There are some remarkably talented musicians living on the Outer Banks so it’s hard to pick out one that’s the best. Having said that, though, guitarist Ruth Wyand is putting some music out right now that puts her up there with the elite anywhere.
She lives here so it’s easy to take her for granted but she’s very much in demand. She just got back from a short tour of Florida and in March she’s heading off for New Zealand.
Some of that is how she earns a living. In this case, though, it’s also in support of her newest album Guitar Routes.
The the album features nine cuts of Ruth playing guitar. No vocals, just guitar. And what guitar playing it is.
At a time when so many recording artists are using backing tracks and overdubs and every way imaginable to enhance their sound, all Ruth is doing is playing her guitar. Every song was done in one take—just one woman and her guitar.
And it is complex, compelling music.
She takes on a couple of jazz and piano standards. Her recording of Duke Ellington’s Caravan captures everything that makes the piece a classic—the driving beat, the catchy melody, it’s all on full display.
She dives into Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag and somehow she manages to capture the 88 key magic of Joplin on just six strings.
There are a number of her own works on the album as well. The single for the album is a song she wrote, Blind Willie. It’s upbeat, cheerful, fun and very tuneful. She put that out on YouTube with blended with some classic cartoons.
This is one album that is easy to recommend. It has blues, jazz, some ragtime and there’s even a piece in a minor key, Train to Kenitra, that has a distinctly Near Eastern flavor to it.
Great stuff.
Ruth will be playing at Outer Banks venues this summer. Do you have your Brindley Beach Vacations reservations in yet? If not, don’t delay, we’re filling up fast.