The musical, mystical journey continues for Tracy Grammer. The stellar vocalist/instrumentalist performs at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30) on Saturday at Bernie’s Guitar in Redding. Tickets are $15.
Interpreting songs is perhaps Grammer’s greatest strength as an artist. When she decides to take on on song, it’s treated with incredible care.
On her newest release, a seven-song EP “Book of Sparrows,” she transforms tunes by Tom Russell, David Francey, Jackson Browne, Dave Carter and Kate Power. Russell says Grammer’s version of his tune “Blue Wing” is his favorite.
“I found all these great songs by other songwriters and they were songs that hit me in a strong way,” Grammer said by phone today from Massachusetts, her current home. “I thought, the world needs to hear these.”
Born in Florida, raised in Southern California, schooled at Berkeley — the key time for Grammer’s music career came in Portland, Ore., when she saw the late Dave Carter performing at a singer/songwriter event. She was transfixed by the imagry of Carter’s songs, and soon after they were collaborating.
As a duo, they soared. They released three fantastic albums and toured with Joan Baez. They were poised to hit the stratosphere of the folk genre when Carter died of a heart attack in 2002 while touring with Grammer. He was 49.
Grammer, to honor the journey they had begun, continues to tour and perform Carter’s music. She continues to reach back into the archives and find Carter gems that have never been released. She gives them the first-class Grammer treatment.
“There’s so much cool stuff in the archives,” she said. “The tapes have a real psychedelic influence to them. People think of him as this cowboy singer, but his earlier music has a heavily psychedelic and mystical feel to it.”
When I interviewed Carter several years back, he mentioned how many of his songs emerged out of dreams. I was struck by two other elements about Carter — his incredible warmness and kindness, and this feeling that I had known him for years. For some reason (beyond loving the Carter-Grammer catalog), he pops into my mind quite often.
When I mentioned this to Grammer, it didn’t surprise her.
“There was something about him,” she said. “He made a strong impression on people, even if they’d only met him once.”
Expect plenty of Carter songs on Saturday in the Oaksong Society concert at Bernie’s (3086 Bechelli Lane, behind Village Cycle) in Redding.
Grammer will be playing with multi-instrumentalist Jim Henry, who has co-produced and played on her recent albums. Henry will play mandolin and electric and acoustic guitar with Grammer. He also plays dobro. Grammer will play acoustic guitar and fiddle.
It’s a treat to have Henry on the Redding show. It’s one of two shows he’s playing with her on her West Coast tour.
In addition to excellent artistry, the two are hoot in concert. The show is a good stopping point after doing some 2nd Saturday Art Hopping.
