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MP3 Blue Sage Trio - Live At the Junction Theater
18 MP3 Songs in this album (71:23) !
Related styles: Country: Western, Country: Americana, Type: Acoustic
People who are interested in Bill Staines Doc Watson Don Edwards Michael Martin Murphey should consider this download.
Details:
This Cd has been a long time coming. We appreciate the patience of those who prepaid and thereby helped make this project possible.
The Music
Blue Sage had it’s beginning over thirty five years ago when, like many teenagers in the seventies, I picked up a guitar and began to learn the songs of my favorite artists. I was soon playing material by such artists as John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor and the Eagles. But, to the bewilderment of my friends, I also became fascinated with American folk music. At this time I discovered those artists who would most profoundly shape my own music: musicicans such as Glen Orlin, Doc Watson, Rosalie Sorrels, Utah Phillips, Bill Staines, and the Deseret String Band. Although I think of myself as a folk singer, this musical journey also led me to clawhammer banjo, guitar, and mandolin, the instruments I am most associated with.
Coming from western stock (both my mother and step father are Wyoming natives), I soon found myself gravitating toward the folk music of the west. While still a teen, I was asked to perform cowboy and Mormon pioneer folk songs at the Festival of the American West. As a testament to how much western folk music means to me, I will shortly be celebrating my twenty fifth year performing at that festival. Blue Sage is the culmination of all those years and all those songs! Although I’ve enjoyed playing in many ensembles, Blue Sage best reflects the music that is closest to my heart.
The Band
Having been privileged to have worked with some of the finest folk and bluegrass musicians that Utah has produced, I know that the emotional attachments that develop between band members can be very strong. I can honestly say that I feel as close to many of the musicians I have worked with as I do with my own brothers and sisters. That being said, let me introduce you to the band!
When I first formed Blue Sage, I was able to draw upon the incredible talents of Ryan Shupe to fill the instrumentalist position in the trio. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. When Ryan eventually left Blue Sage to form the Rubber Band, I couldn’t imagine ever finding someone who could fill his shoes, either as a friend or a musician. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
When Rob Ricks agreed to take over as the Blue Sage fiddler, I knew he was one of the hottest improvising violinists I had heard. What I didn’t know was that Rob would be equally as talented backing me up, both instrumentally and vocally, on my slower pieces! As you listen to this CD, you will be amazed by the fiddle pyro-techniques on our fast numbers, but I believe that Rob’s tasteful playing on the slower tunes, such as ‘When You And I Were Young Maggie’, is even more amazing. I often joke, on stage, about a “Rob Ricks Fan Club”, but if one is ever formed, I’ll be it’s first member!
Shauna and I recently celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. Through all those years Shauna has had every right to be resentful of my music; nights out at gigs or jams until the early hours of the morning, the endless noise as I practiced banjo for hours on end, the stress of having a self employed, musician husband. Shauna could have been resentful. Instead, she was not only supportive of my music addiction, she willingly joined in! Shauna not only fell in love with the music I loved, she turned herself into the driving bass fiddle player that has made me the envy of all the local bluegrass bands!
What more could a folk singer dream of than to share his music with someone who, for the past quarter century, has been his dearest friend and constant companion. I love you Shauna and always will.
Recorded at a live ‘Blue Sage’ performance at the Junction Theater in Ogden, Utah in 2001.
Produced by Mike Iverson.
Mixed by Mike Iverson.
Mastered by Matt Ward of Trax Audio.
Layout, photography and art direction by Brian Cox of Cox Studios (https://www.tradebit.com).
Original oil painting on the cover is by incredibly talented Steve Johnson.
This album is loving dedicated to the memory of Don Baker (my closest friend and musical collaborator), and to the memory of Larry Sandburg (the greatest fan of Western music).
Special thanks to: Heather and Meghan for putting up with all the music nonsense mom and dad have inflicted upon you over the years; to Courtney for lending us Rob and for being so supportive of his music; and to our parents, friends and fans.
Mike Iverson
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