NANCY NICKELSBERG Patchwork
Willie’s Twin – Isle Au Haut – Cottage By The Sea – Rainy Day People – Pennsylvania – Prickly Pete – Throw Away Love – He Had A Dream – Mama Loved Roses – Pretty Wild Bird – David and Spiderman – You Can’t Go Home Again – Seasons
Nancy Nicklesberg is one of those songwriters that keeps a ‘country’ presence in just about everything she does, but she is not afraid to explore, and that is what good music is all about. My concept of good country music has always been that it tells a story. Wait until you hear the ‘story’ in Nancy’s very own “David And Spiderman.” So totally real to life, and so totally the way country music used to be written.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s a ton of beautiful music on this CD, Nancy is no slouch on musical instruments. She plays a beautiful acoustic rhythm guitar, but she also adds cello, rain stick, bass, keyboard, and of course all of the lead vocals. She is joined by some equally gifted musicians, Jeff Dawson on lead guitar; Guy Chilton on Dobro, guitar, mandolin and helped on some harmony parts; Eddie Lowery on bass; Dale Inskeep on fiddle and mandolin; and Tim Crosby on fiddle. Throughout this musical adventure Nancy takes the lead. I’m sure this is exactly as she wanted it to sound, and it’s wonderful. Full of story songs, and beautiful acoustic musical instruments. Sometimes she sounds a bit on the ‘folk’ side of music. Her song “Pennsylvania” is very reminiscent of old-time music traveling west, all the way to Oregon of course, where Nancy makes her home. But it’s not really ‘folk’ music as we know it, more like a nice comfortable soft country music that puts one immediately at ease, and before you hear the second song, you are already aware that Nancy Nickelsberg is a friend of yours. What wonderful original stories she weaves throughout this beautiful CD. There are several absolutely stunning instrumental songs as well, which sound like they should be in a movie somewhere.
Nancy also makes mention of her father in a nice tribute “He Had A Dream.” Her father was an inspiration to her, for his courage, determination, and a sharing of his love for classical music and the piano. So was her mother who she sang harmony with for many many wonderful years.
This CD will get forwarded to the Rural Roots Music Commission for further exploration for CD of the Year possibilities.
ORDER CD’S DIRECTLY FROM: Nancy Nickelsberg, 4669 Wyoming Ave., NE, Salem, OR 97305
Bob Everhart