Review of Kallet, Epstein and Cicone's HeartWalk
July 4, 2008
The folk trio of Cindy Kallet, Ellen Epstein and Michael Cicone have emerged after a 15-year recording hiatus to release HeartWalk,a collection of original songs and folk favorites. While the three may have spent the past decade and a half on other projects, the warmth and sincerity on HeartWalk demonstrates they've lost none of the chemistry that earned them accolades on the New England folk circuit for their previous albums, Angels in Daring (1988) and Only Human (1993).
The trio has performed New England's coffeehouses and folk festivals since 1983. Ms. Kallet is a singer, songwriter and guitarist with five solo albums under her belt as well as collaborations with Gordon Bok and Grey Larsen. Ms. Epstein has more than 40 years experience as a musician and music educator, including her work as a certified music practitioner who works with ill and dying patients. Mr. Cicone has been active in the Boston arts scene since 1979. in addition to performing with Ms. Kallet and Ms. Epstein, he teaches English country dance and hammered dulcimer.
Throughout the 15 tracks on HeartWalk the musicians display a mature, gentle touch. The opening track, "Farthest Field," a cover of David Dodson's 1993 ballad, introduces gentle a cappella harmonies of old-New England folk music. The song exposes the simple beauty of the human voice and the magic of harmony. "The Shanghaied Dredger" is a lilting maritime fiddle shanty set in the era of the 19th century
Chesapeake Bay oyster fisheries. Old Zeb is a version of Larry Kaplan's homage to Zebulon Tilton, the Martha's Vineyard sea captain who steered his schooner the Alice S. Wentworth through New England's waters in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Frobisher Bay is an a cappella song about the hardships of Arctic whaling, while "Since You Asked" is a skillful rendition of Judy Collins's 1967 folk classic, complete
with finger-picked acoustic guitar notes and vocal harmonies.
The disc sidesteps the redundancy of many folk discs by mixing in different styles. "Life Comes In" is a jazzy number with a swinging bass line and finger snaps, while "My Heart Is Ready is a speedy a cappella number written by Ms. Kallet that was inspired by the rapid pitter-patter of rain drops falling on a gutter.
After a pair of instrumental songs ("Swampie's Fancy" and "Househunting"), the disc closes with Shine On," Susan Ellenton's 1997 composition. The track's gentle a cappella harmonies are a breath of fresh air in the era of sampling and digital enhancement, proving that the human voice, alone and unvarnished, is magic.