The Bill Crofut-Chris Brubeck Trio with
Joel Brown is augmented by harmonica player Peter "Madcat" Ruth for this concert taped at Goshen College. Their wide-ranging program includes folk, jazz, Baroque, and marches, as well as memorable originals.
Crofut, the senior member of the group, revives his rendition of e e cummings "In Just," which he first set to music and recorded in the 1960s with the hearty approval of the poet's widow; he also collaborated on "The Music Makes the World Go Round" with Brubeck. Chris Brubeck's "The Cowboy Song" is a tongue-in-cheek parody of Western macho mythology, while his amusing lyrics to his father's fiendishly difficult "Unsquare Dance" has the audience clapping along flawlessly. He also adds some bluesy piano to "Black and Blue" behind
Crofut's vocal and wrote the subdued protest song "Red, White and Blues." The old folk song "Old' Joe Clark" features Madcat's wild harmonica, various sound effects, and his strong lead vocal on this very funny piece. Highly recommended! ~ Ken Dryden