JONATHAN BYRD: The Waitress

Jonathan Byrd

The Waitress

© 2003 Jonathan Byrd (783707640822)

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These songs tell a story, evoking the ghosts of old southern country and blues.

tracks

1 The Waitress
2 The Ballad of Larry
3 Radio
4 The Snake Song
5 Down the Old Mountain Road
6 My Generation
7 Small Town
8 Tape Full of Love Songs
9 Stackalee
10 Home Sweet Home
11 Being With You
12 Fiddle and Bow
13 Rosie

notes

"What a treat to hear someone so deeply rooted in tradition, yet growing in his own beautiful way." -Tom Paxton

After winning the NC Songwriter's Co-op song contest in 2000, Jonathan Byrd recorded and released "Wildflowers," his debut CD. Evoking the ghosts of traditional southern music, Byrd served up hard-time mountain hollers like "Velma," a true story of murder in his own family. Soon after "Wildflowers" was released, Jack Lawrence (Doc Watson's right-hand man), was taken with Jonathan's music and included "Velma" on his latest release, "I Don't Need the Whiskey Anymore."

Born in Fayetteville, NC, Jonathan learned to sing in the Southern Baptist church where his father preached and his mother played piano. At home, his brother taught him how to play the guitar and Jonathan made tapes to send out to other family members. After high school and four years in the Navy, he began to explore Ireland and the southern Appalachians in a search for his musical roots.

Instead of reinterpreting folk classics, though, Jonathan has penned songs that sound as if they were pulled from a long-lost ballad collection. Tom Druckenmiller of 'Sing Out!' magazine called Byrd, "A songwriter of exceptional talent... with the stark storytelling of the finest traditional balladeers."

Now, Jonathan Byrd is releasing "The Waitress," an album of more contemporary lyrical pictures- late night diners, jewel thieves, ignored and lonely war veterans- with the same mountain style of ages past.

reviews

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  • author: emily

    This whole album just puts my mind to ease when listening to it. A definite must to check out :)

  • Going on a journey with Jonathan Byrd.
    author: Margaret Carter

    I like this cd very much, from the surprise of finding the woman in the first song is a waitress (OK, so maybe the title gave it away) to the sweet story in the Ballad of Larry and the really, really bad man, Stackalee. The guitar work is varied and very good and we get a wonderful sample on Home Sweet Home. I really like how Jonathan throws in a half step in the melody on Being With You. Jonathon is a great song writer.

  • Never been to Chapel Hill
    author: jwpeek

    I honestly gave this 4 out of 5 because Jon is a LIVE performer. See him LIVE. It just pales in comparison. But being a producer fed baby, I have my favorites on this album. #1.The Snake Song- a reminiscent view of folk in childhood and how a boy thinks irrespective of PC. #2 The Ballad Of Larry- A brilliant story song with a powerful ending. A song of emptiness and being filled. #3 Tape Full Of Love Songs- The Hit. #4 Stackalee- The most bone-chilling blues cover you will ever hear from a white guy. This da real Spoonman, childrn'.

  • Another outstanding collection of original but traditional folk ballads
    author: Judith Sherman

    Jonathan Byrd writes ballads that feel like they have been around for 100 years. They mostly tell stories about people, sometimes uplifting (The Ballad of Larry), sometimes tragic (Rosie), sometimes very funny (The Snake Song, My Generation), but always speaking to a more universal message. Tape Full of Love Songs is filled with humor and irony. All of the songs in this collection (there are 13 tracks) are well-crafted. Radio and Home Sweet Home are among my favorites, but they are all extraordinary. Jonathan's voice has a wide range that he uses to great advantage in conveying subtleties of emotion in a word or a line. His guitar work on this album, as well as on his first CD, Wildflower, is outstanding.

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