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The Works
C.D. by Jonatha Brooke
One might think that this album would be performed solely by Brooke in the traditional Woody Guthrie folk singer style. The surprise is that the recording includes keyboardist Joe Sample, bassist Christian McBride, drummer Steve Gadd, and steel guitarist Greg Leisz. Additionally, featured duets with Eric Bazilian, Glen Phillips, and Keb Mo fill out the collaborative effort.
Brooke performs two songs of her own: "Little Bird" and "Taste of Danger." "Little Bird" seems to be coming directly from Woody. He was like this little bird singing all day long; he didn't censor himself, he didn't stop. "Taste of Danger" was the opposite side of him: the philanderer, the sexy guy who couldn't stay away from women. The other 11 cuts are directly from Guthrie's writings. One can only imagine the process Brooke went through in taking these personal lyrics and creating brand-new songs. This album makes the listener read the lyrics from the liner jacket to find out what was going on in Woody's head, simultaneously allowing the listener to look away and just follow the tempo, beat, and groove of the tune.
There is vivid social commentary on the song "Madonna on the Curb"; however, most of what Brooke chose has deeper personal roots in Guthrie's life, starting with "My Sweet and Bitter Bowl" that deals with the harsh realities of a life-long relationship. "More True Lovers Than One" is inspired by the native Oklahoman's first sight of the ocean as well as the girl beside him in the sand. "All You Gotta Do Is Touch Me" is a duet with bluesman Keb Mo.
The Works is an extraordinarily intimate, emotionally revealing portrait of an American folk legend, yet an album that is very much Jonatha Brooke's own record. Brooke is an accomplished and capable guitar player and vocalist. She becomes the saint, the sinner, the drinker, the thinker, and a host of other personalities of the songs' author. Somewhat like an actor who becomes the person in a film, she musically embodies the spirit of the dreamer, poet, prankster, husband, lover, and wanderer.
Nora spoke for her dad, "He would have been thrilled. I'm so glad somebody is doing what I had hoped with these words, making the most of them, combining things, pulling out the gems . . ." We are, too.
Brooke performs solo Saturday, April 25, at the Concert Hall on the Fort Lewis College campus in Durango, Colo.
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