Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar and Singing

Spence’s endearing vocal style has seemingly random improvised phrases and joyous scat singing. His remarkable guitar playing is an adaptation of the vocal lead, bass and treble of the Bahamian... — Songlines, October 2021, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 29th Oct 2021
Catalogue No: SFW40242LP
Label: Smithsonian Folkways

Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar and Singing

About
Reviews
Explore

About

'Encore' is a new album produced from previously unheard archival recordings by the legendary Bahamian guitarist Joseph Spence, made in 1965 at the height of his career. Spence's radically innovative guitar style transformed elements of Bahamian traditional music into adventurous, joyful improvisations and influenced players worldwide. His powerful singing stemmed directly from the rhyming tradition created by Bahamian sponge fishermen early in the 20th century. The music is punctuated by Spence's unique, sometimes otherworldly vocalizations including humming, short bursts of lyrics, and near-scat singing. Some of the recordings include singing by Spence's sister Edith Pinder and her family members Raymond and Geneva Pinder. Producer Peter K. Siegel captured these performances at Spence's only New York concert, at the performer's cottage in Nassau, Bahamas, and at Siegel's apartment in Manhattan.

Reviews

October 2021

Spence’s endearing vocal style has seemingly random improvised phrases and joyous scat singing. His remarkable guitar playing is an adaptation of the vocal lead, bass and treble of the Bahamian rhyming tradition of the 1930s sponge fishermen. It is an album of charmingly eccentric vocals with a deftly innovative approach to guitar…

Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar and Singing

Contents

Download queue

Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar and Singing

Vinyl Record

Other available formats

Contents

Download queue