Linda Stout

When I was planning my CD, singer Pamela Goddard came to my house and let me record her singing five traditional songs because I was considering doing one a cappella song on my CD. My project ended up going in a more band-oriented jazz and folk-rock direction, so I didn't learn or use any of the lovely songs she sang for me. But I was taken by her voice, had heard her singing live and hoped she would come out with a CD. Well she did, and we just did a trade, though she had one of mine, had written a very literate review when my CD came out. I am listening to "As Time Draws Near, Traditional Songs from the North and South" for the first time. Lovely, great old songs. The first track, Pam's own version of "Cambric Shirt," starts the CD out strongly, with Celtic-tinged rhythms on guitar by Gail Blake of Kitchen Chair recorded well by Will Russell of Electric Wilburland, a studio in an old church near Ithaca. Yay. There is something so important, I think, when a musician or band -- often finally -- releases their first project. Some should wait and improve their musicianship first, but Pamela is not one of those. It was time. She waited a while I suspect and shares traditional songs I would not have heard otherwise; wonder how she'd feel if I took one and jazzed it up. I've done that, jazzed up traditional songs like "The Water is Wide," but perhaps that's an overdone one. My version is my own, though. Pamela is a contra dance caller, freelance writer, potter and a number of other artistic things, and loves cats. She has a long thick braid of red hair. She has a full rich alto voice. She makes me think there was a time when more people sang more often rather than leaving it to pop stars, when songs were part of hanging out with others at dinners and parties, not just designated for concerts. Maybe she's even part of a group of people who still do that, get together and sing just for the fun of it. More at www.PamelaGoddard.com