Mementos Charles Hedgepath

• 1 Deep River Blues 03:31
• 2 Hurricane 03:14
• 3 I Am a Pilgrim 02:42
• 4 Bury Me Beneath the Willows 03:06
• 5 Ive Got You 02:19
• 6 Wayfaring Stranger 04:08
• 7 Dark Hollow 03:04
• 8 Where the Soul Never Dies 02:51
• Total Runtime 24:55

Info for Mementos

As soon as I heard the first guitar notes of Bury Me Beneath The Willows I was hooked. I had never heard of Charles Hedgepath, but when this album finished playing, I immediately undertook a little research. There’s much to discover about this skilled guitarist and singer from Greenville, South Carolina. He is a member of various groups such as the Bad Popes, the Shady Recruits, the Work, Simple Syrup and plays a variety of solo and combo performances, mainly around his home state. He is also an in-demand session player and pick-up musician who has played gigs and recordings with such diverse acts as Bluegrass Underground, Peter Rowan, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Marcus King, Matt Reynolds, Randall Bramblett, Bobby Lee Rodgers and many more. He has recorded several of his own albums including a Christmas set and a collection of Spirituals.

MEMENTOS is a kind of keepsake remembrance of songs that obviously mean a lot to Charles. Several of these are hundreds of years old but sound like they were written yesterday due to the vibrant musical arrangements. Like much of the finest traditional music, this set borders on the ecstatic and spiritual, but also knows when it’s time to show a romantic side to counter-balance some of the darker moments. Deep River Blues, a song often credited to Doc Watson, actually goes back much further in time. This version is a warm and embracing number meant to be heard around the campfire with some fine picking and harmonies that everyone can join in with. Dark Hollow has the familiar bluegrass theme of roaming and rambling. Driven by Andy Carlson’s sorrowful fiddle, Charles Wood’s softly plucked banjo and Charles’s own fluid acoustic guitar this is one of those songs that immediately works its way into your head and feet simultaneously. Hurricane is a song that I’m not familiar with. It starts off slowly then builds with good driving banjo from Karl Lauber and a pushing, pulsing rhythm held down by Sam Kruer’s bass that makes it a toe-tapper, for sure. As the song develops things really let loose, with fiery acoustic slide guitar by Marcus King, blistering fiddle from Nicky Sanders and some extremely hot banjo. This leads more into jazz territory rather than old-time country but is still mighty good.

More in keeping with traditional country music is the melodic I’ve Got You, an infectious toe-tapping reaffirmation of true love featuring Charles’ compelling lead vocals with rich harmony and a bit of counter-singing that is irresistible. There’s a trio of classic gospel tunes beginning with I Am A Pilgrim and Wayfaring Stranger, both Sacred Heart songs going back more than 100 years. The final song Where The Soul Never Dies was penned in 1914 by William Matthew Golden whilst serving a prison sentence. A spirited rendition with mandolin, banjo and guitar contributing in some inspired licks, it’s an uplifting performance just right for an album closer, and likely a good show-ender, as well. Though this is plainly Charles Hedgepath’s album, the way the various musicians are given their heads musically and join in enthusiastically on the vocals gives the impression more of family get-together pickin’ parlour than the sterile confines of a recording studio. That rapport makes this album all the more enjoyable.

Charles Hedgepath, guitar, vocals

Charles Hedgepath
is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who is talented enough to write and play multiple musical forms, including jazz, folk, funk, western swing, country, bluegrass and more. Holding true to the belief that getting involved with more is better than settling for the same old song and dance, Hedgepath constantly strives to network and collaborate with as many talented musicians as he can. And the results of his ever-widening roster of colleagues has thus far yielded him three fantastic albums and tour and gig dates across the southeastern United States and beyond. Working with musical veterans such as Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit), Bobby Lee Rogers (The Code Talkers), Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks Band), and Ike Stubblefield, as well as being a member of the bands The Work and The Bad Popes, Hedgepath is continually embarking on new musical ventures. To add to his 2008 CD Instruments of Peace and 2009's We Three Kings--an instrumental collection of Christmas tunes rendered with a lot of funk and a lot of soul, the proceeds from which go directly to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of the Carolinas charity--Charles is currently in the studio working on a gospel album. For those who have never heard of this South Carolina native, check out his tunes here on this site and you will hear what has been getting many people in the Palmetto state moving and talking for the past decade.

This album contains no booklet.