jack_beuthin - Posted - 04/13/2023:  09:31:10

Stephen Wade’s new album, Hands on the Tune, has been released by Patuxent Music and is now available as a CD and digital download directly from the producer.



pxrec.com/p2_Patuxent_Oldtime-...ade2.html



Hands on the Tune comprises twenty cuts, all from three live performances—two in 2017 and one in 2022. The collection of tunes draws from a variety of sources including Pete Steele, Gus Cannon, Earl Scruggs, Frank Proffitt, the McGee brothers, Tony Ellis, Hobart Smith and more. Stephen is accompanied by Zan McLeod and Russ Hooper on some of the pieces.



If you are already a fan of Stephen’s musical artistry and banjo playing, I believe you will find this album immensely enjoyable and inspirational. If you are unfamiliar with Stephen’s music and banjo playing, then this album is an excellent entry point into his lifetime of contributions to the world of traditional banjo picking and roots music. Stephen is not only a stylistically versatile banjoist, but also a singer, guitarist, buck dancer, folklorist, author, scholar, story teller, and all-around fountain of knowledge in the world of American roots music. Much of Stephen’s life work has been devoted to preserving and invigorating musical treasures of the Southeastern US. He continually has breathed new life not only into the music, but also into the lives of those who have handled and shaped the tunes and songs. “A tune has so many people in it” says Stephen in the liner notes. In pursuing his passion, Stephen himself has joined the lineage of those gifted players of a shared repertoire. Hands on the Tune comes shining through on that count.



One of the first things that struck me about the album was the even and superb audio quality, even though the pieces were from different live performances with different dates and venues. Not only does this enhance the listening experience, but it creates continuity within the general Hands on the Tune theme. Remarkable audio engineering.



Stephen’s performances are equally outstanding. They reveal wisdom, musical maturity, technical mastery, and deep connection to the tunes, as well as the energy and spontaneity of live performances. In many ways, I feel that this is Stephen’s best album. I recall watching Stephen’s 1987 film documentary, Catching the Music (folkstreams.net/films/catching-the-music), for the first time, and this album brings back much of the ecstatic feeling that the film stirred in me. In the wake of a long-ago banjo contest in which Stephen did not place, he took the advice of one the judges, and has been “practicing ever since”. With Hands on the Tune, we are once again bestowed the glorious fruits of that effort with joy, inspiration and connection all woven together in a beautiful musical tapestry.



Although Hands on the Tune is available directly from Patuxent Music, it will be formally released tomorrow (April 14) when it will become available through various vendors and streaming platforms. I encourage you to check it out, and hope you enjoy this latest (and I doubt last) release from Stephen.



Disclaimer: I have no commercial interest in this album, and offer my review and recommendations strictly as a public service.

Edited by - jack_beuthin on 04/14/2023 06:48:50

Hands on the Tune

 

brownsdream - Posted - 04/14/2023:  05:43:32

I agree, Jack! I'm listening now. With this release, we can attend a Stephen Wade concert at the click of a button or the spin of a CD. I love hearing the infectious music and all of Stephen's charming narration. He is, and always will be, one of my favorite banjo performers, champions, and scholars.