Joseph Spence – Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar & Singing

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.

1. Won't That Be A Happy Time?
2. Out on the Rolling Sea
3. Down By the Riverside
4. Bimini Gal
5. The Crow
6. In Times Like This
7. Death and the Woman
8. Give Me that Old Time Religion
9. Run Come See Jerusalem
10. Brown Skin Girl
11. The Glory of Love
12. Great God What Do I See and Hear?
13. That Glad Reunion Day

Label: Smithsonian Folkways

Catalog: 40242

Genre: International