CD review: Greg Schochet, Amblin’ Man
Finally, Greg Schochet has released his first solo recording called “Amblin’ Man,” a very appropriate title. Greg is embarrassed by how long this solo record took. Knowing he had it started, I bugged him about it all the time. So glad it is finished– it was worth the wait.. Amblin’ Man.
Greg grew up listening to and influenced by his father’s record collection: Bob Dylan, The Band, Beatles, Stones etc. He later added his high school favorites AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Lenard Skynyrd and of course the Grateful Dead to his influences. “The Dead led me, like so many of my generation, to bluegrass and the mandolin,” he said.
Originally from Long Island N.Y., Greg moved here around 35 years ago to study at Boulder’s University of Colorado, getting a degree in English, and learning to play music on the side. Greg’s first serious band experience was with Runaway Truck Ramp playing that Boulder jam grass that became so popular around these parts. It started in the early 90s and is still popular today.
Greg then discovered early country, honkey-tonk and western swing. He started his first country band with Danny Shafer and Rebecca Frazier called the All-Night Honey-Tonk All Stars. The All Stars found Boulder to be a surprising fertile ground for the Twang.
He then joined Halden Wolford and the Hi*Beams. For 16 years Greg was a vital part of the areas best honky-tonk band. His interplay with Bret Billings on steel guitar and Halden’s zany ways had the crowds cheering and yelling for more. This band was big fun and very tight.
While I booked Oskar Blues for 20 years, they were the band most often to play there – over five or six times a year, every year and were a staple at the Lyons Sandstone Park concert series each year. Young or old… everyone loved the Hi*Beams music and very often their shows were packed.
Greg is a musician’s musician, and he hand picked all the fine players who join him on this recording. As sole producer of the album, he was able to pick songs that exemplify the music and arrangements. Greg has shown his eclectic side on this CD with some swing, both western and old-timey, some country and honkey-tonk, some bluegrass mandolin and flatpicking guitar.
We start off with “Panhandle Rag,” a classic Leon McAuliffe tune from Leon’s time with Bob Wills. An example of Western Swing, where Greg plays electric and archtop guitars, and Bret Billings adds the pedal steel guitar.
The only original here is “Stationmaster.” It’s a typical American teenage pair’s jaunt from their hometown to the big city, where they find more trouble than they wanted. Greg plays acoustic and electric guitar on this one. He says, “I like the way this one came out. I wrote it many years ago when I was listening to a lot of Robert Earl Keen and Steve Earle, both story song masters.”
Next is a Jimmie Rodgers tune “Peach Pickin’ Time in Georgia.” Greg plays archtop guitar, and is joined by Eric Moon on accordion, and Katie Glassman on fiddle; and both on background vocals to Greg’s fine lead vocal.
Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain” in Greg’s hands shows his love for Bob Dylan’s songs, he caresses the lyrics with his guitars and vocals like no one else could. He makes this song his own.
On “Chinatown, My Chinatown,” Jeremy Mohney’s saxophone moves this one along nicely; and his vocals remind me of Harry Connick Jr.’s. This classic swing song is played by Greg on his archtop.
Greg displays his flatpicking chops on the Norman Blake “medley,” joined by Katie Glassman on fiddle, and Eric Thorin on upright bass. He turns back to Dylan with Gabe Mervine’s trumpet and Eric Moon’s playful piano, showing the way for his great vocal and acoustic guitar playing.
Jazz standard “Up a Lazy River,” sung by Hoagy Carmichael in 1930, sounds so smooth in the hands of Greg and Kyle Ussery on their archtop guitars; they do it great justice.
Next up is Halden Wofford and the Hi*Beams doing an old Hank Snow hit “A Fool such as I,” from 1954.
“Hamilton County Breakdown” follows with a great example of Greg’s bluegrass mandolin ability. It also features Eric Thorin, bass master, slapping the s*** out of his instrument; with Ross Martin on guitar, and Katie Glassman’s fine fiddle.
We end it with another classic.. “That Lucky Old Sun.” This one is from 1949, which Greg’s voice suits just fine, especially with Eric Moon and Katie Glassman adding perfect harmonies. Moon’s organ shines on this one.
Greg won the Rocky Grass flatpicking contest this year, by the way. You will probably not be too surprised after listening to this collection. When I asked Greg about his plans, he responded, “Lots! Playing more under my own name …gathering some great musicians who are learning my stuff. Planning to write some songs again, thinking ahead to another record with more original songs.” He is also putting together his next Dylan tribute which will be his 15th tribute and not to be missed.
