Alice Gerrard - Sun to Sun (2023) Hi Res

This project came about as a result of my having written a lot of new songs, especially during covid. It happened that Tatiana Hargreaves was working with me on digitizing my 35 mm negatives, and we would often hang out and play music. I would try out my new songs on her, we would try this and that with me on guitar and Tati on fiddle. When mandolinist Reed Stutz came to live here for several years, he and I and Tatiana would play a lot together. I think it was Cathy Fink who heard us at a festival and suggested we make a recording. I wanted to get the songs out into the world, and started seriously to think about arrangements, backup, etc. I have never considered myself a solo artist, I’ve always collaborated musically with others (Harmony Sisters, Tom, Brad & Alice, Hazel & Alice, Strange Creek Singers, Piedmont Melody Makers, Kay Justice, Gail Gillespie…. Even my four “solo” recordings are collaborations with other musicians providing the magic that brings a song or tune to life). To me it’s much more fun hearing what other musicians bring to the table and how they help flesh out the songs. They bring not only musical but arrangement ideas as well, and I appreciate the input whether I use it or not. I love that process. And as we sat around recording this project (mostly in one room, on separate mics but not isolated), we would run through a song, try this, try that, make a key or arrangement adjustment here and there, and lo it was a collaboration. Instrumental (no pun intended) in the process were: Tatiana Hargreaves on fiddle and harmony vocals, Hasee Ciaccio on standup bass and electric bass, Reed Stutz on harmony vocals, mandolin and banjo, DaShawn Hickman on pedal steel, Marcy Marxer on lead guitar and banjo cello, Gail Gillespie on banjo, Phil Cook on Rhodes piano and synth, Nick Falk on drums, and me on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. Thanks always to my family and to so many friends who put their two cents worth in during this process. In the dark of the night I think sometimes about how this might be my final recording, my final mattress, my final car, my final dog—but then you never know….