Terence Martin - Field Recordings

On August 3, 2011, wonderfully original poet, singer-songwriter and recording artist Terence Martin was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer. While it came as dreadful shock to his family, close friends, and his entire community, Terence met the challenge of facing the illness & embracing his remaining valuable days with the same tenacity, commitment, concentration & steadfastness that he did when approaching the previous demands of his full & passionate life. Terence made it clear that he intended to finish & record a new group of songs that he & dear friend & long- distance collaborator Gregory Hicks had worked on. Dennis Hrbek, Terence's long-time co-producer & engineer, vowed that, 'if Terence can't travel to the studio, the studio will come to him.' This CD was recorded in Terence & his wife Amy's living room, on a digital version of an old- style field recorder -- hence the name 'field recordings.' It was arranged 'on the fly' by Terence, along with close & dedicated musician friends Dan Bonis, Jim Allyn, Gordon Roehrer, Montgomery Delaney, & manager Barbara Roehrer who spent many hours at Amy & Terence's house, playing music, rehearsing, enjoying a good meal & wonderful camaraderie. A very special thanks to Jim Allyn for his patience & expertise in his direction & arrangement on these songs. While Amy photographed & recorded each session on digital video -- Dennis zealously set up mics, taped up the wood floor, & turned their living room into a once-(or twice)-each-week recording studio. During the second-to-last session, terence bestowed upon each of his close friends one of the guitars in his small collection. These songs are incredible on their own...but the fact that they were completed, arranged, & recorded 'live,' during the last weeks of terence's life -- is nothing short of amazing. Terence Martin was an esteemed songwriter, a published poet, a fiercely devoted literature, language & philosophy teacher & professor for 33 years, & a celebrated recording artist -- with a wife and children, & a close circle of caring friends, colleagues, students & their families who dearly loved him & whom he adored -- & a wide range of loyal & supportive fans. This CD celebrates the life of a brilliant, wise, kind & generous man who left us way too soon. Terence's music can be characterized as wide-ranging and varied. Songs with serious subjects are balanced by others chock-full of fantasy and humor. Some pieces have complex instrumental sections, while another might be clean, pared down, spare and incredibly moving. Most of Terence Martin's songs, however, are characterized by rich, dense lyrics which touch on topics that very few other songwriters approach, while also maintaining a very universal quality and appeal. His deep baritone, gravely yet mellifluous voice is complemented by spates on his harmonica and impeccable guitar-playing, and the support of a marvelously talented and cohesive band of first-rate mandolin, dobro, lap steel, percussion, arch-top and lead guitar players. Terence Martin's other 6 critically acclaimed CDs include 'Division Street,' 'Waterproof,' 'Sleeper,' 'Lost Hills,' 'Even Trade,' and 'The Last Black & White TV.' John Hammel from Homegrown Radio affirms, 'I just got finished listening to Terence Martin's new CD, The Last Black and White TV, and it blew me away with it's 'quiet' intensity. This is the finest in a long string of excellent albums from Terence. The depth and subtlety of his imagery as well as his superlative use of metaphor to burrow down into the heart and soul of relationships is non-pareil. He is also a master of effective vocal restraint. I love the way his husky semi-whisper makes it seem like you are privy to these universal truths he is imparting. ...Good, good stuff. ' 'There are some songwriters that leave such a powerful imprint that you feel changed in some fashion - Terence Martin is one of those.' - Kevin McCarthy, Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews - 'Just when those of us who listen to a lot of high quality music feel that we're up on all the good ones, Terence Martin reminds us that there is still another story, and another way to tell it.' -- Meg Griffin, Sirius Radio 'Terence Martin, like Richard Shindell, is a vivid wordsmith whose darkly fluid songs seep into your head and heart.' -- John Platt, WFUV - 'Terence Martin is the real deal: one of those rare singer songwriters who allows you right in to feel what he is singing." -- Pete Fornatale, Mixed Bag, WFUV.