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Jack Gladstone
It was a fine August day in western Montana. We were avoiding the smell of smoke from nearby forest fires, but there was still a pretty good crowd in the park in downtown Kalispell. I must confess that the scene was not one I'm usually involved in. Music groups were presenting shows, mostly of folk music, and there was an art show going on all around. (I found a wonderful photograph that now hangs above my desk, but that's another unusual thing for me.)
My image of folk music is a bit negative. I think of good musicianship replaced by a "message" and truly interesting material replaced by fervor for a cause. But I was there to hear Jack Gladstone. He came to the podium with just his guitar, adjusted the microphone and sound system just a bit, and then simply began to play and sing. No backup instruments, no extra sound track, just the instrument and his voice. Between the songs he spoke. Yes, there was fervor. Yes, there was a message. But both the content and the form were riveting.
There's nothing artificial about this man. He speaks as one who has been there, who has paid the price in experience and study, and now simply has to pour out what's in his heart. The show just flows.
 There are wonderful pieces reflecting historical situations (Valley of the Little Big Horn, Hudson Bay Blues, The Interpreter, The Lewis and Clark Rag) Native American folk tales and legends (Napi Becomes a Wolf, When Napi Roasted Gophers, Ow, That's Hot, Legends of the Glacier, The Bear Who Stole the Chinook), some recent history (Over Tokyo and Berlin, Bright Path, Navajo Code Talkers), and others of more general interest (Tapping the Earth's Backbone, Letter to the World [reflecting September 11]). My fear in categorizing this is that I will miss the beauty of the pieces. These aren't some song written around a lesson. Indeed they teach. One of the beauties of Jack Gladstone's show is that you're learning, you're thinking and you're enjoying yourself all at the same time.
You may have trouble with this if you lack a sense of humor. There's certainly some fun poked at our modern way of life. I particularly like the interchange of lines such as "couldn't stop shopping" and "wouldn't stop shopping" in "Hudson Bay Blues."
Rather than a review, let me call this simply an absolute recommendation of Jack Gladstone's music without reservation. If you have a chance to have him around to do a show for your group or organization, take it! Visit Jack Gladstone's website! In the meantime, here are some CDs:
These I have and listen to regularly:
Tappin' the Earth's Backbone ASIN: B0000C6E3U
Legends of the Glacier
When Napi Roasted Gophers
Thunderman
Speak to me Grandma
The Bear who Stole the Chinook
Sometimes Eagles
Over Tokyo and Berlin
Tappin' the Earth's Backbone
Letter to the World
Noble Heart ASIN: B00004Z0M5
Shadow of the Moon
Old Meadow Hightree
Hudson Bay Blues
Old Glad
Navajo Code Talkers
Ow, That's Hot
Old Shep
Pray for the Mother
Bright Path
Noble Heart
Buffalo Café ASIN: B00004Z0M6
Buffalo Prelude
Buffalo Café
Napi Becomes a Wolf
Faces the Blizzard
Elk Dog Song
With the Coming of the Horse
Lewis and Clark Rag
Colters Run
The Interpreter
Whoop-Up Trail
Garryowen
Valley of the Little Big Horn
When the Land Belonged to God
The Rose of Fort Macleod
Buffalo Café Reprise
Amazon also shows the following as available:
Buffalo Republic ASIN: B00004Z0M8
Legacy ASIN: B00004Z0M7
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Go to Amazon.com search (no Energion.com notes)
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