July 4th, 2011: “Congrats, Norm and all Wayfarers and Company, on the new CD release! I’ll be ordering “Trimmed and Burning” tomorrow. If it’s anything remotely as good as your previous CD, “Vacant Chair,” it’ll be terrific.
It looks as though you’ve also scored with another superb piece of cover art. Dulcimer-list readers, WF&Co may be the only band with album covers that are worth the price of the CD all by themselves. The cover art is stunning, but the good news is that in this situation, you actually CAN “tell a book by its cover,” because the music more than lives up to it.”
July 21st, 2011: “Well, now that I’ve actually had a chance to listen to Trimmed & Burning, I can safely say that it completely lives up to my expectations for it (to put it mildly). This is flat-out delightful. Great arrangements, terrific recorded sound, outstanding performances, and a wonderful mix of some familiar tunes with new (to me) discoveries.
The vocals are just as tight as they can be throughout, and I love the a cappella spots on “West Virginia, My Home,” “Oil in My Vessel,” and of course especially “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks”—very classy!!
I also noted some pretty fancy dulcimer playing on “Banks of the Ohio,” “Oil in My Vessel,” and “Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior” (great dulcimer ensemble work there!)
You should all be right proud. This is a wonderful CD. Vacant Chair has been at the top of my listening list for this style of music and repertoire for the past 5 years; I’m happy to put Trimmed & Burning right there beside it (well, maybe on top!). Wayfarers & Company should be a featured band at every festival on the old-time music circuit.
Thanks for the great music!”
Bill Collins, Dulcimer player and arranger; recording artist