April Verch » Albums

Steal the Blue

April — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:12:29 +0000

Release notes

Slab Town Records / 884501018579 / 2008

Purchase

About the album

“April Verch, already known as a world class fiddler, shines as well with outstanding vocals on Steal the Blue. This collection is beautifully produced, performed and arranged. April’s fiddling is fancy and a lesson in substance and expression. I look forward to hearing more from this wonderful artist.” Sam Bush

“I’m not going to tell you how good April Verch is-the music on Steal The Blue makes doing so unnecessary. But I will say that this collection is not only compelling proof of her continuing development, but also the best portrait yet of April as a performing artist.

It was my pleasure to be a member of April’s band for nearly three years, joining shortly after the issue of From Where I Stand (2004) and leaving (regretfully) not long after Take Me Back (2006) was released. During the last year or so, April built a set list around songs from the latter, and we were struck by the difficulty of translating some of them from their full arrangements into the sparser sound of the stage show. So when the topic of another project was broached, I argued as forcefully as I knew how for an approach that would reflect the band’s natural sound-one that I had seen bring audiences around the continent to their feet time after time. At the same time, April’s desire to take her singing to a new and higher level had led her to extensive consultation with Stephen Mougin, who had filled in with the band on a couple of memorable dates in early 2006. In the end, we decided to collaborate on the next album- the one you hold in your hands.

But Steal The Blue is not only a reflection of these things. It also testifies to the esteem in which April is held by Nashville’s bluegrass and roots musicians. Writers were quick to offer songs, and singers lined up to add their voices to hers-and while all their names may not be household words, they resonate deeply among fans, making for an all-star cast in the truest sense of the term. Yet despite the many ways their participation has enhanced the album, it is ultimately all about April and her band; the way these songs sound here are the way they sound when there’s nothing but her, her musicians, and an attentive audience. And though it may not be my place to say so, they sound mighty good. ” Jon Weisberger, Cottontown, TN, June 2008

Audio Samples

Listen to some samples right here in the page by clicking on a track title.

Slip Away

Independence, VA

Rounder | Elderly | Amazon | HMV

Tracklist

Fraser Valley Reel
Reg and Irma’s Waltz/Reel du Gadeliderto/Reel de St. Marc
Spanish for Crown
Light in the Window
Bonnie Lass O’The Mornin’/Suite de Loudeac/Howling at the Moon/Sunset Over Scariff
Faniuck’s Fancy
I’ll Be All Smiles Tonight
Ottawa Valley Medley: The Road to Fort Coulonge/Welder’s Jig/Morning Star/One for Dugald/Blue Pacific Hornpipe
August 19
Dixie Hoedown
Jean
A Riverboat’s Gone/Bumblebee in a Jug
I Will Arise
Partie de Quadrille des Verret

Older recordings…

April — Mon, 29 Jun 1992 00:50:02 +0000

April’s early recordings Springtime Fiddle (1992), Fiddle Talk (1995) and Fiddelicious (1998) are no longer available for purchase. Watch for a compilation release including tracks from these early releases in the near future.

Fiddelicious

Thanks to Emma
Waiting for Home
Marche des Ouvriers/Polka Sainte-Rose
Chopman
Bluebird Waltz
The Unfortunate Rake/The Ballinakill Ditch/Barrel Rafferty’s Jig
Word’s Aren’t Enough
Say Old Man
Reel de Boucherville/Clog de Pariseau/Reel de Valleyfield
Golden Memories
A Reel Dare
It’s Gonna Cost Ya!
Creaking Tree
Nearer My God to Thee
Jolly Dolly Polka/Juniper Jig/The Shetland Fiddler/Woodridge Breakdown

Fiddle Talk

Ralphy’s Jig/Cape Breton Dream/Irish Washer Woman/Angus Campbell/The Old Man and the Old Woman/Grizzly Bear/Walker Street/Jordan’s Reel
Pat’s Two-Step/Fred and Wilma’s Polka
Silver Wishes
Half Penny Reel/Wind That Shakes The Barley/Jamie Hardie/Dominion Reel
G Minor Jig/Mowin’ the Hay/Charlie Hunter’s/Jig for the Duelings
Jesse Polka
April’s Waltz
Tribute to Ward Allen: Two-Step Polka/Pappy Daily’s Breakdown/Pretty Betty Reel/Fishing Rod Reel
Air/Sir Martin Rochford/New Year’s In/Lady Anne Montgomery
Bye Bye Blackbird
Gospel Medley: Softly and Tenderly/Sweet Hour of Prayer/What a Friend
Rolling Thunder Reel/Fiddler’s Valley Reel/Comin’ Home

Springtime Fiddle

21 Years of Lovin’
Buck Fever Rag
Springtime Waltz
Haymakers/Bay of Fundy
Ragtime Annie
How Great Thou Art
Trip to Windsor/Sir Wilfred Laurier
Step Dance Medley
Adios Polka/New Brunswick Breakdown
Two Step Medley
Step Dance Medley

No Other Would Do

April — Fri, 29 Jun 1990 00:55:00 +0000

Release notes

From April’s father, Ralph Verch.

Purchase

Mail Order

I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home
Lake Dore Waltz
All I Have to Offer You is Me
Maple Sugar Sweetheart
Family Bible
Where the Alders Grow
Bringing Mary Home
Lord, I’m Ready
No Other Would Do
I’ve Still Got a Crush On You
The Old Log Cabin

That’s How We Run

April — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:04:07 +0000

Release notes

Slab Town Records / 700261329696/ 2011

Purchase

CD Baby (physical cd or digital download)

About the album

April Verch is known for being one of the world’s finest fiddlers and performers of Canadian traditional music, but on this recording she also reaches deep into the heart of traditional music of the United States. She approaches this music with the same richness, charm, beauty and respect with which she plays the fine music of the Ottawa Valley.
The spirit of traditional music of the United States is not exclusive to the backwoods of Southern Appalachia, the Ozark mountains, the Midwestern states, nor to the bayous of Louisiana, but resides deep inside the music itself, allowing it to be passed from one place to another, from one heart to the next, coming to life in a person once they’ve been touched by it. April has been touched by the music.
For this project April has brought together a great supporting cast. She chose some of today’s finest traditional musicians, who all come from different places throughout the continent, but all of whom come together of one mind. We love the music and we love what April does with it. I am very proud to have had the chance to play on this recording.

-Riley Baugus

Tracklist

Click here for descriptions on each track and listen to some samples below.

1    That’s How We Run
2    Jim Shank/Ti-Jacques Jarret
3    Coming Up The Pike/Jimmy Got a Lizard/Farewell Trion
4    Lazy John
5    Parker Brown/Possum Run
6    This Flower
7    Long Harbour
8    Worth the Wait
9    Indian Ate A Woodchuck
10 Still Trying
11   Five Miles From Town
12   I’m Waiting To Hear You Call Me Darlin‘
13   Guide Me Home
14   Old Sport
15   Moonshine Mac
16   Durangs Hornpipe
17   Ducks On The Millpond

Musicians

April Verch – fiddle; lead vocals
Cody Walters – bass; clawhammer banjo; harmony vocals
Clay Ross – guitar; harmony vocals
Chris Sharp – guitar
Bob Carlin – clawhammer banjo
Rayna Gellert – guest fiddle
Kyle Dean Smith – banjo
Riley Baugus – lead vocal; clawhammer banjo
Dirk Powell – accordion; guest fiddle
Bobby Hicks – guest fiddle
Matthew Smith – pedal steel

Credits

Produced by April Verch, Cody Walters, Clay Ross, Chris Rosser

Recorded and Mixed by Chris Rosser
Hollow Reed Studio
Asheville, NC
February 2011

Mastered by David Glasser
Airshow Mastering
Boulder, CO
March 2011

Photography by Marc Bru

Art Direction/Package Design by Alphabet Arm Design