High Wide & Handsome-The Charlie Poole Project

by Loudon Wainwright III (Artist)

Banjo player and singer Charlie Poole was one of Loudon's first models when he began singing and playing over 40 years ago. Now, together with producer/songwriter Dick Connette, he has put together a double album dedicated to the music and life of his early inspiration. Most of the songs recast the original recordings from the 20s and 30s, but Wainwright and Connette have also written 9 new songs around and about Poole's life and times. The album features over 20 singers and musicians, including Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Sloan Wainwright, Lucy Wainwright Roche, David Roche, the Roches (Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy), anda special guest appearance by mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile. From string quartet to swing trio, from old timey string band to acappella gospel, what they've’ve found in the Poole repertoire, besides the expected nascent country and bluegrass, has been astounding in its range - sentimental songs, vaudeville songs, minstrel songs, early jazz songs, British ballad variants, dixie melodies, comedy routines - it’s like a condensed compendium of all the strains that have created and continue to create American popular music.

Audio CD

Published September 8, 2009