Personnel: Hank Roberts (vocals, cello, 12-string classical guitar); Tim Berne (alto saxophone); Ray Anderson, Robin Eubanks (trombone); Dave Taylor (bass trombone); Bill Frisell (12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo); Mark Dresser (bass); Joey Barron (drums, percussion).
Recorded at RPM Sound Studios, New York, New York on November & December 1987.
Personnel: Hank Roberts (vocals, fiddle, cello, bass guitar); Bill Frisell (guitar, 12-string guitar, banjo); Tim Berne (alto saxophone); Ray Anderson, Robin Eubanks (trombone); Joey Baron (drums, percussion).
One of the top jazz cellists of the 1980s and 1990s, Hank Roberts performs eight of his spirited originals on this set which was his debut as a leader. Roberts, who also plays a bit of classical 12-string guitar and what is called a "jazz-a-phone fiddle" (a one-string violin that was modified so the sound came out of a tube put in his mouth), is joined by altoist Tim Berne; the trombones of Ray Anderson, Robin Eubanks and Dave Taylor; guitarist Bill Frisell; drummer Joey Baron; and (on one song) bassist Mark Dresser. The music is as eccentric as one would expect from this personnel and full of spirit, particularly "Granpappy's Barn Dance Death Dance." Recommended to open-eared listeners who have a strong sense of humor. ~ Scott Yanow
