Artist: Various Artists
Album: Chiaroscuro
Label: Witchhairs
Release Date: 10.7.2019
Chiaroscuro (kee-aa-ruh-skyur-ow) is an ancient art technique of using differing shades of light and dark to create a third dimension. Rembrandt was a master at it, and this is a masterful work of art in words and music, created by a group of author Dixie Gamble’s old and new friends. The CD serves as a companion to her memoir book Witch Hairs, which has oodles of light and shades of darkness running through it. There’s no greater example than the feel-good dancing tune “Billie” in contrast to “Take Peace,” about the last minutes of a death row inmate Dixie mentored.
The songs and performances from veteran writers like Rodney Crowell, Lewis Story, Mary Ann Kennedy, mesh flawlessly with those from newer tunesmiths like Bee Taylor. This bakers dozen set carries a sonic sheen, applied by the person most qualified to handle it, producer and Dixie’s soul mate John Jorgenson. “Jorgo” stepped up to this task while at the same time doing guitar chores for Elton John’s world Farewell Tour. Here is multi-tasking as an art form, or as John told me, “A whole lot of heart went into it.” You will hear and feel it.
Though the entire set shines bright, there are a few that shine the brightest for me. “The Edge Of Everything,” an anthem with a jaw-dropping vocal performance from its cowriter, Beth Hooker. Lewis Story’s, “Someone Else Like You,” a thank you card to Dixie for believing in his songs and more, back in the day when she was the head of Elektra/Asylum music publishing. And the aforementioned “BIllie” with a superlative performance from co writer Harry Stinson. As a record it’s great, coupled to the book, it’s in a class by itself.
˗Ken Spooner
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