JONI MORRIS
A Portrait of Patsy
Walkin’ After Midnight – Strange – Heartaches –
Leavin’ On Your Mind – Seven Lonely Days – Life’s Railroad – I Fall To
Pieces – In Care Of The Blues – Sweet Dreams – Crazy Arms – You Belong
To Me – Gotta Lotta Rhythm – Have You Ever Been Lonely – End Of The
World – Dream Lover – Ring Of Fire – Crazy
Leavin’ On Your Mind – Seven Lonely Days – Life’s Railroad – I Fall To
Pieces – In Care Of The Blues – Sweet Dreams – Crazy Arms – You Belong
To Me – Gotta Lotta Rhythm – Have You Ever Been Lonely – End Of The
World – Dream Lover – Ring Of Fire – Crazy
To get this many Patsy Cline songs in one
location, much less have them all sound so good is next to impossible
these days. But here it is, a remarkable adventure in music featuring
Joni Morris. And much more than just Patsy Cline. When we hear “Life’s
Railroad” we hear an entirely different kind of arrangement of a very
old mountain song. You’ll also hear some amazing keyboard offerings
here by Kevin Jachetta. Some mandolin too, but we don’t know who’s
doing the playing. I get really interested in the musicians that back
stunning artists like Joni, and right off the bat, on the first song, we
hear Mike Lothrop on harmonica. Wow, does that sound great or what.
It takes me right back to those great days of real country music.
There’s been quite a few original Patsy Cline videos popping up on the
you-tube these days, the most recent being one of her performing with
Ernest Tubb and Little Jimmy Dickens. AND then, just when you think
there are no new twists in good country music, Art Coleman joins Joni
Morris on ukulele on “Heartaches.” And wait a minute, Joni Morris does
not in any way imitate Patsy Cline. She sings Patsy Cline songs in her
own Joni Morris way. Being in the business as long as I have, right now
it’s right at 70 years (well I started playing when I was ten), I can
tell you that the way Joni does Patsy’s songs, if these two ladies ever
had the chance to meet, they would become instant lifelong friends. Two
gorgeous women singing words very meaningful to each of them, and then a
rest, just visiting, chatting, talking about the last gig, where to
next, and of course a good looking man or two. Joni makes her home in
Stockton, California, so she has had ample opportunity to ‘feel’ the
songs she sings, and how her California audience reacts. In most cases
it’s standing ovation time when you go to a Joni Morris concert. She
made the trip far East to Iowa in 2015 to accept induction into
America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame for her continuing efforts
in keeping country music country. Nominated by Minnesota’s top
recording artist, Sherwin Linton, she did an amazing job stepping back
in time at the LeMars, Iowa, festival. And indeed, it was standing
ovation time in Iowa. Matt Cardinalli did the producing work on this
album, and he did a remarkably fine job, good mix, good arrangements,
good creativity. This is one of Joni’s earlier recordings, and I’m very
glad to have the opportunity to review it. More more more Joni, you
are at the top of your game.
location, much less have them all sound so good is next to impossible
these days. But here it is, a remarkable adventure in music featuring
Joni Morris. And much more than just Patsy Cline. When we hear “Life’s
Railroad” we hear an entirely different kind of arrangement of a very
old mountain song. You’ll also hear some amazing keyboard offerings
here by Kevin Jachetta. Some mandolin too, but we don’t know who’s
doing the playing. I get really interested in the musicians that back
stunning artists like Joni, and right off the bat, on the first song, we
hear Mike Lothrop on harmonica. Wow, does that sound great or what.
It takes me right back to those great days of real country music.
There’s been quite a few original Patsy Cline videos popping up on the
you-tube these days, the most recent being one of her performing with
Ernest Tubb and Little Jimmy Dickens. AND then, just when you think
there are no new twists in good country music, Art Coleman joins Joni
Morris on ukulele on “Heartaches.” And wait a minute, Joni Morris does
not in any way imitate Patsy Cline. She sings Patsy Cline songs in her
own Joni Morris way. Being in the business as long as I have, right now
it’s right at 70 years (well I started playing when I was ten), I can
tell you that the way Joni does Patsy’s songs, if these two ladies ever
had the chance to meet, they would become instant lifelong friends. Two
gorgeous women singing words very meaningful to each of them, and then a
rest, just visiting, chatting, talking about the last gig, where to
next, and of course a good looking man or two. Joni makes her home in
Stockton, California, so she has had ample opportunity to ‘feel’ the
songs she sings, and how her California audience reacts. In most cases
it’s standing ovation time when you go to a Joni Morris concert. She
made the trip far East to Iowa in 2015 to accept induction into
America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame for her continuing efforts
in keeping country music country. Nominated by Minnesota’s top
recording artist, Sherwin Linton, she did an amazing job stepping back
in time at the LeMars, Iowa, festival. And indeed, it was standing
ovation time in Iowa. Matt Cardinalli did the producing work on this
album, and he did a remarkably fine job, good mix, good arrangements,
good creativity. This is one of Joni’s earlier recordings, and I’m very
glad to have the opportunity to review it. More more more Joni, you
are at the top of your game.
RECORD REVIEW BY BOB EVERHART, Pres., NTCMA – www.ntcma.net
for Country Music News International