Resurrection

by SANDER | SOMMERS

2019

Recorded and produced by Matt Sommers at Sommersville™ 2017-2019. All instruments/voices by Bob Sander and Matt Sommers.

6:04

Jeff Davis / A wood splitting

Sander | Sommers
2:56

Red rocking chair

Sander | Sommers
3:55

Linin' track

Sander | Sommers
4:13

My own house

Sander | Sommers
1:16

Saturday

Sander | Sommers
3:48

Turtledove

Sander | Sommers
2:43

Little seed

Sander | Sommers
3:22

Valentine

Sander | Sommers
3:44

I bid you goodnight

Sander | Sommers
1:22

Puttering

Sander | Sommers
4:46

Resurrection

Sander | Sommers
4:58

Resurrection (nutcracker remix)

Sander | Sommers

Album notes by Bob Sander – For several years Matt Sommers and I worked together on a variety of video projects. As we created sound accompaniments, we discovered a common interest in making music in general. Resurrection comes directly from our shared pleasure in one simple (musical) question: “What if we …?” And so began the experiment you are about to experience. Everything you hear was performed live by either Bob Sander or Matt Sommers, and sometimes simultaneously. The album was recorded at Sommersville™ over about 18 months of casual determination. We built it like lasagna, track upon track, and then seasoned it until it sounded right. Here’s a rundown of where the tunes came from and who played what.

Jeff Davis / A Wood-splitting

There is a traditional old-time tune called Jeff Davis –this is not it. Instead, this piece is an interpretation of a tune from Norman Blake’s album Original Underground Music from the Mysterious South (Rounder Records 1983). A Wood-Splitting is my poem written in the early 70’s about a cabin I lived in, somewhere southwest of Bloomington. Wood stove, no running water, not even an out-house… but glorious country moon-lit nights.

Bob: Penny-whistle, Bazouki, Bodhran, Talky-Talk
Matt: Harmonium, Synthesizer, Bass, Percussion, SFX

Red Rocking Chair

A traditional tune I learned from Ron Dye when we played together in Preservation Band in the late 70’s / early 80’s. Several songs on this recording are from that era and they make me think of those great musician friends, all of whom still play music. We had nearly weekly music parties back then, with new crops of kids just coming on, staying up all night with us, absorbing the music and the convivial nature of being together in such a sharing way. These tunes take me back.

Bob: Vocal & Harmonies / Banjo / Fiddle / Djembe
Matt: Acoustic Guitar / Bass Guitar / Tambourine / Desk / Ebow

Linin’ Track

This is a work-song railroad workers used to coordinate the multi-man effort of moving heavy rails into position. The crews (white foremen, black workers) were called Gandy Dancers. Preservation Band sang it once at the Children’s Museum, dressed in period character costume. I came as a hobo – and at first the security guards wouldn’t let me in. The band did it acapella, but I always heard musical accompaniment in my head.

Bob: Vocal & Harmonies / Acoustic Guitar / Harmonica / Railroad Spike
Matt: Double Bass / Sticks / Cowbell / Cajon / Harmony Vocals

My Own House

The tune to this waltz is traditional Scottish or English. I might have learned it from a recording of the 70’s Highwoods String Band or … maybe not. Might have just absorbed it from music buddies. I always thought it wanted some words to go with it. Then, one long-ago winter night, I saw an abandoned house and those words came. Now I live in that (rebuilt) house.

Bob: Vocal & Harmonies / Acoustic Guitar / Accordion / Fiddle
Matt: Organ / Acoustic Bass / Drums / Percussion / Banjo / Harmony Vocals

Saturday

Spontaneous happenings, there are two short live jams on this album. This is one of them. No set tune here – just noodlin’. We liked it well enough to keep it in, warts and all. The synth is the only thing added later. Remarkable to me is this: I think this was the first day Matt had ever played a mandolin.

Bob: Acoustic Guitar
Matt: Mandolin / Synthesizer

Turtle Dove

This song is from the Georgia Sea Islands where Alan Lomax recorded it from the singing of Bessie Jones. I learned Jody Stecher’s version from his album Goin’ Up The Mountain (Rounder). This is my take on it – and do note the unusual chorus refrain, (re-so-si-li-do-on-so-la-ser-ree) which is evidently (according to Ms. Jones) a pass at how “speaking in tongues” might sound when put to song.

Bob: Vocal & Harmonies / Acoustic Guitar / Harmonica / Dancin’ Feet on a Hardwood Floor
Matt: Acoustic Bass / Acoustic Guitar / Drums / Slide Guitar / Harmony Vocals

Little Seed

One day a tiny Cottonwood seed floated languidly onto our front porch. It lingered a while in mid-air, then the wind whisked it away. As I’ve grown older, time has sped up so much that watching my kids grow from children to adults seems to mimic this dance. So bittersweet. Sigh.

Bob: Vocal & Harmonies / Acoustic Guitar / Clave
Matt: Organ / Electric Piano / Marimba / Electric Guitar / Percussion / Harmony Vocals

Valentine

Just like the title says, this was a valentine to my dear wife a few years back. Since Hallmark didn’t have anything I liked, the tune & words are original.

Bob: Vocal & Harmonies / Acoustic Guitar / Fiddle / Harmonica
Matt: Glockenspiel / Drums / Percussion / Electric Bass / Electric Guitar

I Bid You Goodnight

This tune comes from Joseph Spence and the Pindar Family, traditional singers all, of the Bahamas. Here’s Matt and me singing it with Jordaniares-style harmonies, then adding more layers of percussion instruments than you can shake a stick at.

Bob: Vocal & Harmonies / Acoustic Guitar / Wife Nancy’s High School Drum Majorette Whistle
Matt: Bass Guitar / Bass Drum / Harmony Vocals
Both: Djembe / Maraca / Clave / Guerro / Cowbell / Bongos / Ceramic Drum / Joyous Hand Clapping

Putterin’

Great title, right? But there you have it. Extemporaneity, in all its bumpy glory. Just noodlin’ around so Matt can try out the marimba … for the first time! Not bad, aye? Honest levity, captured in sound.

Bob: Acoustic Guitar
Matt: Marimba

Resurrection

Six mature walnut trees grow on our lot - squirrels abound. They are both a pain and a pleasure. My favorite squirrel absurdity is watching them tamp down the ground over a newly buried walnut. Reflecting on that act inspired this poem (early 80’s) and working with Matt inspired its transformation into a song.

Bob: Vocal & Harmonies / Acoustic Guitar / Fiddle / Djembe
Matt: Drums / Percussion / Organ / Electric Guitar / Electric Bass / Harmony Vocals.
30-person crowd of family and friends: Chorus

Resurrection (Nutcracker Remix)

Bonus Track - Folks don’t usually do 2 versions of the same song on an album… but we did. Here’s why: A short while after we decided we had enough musical thoughts for one CD, Matt sent me this. I listened to it and immediately formed a picture of some kind of musical electronica fit in the middle of the night, walking downstairs to the studio and getting all possessed. When asked, Matt’s wife Holly said, “Yup. That was pretty much how it went.” My kids like this best of all.

Bob: Vocals
Matt: Synthesizer / Programming / Sequencing