Let's face it: A lot of the
children's
music that comes from the United States is appallingly bad. It is annoying and highly sophomoric, not to mention condescending -- it does kids a tremendous disservice by talking down to them.
John McCutcheon
feels the same way, which is why the folksinger has been providing intelligent
music. Not everything
McCutcheon
does is children-oriented, but here's the thing: His children-oriented work is so intelligently done that it isn't all that different from the
albums that aren't specifically aimed at kids.
Live at Wolf Trap
falls into the latter category, although a lot of parents bought it anyway because of his fine reputation in the
market. Recorded live in Vienna, VA, in 1990 and 1991, this CD paints an attractive picture of
as both a
singer/songwriter
and a performer of
traditional folk
repertoire. Some of the songs that he performs are in the public domain, including
"The Water Is Wide"
and
"Stole and Sold from Africa."
But plenty of
originals are also performed, and they range from the reflective
"High Hearts"
to the playful
"Black Sea."
One of the nice things about
is his awareness of the roots of Anglo-American
folk
-- he realizes that the
traditions of the U.S. have their roots in the
traditions of the British Isles.
has
blues
influences, but he also has Welsh and
Celtic
influences. So even though the Wisconsin native is very much a part of Anglo-American
, he is also well aware of his European musical heritage.
falls short of essential, but it's still an enjoyable, satisfying document of the
's live performances. ~ Alex Henderson