Maria Muldaur - Maria Muldaur and Her Garden of Joy: Good Time Music for Hard Times - Stony Plain Music 2009

Maria Muldaur has come in and out with her friends at Stony Plain, releasing a record with the label every couple of years, some of the more recent efforts to much critical acclaim. Her most recent offerings on Stony Plain have been a series of explorations into classic American music genres, two of which (2001's Richland Woman Blues and 2005's Sweet Lovin' Old Soul) were Grammy Award nominees.

The Depression Era Jug Band sound encompasses upbeat, light-hearted fare filled with comedic, sometimes tongue-in-cheek lyrics and found sounds, emanating from washboards, jugs, washtubs, and more. It's like the title says, "good time music for hard times," and while these days certainly aren't as miserable as those during the Great Depression, I do agree that most everyone could use a pleasant distraction.

The album features reunions between Muldaur and her former Jug Band cohorts John Sebastian (of Lovin Spoonful fame) and Prog-Bluegrass icon David Grisman. In addition, Muldaur has brought along Jug Band upstarts The Crow Quill Night Owls, as well as old friends Dan Hicks and Taj Mahal.

The album starts with the Hicks penned "The Diplomat," a really fun tune about taking it all in stride. Hicks' writing is sharp, with funny lines about people's overbearing cell phone conversations ("I know all their secrets but they have nothing to fear.") and apologizing to acorns that nearly "bop me in the head." Hicks also wrote "Let It Simmer" for Garden of Joy, another, slower tune about keeping your cool. Grisman's mandolin is beautiful her, and Muldaur's vocals are smokey, almost sounding like the soundtrack to a trip down a lazy river.

Seven of the CD's dozen tunes are Maria Muldaur's arrangements of Traditional songs, including "Shake Hands and Tell Me Goodbye," "Shout You Cats," and Muldaur's duet with Dan Hicks on the Medley: "Life's Too Short"/"When Elephants Roost In Bamboo Trees." That particular track is very well done, starting slow, and transitioning very smoothly into the fun, fast paced second half.

There's a great, almost Dixieland version of "The Ghost of the St. Louis Blues" on Garden of Joy (the second this year, the first being Mary Flower's additionally awesome version.) Muldaur also included her recording of "Sweet Lovin' Old Soul" on Garden of Joy, a collaboration with Taj Mahal on banjo, which also stands as the last recording of the late jug player Fritz Richmond.

The disc ends with the Slow Blues number "Bank Failure Blues" and the more uptempo "The Panic Is On," two Depression Era songs that are quite fitting during these trying economic times. Fitting given the quote inscribed inside the Garden of Joy packaging:

"Don't throw the past away, You might just need it some rainy day. Dreams can come true again, When Everything Old Is New Again." - Peter Allen

If you can't tell by the disc's packaging, filled with cartoon illustrations of the band members performing along with jug playing squirrels, singing flowers, and a kazoo-wielding ladybug; this disc is fun, plain and simple. Muldaur is truly a virtuoso and a champion for some of our more overlooked musical genres. This album is a gem; a departure from most everything I've listened to in my 27 years, and at the expense of a cheesy line, a real Garden of Joy to listen to.

Standout Tracks: "Let It Simmer," "The Ghost of the St. Louis Blues," and "Medley: Life's Too Short/When Elephants Roost In Bamboo Trees" (with Dan Hicks)

Click On the Widget Below To Hear Song Clips and Purchase Tracks From Maria Muldaur's New Album, Maria Muldaur and Her Garden of Joy: Good Time Music for Hard Times