So this morning I did some grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s. I started the trip listening to the Perpetual Optimism latest release from jazz drummer Herlin Riley.
But after getting my coffee I decided to listen to some Americana on my way instead of jazz. The reason is that I can listen to lyrics of folk songs better when I’m in the car! I
decided that on the way there I would listen to Acres of Elbow Room the new album from John Wort Hannam and then on the way back I’d listen to Voices by Tom Rush. Tom Rush’s Voices was released in April of 2018.
I first discovered the music of John Wort Hannam when I started this blog back in 2010.. First, I started by listening to his second album Dynamite and ‘Dozers which was released in 2004. The songs on that album were impressive, so I quickly sought out Pocket Full of Holes. Then Came 2009’s Queen’s Hotel. You can read my posts about those albums here and here.
About John Wort Hannam
In 2001 John Wort Hannam quit his teaching job and spent 10 months depleting his savings while sat at his kitchen table, wearing a lucky hat, writing his first ten songs. Those songs would become his first recording Pocket Full Of Holes, released in 200
Seventeen years later, the Alberta musician is releasing his seventh full-length recording Acres Of Elbow Room and has a few feathers in that lucky hat for his first six offerings. Feathers that include a JUNO nomination, a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Album of the Year, a CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award, a Kerrville Texas New Folk win, and numerous Western Canadian Music Award and Canadian Folk Music Award nominations
Over the last few years,John has had both good and bad come into his life. The good included: becoming a Dad, turning 50 and moving to the “big City” of Lethbridge. While the bad included a long, deep bout of depression, and episodes of losing his singing voice. But John has weathered all his storms and new days are shining brighter. I think that Acres of Elbow Room is his best album since those three albums I wrote about earlier
About Acres of Elbow Room
I love the opening track “Acres of Elbow Room” in it John laments that while he loves the big city of Lethbridge there are times when he needs to get back out to open spaces.Can’t most of us relate to that!
He also writes about ” The Quiet Life” and how he’ll be fine living in that “Quiet Life” As a quiet life person, I can relate to this song! He also wrote a song for his young son….and several other great songs!
The bottom line is that Acres of Elbow Room is a really, really, good album. So Check It Out!And you may think you need acres of elbow room, if after listening to the album, you end up in a small Trader Joe’s store!
Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of John Wort Hannam
Artist’s Website
Facebookhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NnOyQEZrRM
Twitter
YouTube
Here is the title track from Acres of Elbow Room