Simpson, Martin

Simpson, Martin: The Collection [CD]

With 'Vagrant Stanzas' Martin Simpson makes a career defining statement - fourteen virtuoso solo, intimate performances captured in jewel-like recordings. A splendid intimate new recording from a world class finger-style guitar maestro. In collaborate with some of the best producers and engineers in the business, including multi-Grammy Award winning mastering engineer, Silas Brown. The CD has been co-produced by Martin alongside American producer Peter Denenberg and, our own, Richard Hawley, who has produced the UK part of the CD in Sheffield, at the legendary Yellow Arch Studios. 'Vagrant Stanzas' is made up of a mixture of Martin's original compositions, including a song commissioned by BBC Radio 2 for their award winning Radio Ballads series, alongside classic songs by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Chris Wood, Leon Rosselson and, of course, the ubiquitous 'Anon' of Folk ballad fame.

Recorded in his home during lockdown,this brand new album by Martin Simpson perfectly captures this folk/roots singer-songwriter/guitarist/banjoist at his very best. Includes wonderful covers including Bob Dylan's 'The Times They A-Changin', Lyle Lovett's 'Family Reserve,' John Prine's 'Angel From Montgomery' and Robin Williamson's 'October Song' plus many Simpson originals and trad arrangements.

Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for "Best Album" of 2002, "Musician Of The Year" 2002 & 2004. A great album of English traditional songs and tunes.A native of Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire, Martin Simpson had left to live out his American dream 12 years earlier, living in such diverse places as New Orleans, upstate New York and Santa Cruz, California. Already recognised as one of the great acoustic guitarists of his generation when he left, he immersed himself in American music and honed his skills playing throughout the USA. This album heralded his return to the motherland with a bang. Universally lauded, it won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for The Best Album Of The Year in 2002. Martin was also awarded the prize for Best Musician that year and again in 2004.

Released in August 2003, this follow up to the award-winning album 'The Bramble Briar' is a collection of new recordings, this time drawn from the American tradition and featuring his unequalled instrumental and vocal ability. As Martin says in his album notes, this record allows him to tip his hat to the music and people of the Southern US states, and features a mix of traditional song and Martin's own compositions. Alongside his singing, Martin plays acoustic guitar, ukulele, electric guitar, lap-steel, percussion, 5-string banjo and slide guitar. Much of the album was recorded in New Orleans and he is joined by a crack team of local musicians. Steeleye Span's Rick Kemp features on some of the tracks recorded in the UK.

Re-issue of Martin Simpson's 1983 masterpiece.

Simpson, Martin: An Introduction To [CD]