Tom Snow is a guy who's been around a bit. You'd have to try fairly hard not to have come across his jazz piano performances in and around Maine over the last 20 years. You make some friends that way.
Unsurprisingly, then, his new album, Friends, is full of great guest takes by some of our best local players. The songs he's chosen, too, are a collection of old-time folk numbers that allow everyone to be expansive and creative inside of familiar forms.
Mandolin player Joe Walsh is certainly no stranger to this kind of territory. He plays on six of the eight tunes here and it was likely easy for him to enjoy slinging the same old notes, but in the different kinds of jazz rhythms Snow's playing encourages. His work on "Hard Times," especially, is a reminder of how percussive the instrument can be.
Usually, though, the percussion is drummer Marty Joyce's job, and his light hand on something like "Simple Gifts" is important in keeping the pace up and making sure the phrasing doesn't get too sappy. Which is a danger when you've got a serious take on "Froggy Went a-Courtin'." But, hey, if it's good enough for Doc Watson, it's good enough for a blues piano vamp.
Of course, the leading lights here are Snow, himself, and vocalist Jonathan Edwards, whose voice on this album is a folk-revival throwback, going for pure tones and a light touch. Snow is simply a reminder of how fun and inviting the piano can be. His takes on "Shenandoah," a duo and solo version, are lush and evocative, and his duet with electric guitarist Tim Hill on "Lil' Liza Jane" is a pristine back and forth.
Maybe you haven't checked Snow out yet because you're "not into jazz." If that's the case, this album is a great backdoor into his work.
Friends | Released by Tom Snow | with featured guest Jonathan Edwards | at Stone Mountain Arts Center, in Brownfield | May 25 | tomsnow.com
