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Review: THE WASHINGTON POST - Weekend Section "This recording is a celebration of songs with wings. Whether the wings of a fairy from an age-old tale, or the wings of a blackbird from a traditional ballad or poem," writes singer and multi-instrumentalist Amy White in the liner notes to her new release. Sound a little precious? Stay tuned. "Golden Wing" may well turn out to be the White album with the strongest legs, thanks not only to a series of alluring, string-woven arrangements that sound both contemporary and Celtic-rooted, but to verse and lyrics contributed by everyone from William Blake and Edna St. Vincent Millay to Jesse Winchester and Karla Bonoff. White, too, displays her songwriting gifts, enhancing the album's reflective tone and gentle lyricism. The wistfully evocative "Hide and Go Seek" could pass for a mid-career Joni Mitchell tune, and there are other examples of White's impressive songcraft. Yet it's her voice, a lovely and expressive soprano, and the way she and her husband, picker par excellence Al Petteway, elegantly frame the songs and poetry that stands out. True to form, Petteway, who plays several instruments on the album -- guitars, mandolin, bouzouki and fretless bass -- adds color without clutter, consistently complementing White's rhythm guitar work and quietly affecting vocals. With help from some talented friends, they imbue songs old and new with a seamless and soulful beauty. -- Mike Joyce, The Washington Post Bridge Guitar Review for Golden Wing: http://www.xs4all.nl/~guitars/passion.html Bridge Guitar Reviews: Amy White & Al Petteway,Golden Wing Maggie's Music,2004 Al Petteway is an authority on fingerstyle guitar. His last album Shades of Blue was quite a success. Together with his wife, Amy White, they made a new album called Golden Wing. Amy White's voice is a bit of a mix between Sarah McLachlan and Dido. Most of the songs on Golden Wing are written by them both. Al is able to play almost any genre: from bluegrass, blues, rock,country, and jazz to Celtic music. On this album he plays rhythm and solo guitar but he also manages to meld his own remarkable sound, influences and moods together with those of Amy's in passionate compositions. Raglan Road has brilliant Celtic influences along with Amy's reflecting voice and the additional Irish Bouzouki, dobro and Uilleann pipes. Let the Wind Cry has a very nice groove with Amy on guitar, Ashiko drum and shaker, and Al is impressive on the Irish Bouzouki. The Snow they Melt the Soonest is an intimate ballad in which Amy's voice fits perfectly into the scenery created by the whistles and the melancholic sounding guitar. More highlights are If I was a Blackbird and Hide and Go Seek, with the melancholic atmosphere they both know how to create on guitar and bass. Amy manages very well on guitar perhaps one of the great advantages of living with a first-class guitarist), and her guitar playing and voice is reminiscent of Joni Mitchell on this piece. On Lagan Love you feel a soothing interaction between the two, which radiates out to the listener. Golden Wing is a portrait of two musicians reflecting mutual soulful feelings and who are accomplished at a highly skilled artistic level. Henk te Veldhuis Bridge Guitar Reviews JAZZTIMES "Mesmerizing tone poems....White paints sumptuous portraits of life situations with a remarkable measure of clarity and color." THE WASHINGTON POST "Music of transporting power and beauty, lyricism and dynamics...a quiet soulfulness that continually draws in the listener." Album Description A fresh new voice in the acoustic music world, Amy White's sound has been described as capturing the intelligence of Joni Mitchell, the richness of Mary Chapin Carpenter and the intimacy of Sarah McLachlan.Golden Wing is a celebration of songs with wings -wings of a fairy from an age-old tale, or the wings of a blackbird from a traditional ballad or poem. These wings tell stories of flight and its myriad meanings: flight of fancy and imagination; flight from fear; even flight in migration as a metaphor for loss and bittersweet nostalgia. Songs and instrumentals with contemporary rhythms and jazzy moods. Music is original and also from traditional Celtic sources, Lyrics and music from poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millet and William Blake, traditional Irish ballads, songs by contemporary singer songwriters- Jessie Winchester and Carla Bonoff. Music highlight both Amy's voice and also her exquisite performances on mandolin and guitar; and with Al's Petteway's signature finger style acoustic guitar- a sound that has become a legend. A brilliant convergence of Celtic, with hints of progressive bluegrass, rock, country, blues, jazz and classical idioms From the Liner Notes... This recording is a celebration of songs with wings. Whether the wings of a fairy from an age-old tale, or the wings of a blackbird from a traditional ballad or poem. These wings tell stories of flight and its myriad meanings: flight of fancy and imagination; flight from fear or imprisonment; even flight in migration as a metaphor for loss and bittersweet nostalgia. Al and I hope you enjoy this journey. Here is our blessing and wish for all of our gossamer souls ~ may our spirits soar ~ may our hearts a-light ~ may our hopes take wing. 1. All The Way There (never say never) Amy: Guitar - Al: Mandolin, Vocals, Fretless Bass Music & Lyrics by Amy White (BMI) 2. Summer Sang in Me Amy: Rhythm Guitar - Al: Lead Guitar, Fretless Bass Lyrics, the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay Music by Amy White (BMI) 3. Golden Wing Amy: Mandolin ~ Al: Guitar, Bodhran, Fretless Bass Lyrics , the poetry of William Blake Music by Al Petteway (BMI) 4. Raglan Road Al: Guitar, Irish Bouzouki, Fretless Bass Sally van Meter: Dobro - Zac Leger: Uilleann Pipes Trad., Arr. by Al Petteway 5. The Blackest Crow Amy: Rhythm Guitar - Al: Irish Bouzouki Trad., Arr. by Amy White 6. Let the Wind Carry You Amy: Guitar, Shaker, Ashiko Drum Al: Irish Bouzouki, Ashiko, Fretless Bass Music by Amy White & Al Petteway(BMI) 7. The Snows They Melt the Soonest Al: Guitar ~ Zac Leger: Whistles Trad., Arr by Dick Gaughn 8. If I Were a Blackbird Amy: Mandolin ~ Al: Guitar, Fretless Bass Trad., Arr by Al, inspired by Bachue's arrangement 9. Home Amy: Mandolin ~ Al: Guitar, Fretless Bass, Percussion Music & Lyrics by Karla Bonoff (Sky Harbor Music) 10. Hide and Go Seek Amy: Guitar ~ Al: Fretless Bass Music & Lyrics by Amy White (BMI) 11. Tabby Wings Amy: Mandolin ~ Al: Guitar, Bodhran, Fretless Bass Olson the Kitten: Purr Machine Music by Amy White (BMI) 12. Lagan Love Al: Guitar ~ Trad. Arr. by Al Petteway 13. Songbird Check out the artist's website: http://www.maggiesmusic.com Track List: 1. All The Way There 2. The Way There 3. Golden Wing 4. Raglan Road 5. The Blackest Crow 6. Let the Wind Carry You 7. The Snows They Melt The Soonest 8. If I Were a Blackbird 9. Home 10. Hide & Go Seek 11. Tabby Wings 12. Lagan Love 13. Songbird Suggested CDs:
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