year veteran) on bass, Bob Martin (Mac?s son) on guitar, and Keith Little on banjo. Historically, Mac has limited his performances to areas around Pittsburgh. In recent years, he has ventured to Louisville, Kentucky to represent the band at the International Bluegrass Music Association?s annual World of Bluegrass Event. Mac recently returned from appearances in California where he promoted Venango in concerts with other Copper Creek artists such as the Kathy Kallick Band. He has the distinction of being on the Bluegrass Music Museum?s select list of the first 250 people to contribute to the development and popularization of bluegrass music.

CD Reviews

Celebrating a terrific heritage

Peter A. Greene | Franklin, PA United States | 06/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I did not know Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers from a hole in the ground-- I stumbled across this cd through corcumstances too odd to explain.

But dang-- this is good stuff. This new release commemorates 50 years for this traditional bluegrass group. This lesser-known group operates out of the Pittsburgh area, not exactly a hotbed of traditional bluegrass, but they sure can play.

There is everything here from new material like "Venango," which is somehow both a bit haunting and kick-on-ahead, to old tunes like "We Buried Her Beneath the Willow," a moving tribute to a woman how has passed on. Some is self-composed, like Martin's "My Faithful Servant," a great gospel tune, and some like "Chokin' the Strings" comes by way of other players.

There are gospel tunes, kick your heels tunes, and songs that just generally capture the joy and sorrow of life. It is "old-timey" music at its best. For people who didn't discover this type of music till they bought the soundtrack to "O Brother, Where Art Thou," this is a disc that can sit right next to that soundtrack on your shelf."