Bill Carrothers: The Blues And The Greys

While most of the selections are offered in a traditional straightforward manner, several receive obvious changes. The familiar "Dixie" gets a heartfelt dissonant harmonic restructuring that evokes emotional reactions far different from those normally associated with the anthem. Rather than inviting patriotic joy, the altered tunes may convey feelings of helplessness, despair, sorrow, or even fear. While "The Yellow Rose of Texas" is presented in a simple straightforward manner, "All Quiet Along The Potomac" receives the infusion of dissonant tonal relationships, which may indicate that the quiet along the river isn't what it seems to be. For "John Brown's Body" Carrothers employs a melodica to properly express the sorrow and grief that stemmed from both sides of that conflict.

"Kingdom Coming" is offered as a jazz presentation, and both "7th Cavalry March," and "Battle Cry of Freedom (Reprise)" contain jazz sections with tremolos, bent notes, syncopation, and improvised phrases. Carrothers, long time professional jazz pianist and history student, has put his personal touch on the songs that carried America through a tragic period in history. You can find more information about The Blues And The Greys on Bill Carrothers' web page athttp://www.carrothers.com/ .

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