Claudia Schmidt – ©2017
“I have always loved winter, and the older I get, the more I love it. I joke about how the long nights and short days give us cosmic permission to underachieve. But when I look at the way our lives seem to fill up with busy work that eclipses contemplation and dream time, I realize the underlying seriousness of the situation! So here is my love note to the oft-maligned season of winter. Bring it on. Hark the Dark!” – Claudia Schmidt
This welcome new CD by Claudia Schmidt, her 22nd recording, takes a new turn – it is a thematic journey through dark winter in various genres, moods, and styles. Only about half the songs are her original pieces; she has also gathered some musings of fellow musicians and thrown in a couple standards. For those of us who are familiar with her earlier recordings, this is a change, with a new sound, but it is still the same Claudia with her heartfelt renditions, and a voice that is as strong and expressive as ever.
On the whole, this CD is a very contemplative reflection on life and the quiet times of winter – it has more of a quiet jazz and blues feel to it, except perhaps for her poem December Danger, which reveals Claudia’s sly humor. The instrumental backup is very well done, especially Miro Sprague’s piano artistry. The pianolin, that unique Michigan invention, makes a comeback in a couple tracks.
This is a CD to play from beginning to end, in a quiet room, as a musical meditation. It will soothe your soul and brighten your life – we need that in today’s world. Highly recommended.
Stewart Hendrickson
Note: Claudia Schmidt will perform a PNW Folklore Society Coffeehouse Concert at the Couth Buzzard in Seattle on May 13, 2018, her fourth concert there – a yearly tradition.