Ted Russell Kamp – Solitaire
Ted Russell Kamp – Solitaire
Format: Digital
Label: Continental Record Services
Release: 2021
Release date: May 7, 2021
Before the pandemic, Ted Russell Kamp traveled the world performing about 200 shows a year, playing his own blend of roots and Americana music as well as being the longtime bass player for Shooter Jennings. He also worked as producer in his home studio – The Den and when the quarantine started, it was The Den where Kamp found his haven to craft and cultivate the songs that would become his latest record.
‘Solitaire’ is Kamp’s 13th full album release. It consists of 14 songs recorded mostly alone at home during the last 9 months. The songs and overall feel of the album have an intimate and singer-songwriter quality. Kamp wanted them to sound more like solo performances, but with some extra instrumentation and spice added, reflecting the loneliness of being at home in quarantine: isolated from friends and the chance to play live.
The music on Solitaire is indeed 90% Kamp as he plays a majority of the instruments on the album. He has again collaborated with several artists and friends known in the Americana genre, but this time remotely. “Almost everything I did was in my studio with all of the guest musician’s overdubs recorded by them in their own home studios. This was a true quarantine record in that sense.
Most played or sang harmony on just the songs I wrote with them.” To create the sound of a full band on a few songs, Kamp had a few socially distant recording sessions: with John Shreffler (harmony vocals, pedal steel), Jim Doyle (drums) and Brian Whelan (harmony vocals). It was an “incredible breath of fresh air to actually see friends again and to reconnect and play with them.”
Tracks:
01. My Girl Now
02. Path of Least Resistance
03. You Can Go To Hell, I’m Going To Texas
04. Birds That Sing At Dawn
05. As Far As The Eye Can See
06. The Hardest Road to Find
07. Solitaire
08. Western Wind
09. Be Your Man
10. A Rose Or Two
11. The Spark
12. Only a Broken Heart
13. Exception to the Rule
14. Lightning Strikes Twice
The Players:
Ted Russell Kamp – vocals, bass, acoustic & electric guitars, dobro, dulcimer, mandolin, banjo, Hammond, Wurlitzer, accordion, toy piano, drums, percussion, snaps & claps
with:
Shane Alexander – harmony vocal (Western Wind)
Jim Doyle – drums (The Spark, TX)
Don Gallardo – harmony vocal (Lightning Strikes Twice)
Ed Jurdi – slide guitar & harmony vocal (Exception)
Mark Mackay – electric guitar & harmony vocal (Hardest Road to Find)
Vanessa Olivarez – harmony vocal (TX)
John Schreffler – pedal steel (The Spark, TX) & harmony vocal (Western Wind)
Matt Szlachetka – harmony vocal (As Far As The Eye Can See)
Brian Whelan – harmony vocal (The Spark)
Website: Ted Russell Kamp