Classic Covers Revisited in “American Preservation” with Matt Turk

“Classic Covers Revisited in American Preservation with Matt Turk”

by Brion Hughes, Music Journalist

Matt Turk has been a very busy guy since the release of his latest album “American Preservation” which was released in May of 2010. The album has received positive affirmations in the Folk community & has been played on a regular basis on many radio stations around the country. The album spiked at # 20 on the folk charts & the band has been nonstop playing a host of gigs in venues, festivals, community centers & even some churches. “American Preservation” was recorded live at Matter Music in Burbank California using some down home applications, using blankets between instruments as partitions along the walls of the studio recording room. Considering the amount of musicians in his ensemble, the recording is pristine & crisp.

Along with Matt Turk, who plays both acoustic & electric guitar, mandolin, lap steel guitar & vocals, are band mates Dean Butterworth on drums, Chris Wagner on bass, Chris Joyner on piano & keyboard, Gabby Moreno on backup vocals, Gary Star on drums, Tracy Wannamae on sax, Jack Rudy on harmonica, Dan Pinnella also on guitars. This band has really got their chops down as a result of constant touring & combine classic folk with hints of country overtones & vocal performances that are inviting to any listener.

“American Preservation” is an interesting album of great American covers spanning decades of radio hits. Somehow, Matt & Co. take a southern/folk band into a new look into these 11 tunes that really make it their own. Vocals are amazing throughout the entire album. The real standout songs to me were the rendition of “Bang A Gong“, very cool; “On the Turning Away”, Epic! “America the Beautiful” was a sentimental favorite for me, my late mother Patricia L. Jester helped write that song. “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” is also a fun song. “Mamma Don’t Allow” is my pick for every guitar player still banging it out! All in all, the rest of the music will not disappoint.

This is the 5th album released by Matt, who has numerous music scores that have been used for movies, T.V., cable network shows & Web radio. He is also involved with several non-profit organizations; The Street Singers, a team that teaches music to inner city kids around NYC and other humanitarianism efforts for home bound people living with AIDS.

Matt is also the resident musician at “Congregation B’nai Jeshran NYC” & he hosted the “Circle of Song Events” from 2000 to 2004. Matt currently runs the music element of Story Arts located at the Coachman Family Center in the West Chester/White Plains area. “American Preservation” is what Matt Turk is accomplishing through many outlets. This album is a mere reflection of what Matt is doing behind the scene of his music. Music is so very important to so many Americans & so is passing traditions to our youth.

B.

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