Two Nights Solo
Terry Tufts
The Borealis Recording Company
2002
13 tracks
Originally released under the Nutshell Music imprint as 2 Nights Solo: Terry Tufts Live @ Rasputin's in 1998, Two Nights Solo was re-released by Borealis four years later. In my first review, written three years ago, I had a number of issues with this release. Most had less to do with the music than with the presentation. For this release, Borealis appears to have had the songs remixed (so much as a live release can be remixed) and remastered, so that I'm no longer hearing the problems I heard on the first release. Because I'm interested in story, I had also wished that lyrics had been included. This time around, the lyrics are there for me [or you] to read. Over all, it's a great improvement.
In Ontario at least, Terry Tufts is prominent enough in the folk music establishment to be an influence on younger artists. His performance on this release helps to demonstrate why this should be so. An accomplished player whose work on a variety of instruments has added polish to releases by many other artists, Tufts brings style and finesse to this live performance. It's in the three instrumental pieces that he especially shines, but the range and virtuosity of his instrumental work underlines every song on this release.
In my review of the initial release, I had complained that Tufts' voice tended to sound "reedy and irritating" with a "thin quality" over all. I had wondered at the time whether this may have more to do with recording or mixing technique than with the quality of the actual vocals. On this release, the problem no longer exists. Tufts' voice is strong and pleasant to hear. He still seems to be stretching for some notes, but that's something that can't be fixed by a remix.
Tufts' performance on this release is better than many singer-songwriter artists I've heard, with strong, accomplished playing and better than average vocals. Reading the lyrics, I now see that they are better and more tightly written than I had earlier thought. In fact, Tufts is quite an able storyteller.
As just one example, "All You Really Need to Know" is a subtle indictment of mankind's selfish disregard for the health of the world in which we live. Set to a lovely, mournful melody, this song doesn't preach so much as emphasize that we need to be more aware of our environment.
Tufts' interpretation of "I Remember You" is stylish, a bit more Thirties jazz than Frank Ifield's 1962 country version. This is one of the songs where Tufts seems to be stretching to reach some notes, but not enough to hurt his overall performance. It's a good choice to finish the set.
Showcasing Tufts' proficiency as a finger-style guitarist, the set opens with one of the instrumental songs. "H'aid nor H'aire" is a lively, Celtic sounding number with a rollicking rhythm. Tufts seems to dance his fingers across the strings with great delight. This song would be a great introduction to any set, live or on record.
"Marylou in Burgundy" is just one song on this release that demonstrates Tufts' ability to paint a visual story for his listener. Set to a bright melody, the story carries the listener along from beginning to end. Again, the excellent guitar work never overrides but rather underlines the story being told.
With one of the simplest, lyrics on this release, "I'll Try Again" is also one of the best written story songs, painting a picture of a man's life through the overriding metaphor of the man as artist. The image remains after the song is gone.
Anyone interested in contemporary folk music in Ontario might want to add Two Nights Live to his or her library. It's an excellent representation of the work of Terry Tufts at mid-career. It will be interesting to see where he goes from here and to look back to this release by comparison.
Those who want to learn more about Terry Tufts or his music will find information at terrytufts.com or at Borealis. You can use the search engine on Sound Bytes' front page to find the earlier review of 2 Nights Solo: Terry Tufts Live @ Rasputin's or today's review of Walk On, also by Terry Tufts.
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Review written: May 21, 2003
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