Sam Pacetti Shines - Check out "Union"
October 29, 2006
Ten Years ago Sam Pacetti released "Solitary Travel." He won "Best New Artist" at Falcon Ridge. He was 22. Unfortunately, over the past decade he's been hanging more drywall than playing music. The other day while working on future playlists, I put on "Union," the new one with partner Gabriel Valla. Whoa. One song after another, I could not concentrate on my computer screen.
Sam's delivery is passionate, confident, and as attention grabbing as Mark O'Connor's playing. His own compositions are full of metaphor and imagery, and the songs chosen by other writers seem made for him.
The guitar leads provided by Gabriel Valla embellish Sam's delivery. Gabe won the Merlfest flatpicking prize - also about 10 years ago. He played some with the late Larry Rice, but otherwise he seems to have been in hiding too.
This CD simply will not let them disappear any longer.
Here'a line from Sam's "Augustine," a passionate rekindling of an old love:
"You are the moon that shines upon my dream in wakefulness,
I am the sorcerer that casts the spell to calm your seas.
And on your beach I run, and on your waves I play
I take flight with the gulls, I am changin' everyday"
They also chose Verlon Thompson's "Christians and Outlaws," a moving reflection on reincarnation, focusing on the poetry of the concept:
"Last time I came through here I was the summer wind,
I whispered on your wheat fields, and called in the cool rain.
I carried all your laughter, and your sweet old fiddle too,
Right up through the rafters, as I sang 'em to the harvest moon."
All of this verse comes alive when it flows through the music - please listen to these two songs - and the rest of the album for that matter. The more Folk Alley grows, the more CDs I receive that I can't get to. My gosh, I almost missed "Union." Don't you.
Jim Blum
Posted by Jim Blum at October 29, 2006 9:31 PM
