Decembering, by Tony Furtado

Decembering

by Tony Furtado

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Decembering, Cider House Sessions - Live at Reverend Nat's, The Bell, and Copper and Tin (ep). , and , .

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1.	Squirrelville 04:41	info	buy track
2.	Icebound 03:33	info	buy track
3.	Greenheart 03:24	info	buy track
4.	Tina and Pete 04:01	info	buy track
5.	Moonshoes 04:32	info	buy track
6.	Tiny Beast 04:04	info	buy track
7.	Decembering 03:22	info	buy track
8.	Nimrod Hornpipe 04:29	info	buy track
9.	Wag the Dog 03:07	info	buy track
10.	Here Comes the Sun 02:41	info	buy track

about

“Tony Furtado, banjo player, is back…in a big way,” writes banjo master Tony Trischka in his liner notes to Decembering, the brand-new album from Tony Furtado. “He’s planted his flag in the midst of the fertile ground that is modern banjo. Texturally fresh, confidently audacious, rich and giving, this recording is a masterpiece.”

It’s been over thirty years since Tony Furtado first made his mark on Planet Banjo with the release of his debut album on Rounder Records, Swamped. He was—and still is—traditionally rooted, progressively oriented, and a composer of rare skill. Decembering is a welcome return to the banjo and a much-needed ray of sunshine and light in these troubled times.

Because of the pandemic, Decembering was recorded in isolation, with no face-to-face contact between musicians. “I started this in my basement (affectionately called Squirrelville Studio) just as the pandemic began,” explains Tony. “The process was simple but really challenging. I would record my parts first, send them out to each player to put down their parts one at a time, sometimes doubling back to re-record each part to fit better as the tune grew and evolved. It was like a game of audio ping-pong.”
Recording an album with this process was quite a feat, but Decembering is well worth the extra effort that was required. The album contains eight tunes Tony wrote on for the banjo and cello banjo, plus a Beatles cover (“Here Comes the Sun”) and a new take on a traditional fiddle tune, “Nimrod Hornpipe,” reimagined as a Brazilian folk song. Tony’s original tunes and inventive arrangements make this an album that rewards careful, repeated listening. Tony’s banjo is front and center, both the regular five-string and the lower-tuned cello banjo. He’s also a brilliant slide guitarist, though in this case, it’s here to support the banjo.

Tony is joined on Decembering by a stellar cast of musicians who rose to the challenges presented by recording an album in isolation. The roster included some folks Tony has played with over the years and some he’s admired but never worked with, including John Doyle on guitar & bouzouki (Solas), Todd Sickafoose on bass (Ani DiFranco/Anais Mitchell), Rob Burger on keyboards & accordion (Iron & Wine/Tin Hat Trio), fiddler Luke Price (Love, Dean), cellist Tristan Clarridge (Bee Eaters), mandolinists Mike Marshall & Matt Flinner, and drummers Scott Amendola, Aaron Johnston, & Carter McClean.

Feeling that we all needed some light and some hope, Tony wanted Decembering to be a heartfelt and vivid statement. There's a real sense of joy that comes through on every cut on this recording from a veteran and truly original musician. In the words of Tony Trischka, "Considering that this album was created as the pandemic was revving up, this is one mighty silver lining."

“A banjo album recorded during a pandemic” sounds like the punchline to a bad banjo joke, but Decembering is one of the deepest, most satisfying albums in Tony’s catalog, a soulful, tuneful meditation on the craziness and chaos of the past year and a half.

credits

released November 25, 2021

"Tony Furtado, banjo player, is back…in a big way! He’s planted his flag in the midst of the fertile ground that is modern banjo. Texturally fresh, confidently audacious, rich and giving, this recording is a masterpiece."
- Tony Trischka

Produced by Tony Furtado
“Tiny Beast” co-produced by Tony Furtado & Luke Price
The recording home base was Squirrelville Studios, Portland Oregon.
But there were as many recording studios involved as there were musicians since all parts were recorded from home.

Mixing engineer - Rob Stroup, Taproot Studios, Truth or Consequences, NM
Mastered by Jim Blackwood at AZPM Mastering, Tucson AZ
Album cover art by Tony Furtado and Sally Truitt
Album cover layout and graphic design by Sally Truitt
Photography by Alicia J. Rose

This album was recorded from March 2020- August 2021 in a ping-pong fashion from player to player to player. It’s probably the most frustrating, love filled, emotional album I’ve made in my 35 year career as a professional musician. When I hear this album years from now, I will be reminded of the chaos and tragedy of our time, but I will also be reminded of the love and strength we’ve all had to muster to get through it all.

Thanks to my family and co-inhabitants of Squirrelville - Stephanie Schneiderman & Liam Furtado. Without their love, support and banjo-tempered ears this album would not have been possible! Also, thanks to Chloe and Mia for their daily squirrel observation and reconnaissance.

Big thanks to Luke Price for his invaluable input and musicianship on this project and for being such a solid sounding board!

Thanks as always to Chris Webb (JAMN Management), Craig Grossman (Fleming Artists), and Rich Shenave

All songs written by Tony Furtado (Laughing Rabbit Music, SESAC) except Nimrod Hornpipe (traditional) and Here Comes the Sun (George Harrison)

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Tony Furtado Portland, Oregon

“Tony Furtado is a major musical force without a doubt. He has his black belt in voice, bottleneck guitar and his banjo playing scares the crap out of me.” – David Lindley

“The devil will eventually want a guitar lesson from Tony Furtado, but he’ll have to wait in line like the rest of us.” - Willy porter ... more

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