VA - A Western Jubilee: Songs And Stories Of The American West (2004)

Although Western Jubilee may capture the lore of yesteryear, many of the singers and groups are of contemporary vintage. And while it may not be general knowledge in the field of popular music, cowboy songs made a comeback in the 1990s and beyond. So it's no mistake that the Sons of the San Joaquin remind one of the Sons of the Pioneers, or that established musicians like Peter Rowan and Norman Blake have turned their talents toward tumbleweed ballads. While there are occasional experiments, as when Don Edwards and Waddie Mitchell sing "Sage & Cedar/Shenandoah" against the backdrop of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Western Jubilee specializes in more down-to-earth fare, from bunkhouse poetry to campfire singalongs to full-blown western swing. Waddie Mitchell's free flowing poems paint a rustic portrait as he waxes elegant about the way things used to be in "Don," while Rich O'Brien offers fine instrumental work on "Wheels" and "Come and Dine." Alas, the open prairie, for the most part, is a man's world, and only one cowgal -- Katy Moffatt -- braves the hostile terrain to offer a fine version of "The Brazos." For those unfamiliar with the flowering of present-day cowboy music, Western Jubilee provides a solid and lengthy introduction.~A Western Jubilee: Songs and Stories of the American West Review by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.