Mayflower - Mountain Memories - Painted Times

"Bluegrass music was born in the early 1940's in the southeastern parts of USA. The roots of bluegrass are found from black blues and gospel music and the small early 20th century string bands, which based their music on the anglo-celtic traditions.

Mandolin player Bill Monroe from Kentucky is regarded as the father of bluegrass. His group Bluegrass Boys won good reputation in the southern states thanks to their new kind of music. Monroe's band had the honor of giving their name to the whole genre.

A bluegrass band originally consisted of a violinist, a mandolinist, and a guitarist. Soon a five-string banjo was added to the set of instruments. A man named Earl Scruggs had invented a "three-finger picking" style for playing the banjo, and this style has become the trademark for bluegrass. Other popular instruments are dobro and harmonica. The double bass has earned a regular position in a normal bluegrass band. Many new groups use electric bass instead of the hard-to-move double bass.

Multi-part vocal harmonies characterize bluegrass music. The songs range from ballads and legends based on folk poems to topical songs.

The folk wave in the 1960's meant a rise in popularity for bluegrass. Young people took to this acoustic music, and bluegrass spread from the countryside to cities. Today bluegrass is popular in the large cities of the east coast and California. Bluegrass has also earned fame outside USA: in the Benelux countries, France, Germany, England, Scandinavia and especially Japan, where the style has become enormously popular.

Every year about a half thousand festivals are arranged in USA. In addition to those, bluegrass is performed in numerous clubs and concerts.

Recently bluegrass has picked up influences from rock and jazz. A so-called newgrass genre has been born, represented by bands like New Grass Revival and Sundance.

This record does not attempt to be a cross-section of various bluegrass styles. A few songs should, however, be mentioned.

Newgrass is represented by Billy Joel's "Travelin' Prayer", whose original version was more close to country rock. "Blues For Mammy" is typical violin-and-guitar swing. It was originally performed by Billy Boyd. "When I Wake Up" is an example of gospel, originally based on Afro-American part-song traditions.

Most of the songs are traditional bluegrass, of which the purest representant is "Are You Missin' Me", written by the Louvin brothers. Bob Dylan's "Wallflower" has been arranged like a traditional bluegrass song.

Mayflower was formed in the autumn of 1976. The name was taken from the Mayflower ship, which transported European emigrants to the new continent in 1620.

Originally the group played both British and American folk music. Slowly the focus turned to American music. This was largely due to the instruments used by the band, which were suitable for performing bluegrass."

- Inner sleeve notes for "Mountain Memories" -



Lineup:

Ahti Marja-Aho - fiddle, vocals

Kari Reiman - banjo, mandolin, guitar, vocals

Paul Öhrnberg - guitar, lead vocals (+ harmonica on "The Train That Carried...")

Kalle Jämsen - mandolin, guitar

Teuvo Lampinen - bass, vocals


Ahti Marja-Aho, played on Vanha Isäntä's final LP "Rednecks, Blue Falls" (1979). In the 1980's he was a frequent member in rocker Tuomari Nurmio's bands and even worked as arranger on two of Nurmio's albums, "Lasten mehuhetki" (1981) and "Punainen planeetta" (1983). Other arranging assignments include Hector's "Nuku idiootti" (1986) and Ismo Alanko's "Kun Suomi putos puusta" (1990). Frequently used as session musician.

Kari Reiman, worked in the group Korkkijalka, joined folk group Värttinä in 1989. An interview with Reiman is found here.

Paul Öhrnberg, formed the biggest-ever Finnish humor magazine, Pahkasika (1975-2000), with Markku Paretskoi and Jukka Mikkola. Editor for business newspaper Kauppalehti.

Kalle Jämsen, free lance and session musician, in the group Korkkijalka, nowadays corporate communications manager at Teosto, the company that's responsible for licences for performing and recording music, handling copyrights, and paying royalties.

Teuvo Lampinen, played on Vanha Isäntä's "Rednecks, Blue Falls", played with Tuomari Nurmio in 1979-1980. Co-arranged and co-produced children's album "Nukketeatterissa" (CD version is titled "Muhvelotti - Merja Talkamon lastenlauluja") in 1982. Plays in a group called The Dimlights, who released albums "Walking the Duck" (1990) and "Part of the Crew" (1994). The Dimlights play American roots music and also include Timo Vakkilainen and Markku Luukkanen. Teaches basics for music at Espoon Musiikkiopisto (Espoo Music Institute).


Mountain Memories (1979):

1. Are You Missin' Me
2. Smokey Mountain Memories
3. Blues For Mammy
4. Ride My Blues Away
5. Dwarf Piper Reel
6. Travelin' Prayer
7. Rocky Top
8. Red Clay of Georgia
9. Merguez
10. Wallflower
11. Orient Blossom Special
12. When I Wake Up

Mayflower won the country & western contest in Joensuu in 1978. The reward was a trip to USA, during which they played live on the biggest bluegrass radio channel WAMV. "Mountain Memories" was the first-ever Finnish bluegrass record.


Painted Times (1982):

1. Long Letters
2. Declination Blues
3. Sincere Touch
4. Precious Wagons
5. Mary's Glade A. Shepherd's Pipe B. Wagtail
6. The Train That Carried My Girl From Town
7. Intervention
8. Sam Gone Away
9. Fireguard Drive
10. Willy
11. Poor Boy
12. El Grillo
13. Barefoot Nelly
14. Fall Migration
15. Pickin' My Way to Georgia

"Painted Times" partly abandons bluegrass in favor of blues and jazz.


http://finnishrock.blogspot.com/2009/05/mayflower.html