I love it when musicians do musical side projects. It usually means they’re passionate enough about something they’ve made time for it despite all the other demands for their attention, and the result generally reflects that passion. Such is the case with the album from Front Country multi-instrumentalist guitar player Jacob Groopman, entitled Through the Gates. Last December, Jacob made the most of a 2-week required quarantine to record songs he’d been working on both pre and post pandemic.
There are a variety of styles on the mostly instrumental record, but they center around an American roots sound. The title track is a Russ Barenberg piece that is so well conceived and executed you almost forget there are no vocals. At sort of the other end of the spectrum is Flatbush Waltz, a klezmer tune that’s all about the guitar and mandolin, with a hint of classical strings. Table Mountain Road/The Frieze Britches and Old Melinda/Gentleman From Virginia hew to a more traditional Appalachian sound.
Groopman also takes a Tony Rice number, Gasology, and supercharges it with rock and roll drums and jazzy electric guitar. It gave me some of the same wonderment I first heard Chick Corea’s 70’s material or early Weather Report. He also applied that style to a traditional folk song, The Blackest Crow. The album finishes with Leela, Leela, a tune with a Caribbean sway that had me reaching for a rum punch. It’s the frosting on the cake, and if you like string band virtuosity you should check out Through the Gates.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.