3rd Annual Farewell Reunion

Album Review

Third Annual Farewell Reunion teams Mike Seeger with different folk artists an each of its 23 tracks, and the end result is like a miniature folk music festival, one that roams through the varied styles and traditions of American acoustic music, and while Seeger is the constant on each track, he quite wisely works here mostly as a sideman, carefully refraining from imposing his will on any of the performances. Among the high points are Maria Muldaur's inspired vocal on "The Memory of Your Smile," Olabelle Reed's "Boat's up the River," a gentle and charming lap dulcimer duet with Jean Ritchie on "Deep Shady Grove," and the twin acoustic guitars and vocals of Seeger and John Jackson on "Brown's Ferry Blues." Seeger adds banjo to Bob Dylan's guitar on "The Ballad of Hollis Brown," giving the song an added atmospheric touch, and while it doesn't quite have the ominous pull of Dylan's original solo version, it still remains a powerful song. The diversity at work in this collection is an impressive testament to the depth of America's folk music, and the cohesive, seamless flow of the sequencing is also a testament to Seeger's ability to see the full field as an acoustic musician. To his credit, nothing here is treated like a museum piece, and each track is allowed a chance at a living, breathing vitality.