Sorry to be away for quite a bit. It was a busy month here with all cycling and art events combined. However, I am always glad to be back to what I love doing the most: telling you about good music. I posted a short blog about Jocelyn Pettit’s Wind Rose. Now that I have listened to the album for quite some time let me give you my observation.

Wind Rose is an album that calls to mind the best of traditional musical styles. Back in 2009, when I launched this blog, there were many amazing traditional musicians like Calum Stewart, Kevin Crawford, and Julie Fowlis, to name a few. It was an exciting decade for traditional music because the format was different then. A decade later, it is great to see that these musicians still make music and continue to charm audiences. With the addition of new artists in the fold, the genre is stronger than ever.

With Wind Rose, Jocelyn Pettit shows us that simplicity is still a vital force in traditional music. The clarity in the recording is an excellent escape from the maximalist production that now exists in all musical genres. Listening to Wind Rode is like taking a vacation in that remote spot that can only live in our psyche. We are, after all, connected to the past, and we are the product of our past generation.

There are 12 tunes in this album; each has its texture and feel. For example, Ready For The Storm is a handsome vocal track due to its emphasis on folk ballad style. The style of Wind Rose reminds me of The Bachands, the siblings who used to record and perform traditional music. I can listen to this album, close my eyes, and let the music take me.

There is one track that stands out to me. The song is Never-Ending Road. I love this version for its simplicity and clarity. The vocals are poignant and captivating. I can say that the album as a whole is a fantastic musical release from this Canadian artist. May she continue to enrich this world with good music.

As of this writing, Jocelyn Pettit has an upcoming album, a follow-up to Wind Rose:

“Since then, I have just released another album, All It Brings, as a duo with American cellist Ellen Gira. Fusing traditional and contemporary influences, the album features nuanced fiddle-cello interplay, vocal harmonies, and guest guitar accompaniment by Adam Dobres. There are ten tracks, with original tunes and songs, and a high-energy repertoire from  Scotland, Ireland, North America, and Scandinavia.”

Great! Another album to look forward to.

Visit: https://www.jocelynpettit.com/