Garth Hudson Albums (3)
What The Critics Say
Garth Hudson's magisterial organ playing was one of the sonic cornerstones of the Band's best recordings, and if there is any musician from the 1960s and '70s who deserves wider recognition today, it's Hudson. Any new music from Hudson is a rare and welcome event, and this live album captures him on-stage in London, Ontario, performing at the grand piano with vocal assistance from his wife, Maud Hudson. While Garth has always been best known as an organist, his piano work on this set is equally impressive; while the piano offers a narrower range of tonal colors, Garth's sense of musical wanderlust still runs wild through every song here, and "International Medley," which stitches together bits from a handful of familiar melodies, recalls a stripped-down variant on his glorious organ fanfare with the Band, "The Genetic Method." The performance by Maud Hudson is a bit more problematic; while she has a strong voice and a comfortable familiarity with blues numbers, there's a certain operatic overstatement in her delivery that sometimes gets in the way of the songs, especially on the covers of "Young Blood" and "Blind Willie McTell." But she sounds splendid on "Willow Weep for Me" and the venerable spiritual "Stand by Me," and just as important, Garth obviously feels comfortable performing with her, and the interplay between them is wonderfully intuitive. In a just world, Garth Hudson would have a long string of solo albums behind him, chronicling his diverse musical interests and his singular gifts on a variety of instruments, but for now it's good to know he's still playing his music, and this disc reveals he still has plenty to offer. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
'Our Lady Queen of the Angels'
Release Date 1/1/2005
Tracks 6
Label Other People's Music
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What The Critics Say
In 1980, artist and designer Tony Duquette prepared a special installation for exhibition at the Los Angeles Museum of Science and Industry, and he asked Garth Hudson, best known as the magisterial keyboard player with the Band, to compose and record some music for the occasion. Hudson responded with a nearly hour-long tone poem which comprised some of the most striking and adventurous music of his life; the recording was issued on a cassette-only edition sold at the exhibit which quickly fell out of circulation, but this long-overdue CD reissue should be a real eye-opener for those familiar with Hudson's roots-leaning music with the Band. While the title might lead some to expect a gospel-leaning set (and bits drawn from the traditions of church music are visible here and there), for the most part Our Lady Queen of the Angels is dominated by spare, atmospheric keyboard textures, with massed vocals used to add mystery and resonance to the instrumental beds and horns, pedal steel guitar, and even bird songs punctuating Hudson's soundscapes. There are moments here that suggest the influence of Brian Eno's ambient compositions and flashes of angular abstraction, but the playful undertow of Hudson's best known work is also visible, and while the outward style and direction of this album may not be what one expects from Garth Hudson, the adventurous creative spirit and restless imagination that could take a simple organ intro and turn it into something as grand as "The Genetic Method" on Rock of Ages is certainly at work here. Also included is a recitation of poetry from Ray Bradbury by Charlton Heston (yep, the movie star) and backing vocals from Richard Manuel (though he's not specifically audible). A very pleasant surprise, Our Lady Queen of the Angels confirms Hudson's status as a master of his instrument while suggesting his gifts as a composer and arranger have been seriously shortchanged over the years. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
'The Sea to the North'
Release Date 9/11/2001
Tracks 6
Label Breeze Hill
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What The Critics Say
It wasn't too hard to guess that Garth Hudson's long-awaited solo album would be a tour de force; his virtuoso instrumental talents stood out even in that legendary group of musicians known as the Band. What may surprise listeners, however, is the sheer scope of sound on this effort, with Hudson playing an intimidating range of keyboards (including pipe organ), various saxophones, accordion, melodica, and Tarogato. Each track is a sonic adventure, the hapless listener unsure of what lies around the next bend. Several centuries of music and continents seem embedded in the elegiac title track ("composition" is a better word for music of this scope), while "The Saga of Cyrus and Mulgrew" is boldly futuristic. Later years found the erstwhile members of the Band occasionally digging into the Grateful Dead's catalog, and Hudson is no exception, doing a free jazzy take on "Dark Star" on which he even offers some spoken vocals. Members of that sterling Woodstock, NY, band the Crowmatix show up here, with prominent appearances by group leader Professor "Louie" (aka Aaron Hurwitz), who co-produces. Hudson's old bandmate Levon Helm shows up as well. This is startlingly spontaneous music with a brain (a very big brain), and it's not for the faint of heart or the average pop fan. And that's a great thing. ~ Erik Hage, All Music Guide
