According to the Oxford dictionary "tour de force" is defined as "an impressive performance or achievement that has been accomplished or managed with great skill", and Greg Latta's latest release of the same name certainly meets that definition. The release features Greg on vocals and some 15 different instruments covering 6 different musical genres. 9 of the 16 tracks are winners of the distinguished Maryland State Arts Council Award in Non-Classical Solo Musical Performance.
Instruments include the following: Banjo 6-String Guitar Bass Cittern Bouzouki Recorder Cajon Banjimer Harmonica Tambourine Train Whistle Hammered Dulcimer 12-String Guitar Northumbrian Smallpipes Mandolin Uilleann Pipes |
Musical Genres Include the following:
American Traditional/Folk Classic Country Celtic Orignal Pop Bluegrass Traditional 19th Century |
*Winner: Maryland State Arts Council - Individual Artist Award In
Non-Classical Solo Musical Performance
1. Walkin' Boss - Clarence Ashley* (2:38) - American
Traditional Folk
Banjo, 6-String Guitar, Bass
A railroading song about laying track. The Walkin' Boss was the foreman in
charge of the track laying crew. I learned this many years ago from the version
sung by Doc Watson on "Memories".
2. The Butcher Boy - Traditional* (3:18) - American
Traditional Folk
Cittern, Banjo, 6-String Guitar, Bass
A popular traditional song about love lost.
3. Just For You - Jim Eanes* (2:49) - Classic
Country
6-String Guitar, Bass
A wonderful song from country/bluegrass artist Jim Eannes. I tried to keep this
as close to the original classic country style as I could.
4. Tir Na Nog - Leo O'Kelly* (5:32) - Celtic
Bouzouki, Bass, Recorder, Cajon
A song from Irish mythology about the marriage of the great warrior Oisin and
Niamh (a woman of the Otherworld) and their voyage to Tir Na Nog, the place
where time stops.
5. The Whole World Round - Mitch Jayne and Joe Stuart* (2:39)
- American Traditional Folk
Banjo, 6-String Guitar, Bass, Banjimer
I recorded this with Appalachian dulcimer on my earlier release "Headed
for Home". This is a completely different version with banjo and banjimer.
The banjimer is essentially an Appalachian dulcimer neck mounted on a tiny
triangular body. I picked mine up while travelling on the Blue Ridge Highway.
6. Choo Choo To You - Greg Latta* (4:06) -
Original
6-String Guitar - DADGAD Tuning, Bass, Harmonica, Tambourine, Train Whistle
I recorded and released this years ago on "Headed for Home", but I
always wanted to re-record it with new instrumentation. The guitar is tuned in
DADGAD, a tuning often used for celtic pieces, but it works here just as well.
7. The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot*
(5:33) - Pop
6-String Guitar, Bass, Cittern
Gordon Lightfoot's famous song about the sinking of the ore freighter
"Edmund Fitzgerald". The ship sank in heavy seas on Lake Superior on
November 10th, 1975 with the loss of 29 men. I got my cittern specifically with
this song in mind.
8. Wake of the Storm - Greg Latta (3:27) -
Original
Hammered Dulcimer
My interpretation of a spring thunderstorm on the hammered dulcimer.
9. Five In Twenty-Four - Greg Latta* (5:39) -
Original
6-String Guitar, Bass, Harmonica, Tambourine
A historically accurate song about the great 1936 St. Patrick's Day Flood in
Cumberland, MD. I wrote this at the request of the Allegany Museum using
written materials, pictures, and films provided by the museum.
10. Hannah - Harley Lee Allen, Debbie Nims, and John Harold
Pennell (3:29) - Bluegrass
12-String Guitar, Bass
A song about a girl born and raised on a farm in Kentucky. She marries and has
to leave. She longs to return, but in the end is only able to go back in her
dreams.
11. Bonny Light Horseman - Traditional (3:53) -
Traditional 19th Century
Northumbrian Smallpipes
A tragic lament from the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s.
12. In The Jailhouse Now - Jimmie Rodgers (3:56) -
American Traditional Folk
Greg Latta: 6-String Guitar, Bass; Dean Shumaker: Mandolin
Many people have covered this song. It is often attributed to Jimmie Rodgers,
but other versions were around long before Jimmie Rodgers recorded it in 1928.
My friend Dean Shumaker plays the mandolin part. Dean passed away years ago,
but I found this recording one afternoon while working on my computer. I am
very pleased to include it in this album as a tribute to him.
13. Gotta Get Back To The Mountains - Greg Latta* (3:11) -
Bluegrass/Original
Banjo, 6-String Guitar, Bass, Harmonica
I wrote this song many years ago. We often must move away from where we are
born, and long to return later in life, especially if that place is in the
mountains. The harmonica is a Hohner "Double Puck". Two small
harmonicas mounted back to back, one in C, the other in G.
14. Forked Deer - Traditional (1:46) - American
Traditional Folk
Dean Shumaker: Lead 6-String Guitar; Greg Latta: Backup 6-String Guitar and
Bass
A popular traditional American instrumental played by my friend Dean Shumaker.
Dean passed away years ago, but, like "In The Jailhouse Now", I found
this informal recording one afternoon while cleaning up my computer. I had to
include it in this album in memory of Dean.
15. Blackwaterside - Ron Kavana* (2:43) - Celtic
Uilleann Pipes
There are many rivers in Ireland. Ron Kavana wrote this song about the
Blackwater River and living along its banks.
16. Simple Gifts - Traditional/Joseph Brackett (2:47) -
American Traditional Folk
Hammered Dulcimer
A traditional Shaker tune played here on the hammered dulcimer. A great way to
finish off the album.
Produced by Greg and Teddy Latta
Photography, Layout, and Engineering: Greg Latta
Copyright 2022 by Greg Latta
"Tour De Force" is avalable as a conventional CD or as a Flash
Drive for those who lack the ability to play a CD. Both are the same price.
The Flash Drive includes the following:
1. High Quality, fully notated MP3 files
2. CD Liner Notes in Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat Reader (.pdf)
formats
3. CD Artwork in Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat Reader (.pdf) formats
4. Installation instructions in Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat Reader
(.pdf) formats
Use the order form below to order, or you can purchase Tour De Force from
Greg personally at one of his performances.
"Tour De Force" will eventually be available on iTunes and other on-line outlets for download. However, purchasing the music from me directly saves you the trouble of having to open an account or install an APP to download the music from one of the on-line music vendors. The cost per track is about the same as buying the music on-line, and you get the CD liner notes, CD artwork, and a flash drive to boot!
Greg Latta is an award winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist
and singer/songwriter who plays the hammered dulcimer, guitar, banjo, cittern,
bouzouki, uilleann pipes, Northumbrian Smallpipes, harmonica, recorder, and
Appalachian dulcimer. He is a past Mid-Atlantic Banjo Champion, a three time
Mid-Eastern hammered dulcimer champion, and two time runner-up in the National
hammered dulcimer championships held at Winfield, Kansas. He has won the
distinguished Maryland State Arts Council Award in Non-Classical Solo Musical
Performance three consecutive times.
If you have any questions or
comments, you can send E-Mail to Greg at: