On this West Virginia Morning, Sue and Stan Jennings for 30 years have run Allegheny Treenware, a company that makes wooden kitchen utensils. But they started off as a couple of coal miners. Folkways Reporter Capri Cafaro has more.
What an interconnected world we live in. When I saw that Trey Gunn, a well-known figure in progressive music circles, had a new album, I reached out via his website. Fully expecting a publicist’s reply, Trey himself cheerfully agreed to a chat about his new work.
Gunn’s membership alone in King Crimson should inform you of his musical pedigree. He and others like Markus Reuter are raising the bar, redefining contemporary music and creating a performance practice for “touch guitars.” Besides, look at that Warr guitar (pictured above) and ask yourself how many of us could play, let alone make worthwhile or substantial music with that stringed mammoth. That alone puts him in rare company.
Gunn’s new album is The Waters, They Are Rising. There’s one cover, Bob Dylan’s Not Dark Yet, done with tasteful electronics (sung by the sultry Dylan Nichole Bandy) and the rest of the album are originals – some of which are live performances. Overall, it’s a thoughtful, without being ponderous, electronic landscape without the usual textural density.
"I try to be in rare company or otherwise you could go elsewhere and get what I do. The style of playing (Warr guitar) and the music both go together."
Trey and I had an informative conversation about his musical journey, working with Robert Fripp and David Sylvian, playing touch style instruments such as the Warr Guitar and his new album.
I knew before interviewing Trey that he is a great player, but his humble and thoughtful nature certainly came through.
Trey Gunn interview:
mixdown_of_trey_gunn_part_two.mp3
Part Two
Music used:
Trey Gunn: Dziban, Hard Winds Redux
Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists: Eye of the Needle, Guitar Craft Theme I: Invocation
David Sylvian/ Robert Fripp – God’s Monkey, Damage
King Crimson – sex sleep eat drink dream
Trey Gunn – Not Dark Yet, The Seven Who Were Saved
On March 9, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed a bill creating the Appalachian Regional Commission, known as the ARC. The agency’s goal was to bring impoverished areas of Appalachia into the mainstream American economy. While the ARC serves parts of 13 states, West Virginia is the only one that lies entirely within the boundaries of Appalachia.
On January 26, 1960, 17-year-old guard Danny Heater of Burnsville High School scored a record-breaking 135 points in a basketball game against Widen High School. He easily shattered the previous state high school record of 74 and the national record of 120.