Jim Connolly and the Gove County Philharmonic
The Circus Doesn’t Stop at Gove
pfMENTUM
Jim Connolly is a backcountry alchemist, bringing together folk, chamber music, improvisation, and a touch of something inordinately down-home to create some of the most loving, warm, and beautiful tunes I’ve heard in a while. The playing on these nine songs is so delicately wrapped within itself, that I can hear the empathy of the musicians. The line-up includes two violins played by Gilles Apap and Sally Barr, Kirsten Monke (viola), Ron McCarley (clarinet), Jeff Kaiser (trumpet), Jim Bement (accordion), Bruce Bigenho (piano), and Jim Connolly (bass, which is doubled upon by Nico Abondolo and Chris Symer on the bass trio “Pinocchio”). The band, from Southern California is able to move from the upbeat Great Awakening Revival-esque “House Of Cards” to the somber of melancholy “Tar Dance.” It’s like a professor who invites you over for dinner when you’re faced with eating noodles (again). Smart, emotional, and vibrant; I could listen stuff with this much heart forever.
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