Jefferson Starship - Jefferson's Tree Of Liberty (2008)

Life is good as founding member Paul Kantner remains in control of The Jefferson Starship. Long time cohort David Freiberg is still around as is guitarist Mark Aguilar. Cathy Richardson is now the lead female vocalist. She starred in the off Broadway production about Janis Joplin’s life. Richardson’s voice is powerful and pure but is closer to a Grace Slick sound than Joplin’s, which should come as no surprise. Even Marty Balin joins the Starship for a couple of tunes.

Jefferson’s Tree Of Liberty finds the Starship traveling in a new and unique musical direction. Succinctly put, this is a folk album. Songs such as “Pastures Of Plenty” by Woody Guthrie, “Chimes Of Freedom” by Bob Dylan, and “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” by Phil Ochs are all presented in classic vocal form. Kantner and The Jefferson Starship can’t quite escape their rock ‘n’ roll roots as the instrumental background veers from the classic folk formula. Think the Weavers in rock mode.

The first track sets the tone for most of the album. The old Weavers tune, “Wasn’t That A Time,” features the voices of Kantner, Freiberg, and Richardson. Richardson provides a wonderful balance on most of the harmonies contained on the album. This old historical folk song is enhanced by the violin of San Francisco music scene veteran David LaFlamme.

Jefferson’s Tree Of Liberty is a virtual journey through folk history. The traditional “Follow The Drinking Gourd” is a metaphorical song of the underground railroad and features more harmonies by Kantner, Freiberg, and Richardson. The Phil Ochs protest song, “I Ain’t Marching Anymore,” is just Cathy Richardson’s voice accompanied by an acoustic guitar.

It is interesting to hear a female sing this traditional male song. “Chimes Of Freedom” is the first Dylan song that the Jefferson Starship or The Jefferson Airplane ever recorded. “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” is the Weavers poignant love song. “Royal Canal” is the old Ian & Tyson tune about prison. Kantner strips the song to its basics and duets with Diana Mangano. “Come with the dust and gone with the wind’ is a line from Woody Guthrie’s “Pastures Of Plenty” which is presented in a version loyal to the original.

There are some other pleasant surprises contained on Jefferson’s Tree Of Liberty. David Freiberg shines on the old Dino Valenti/Quicksilver song, “Cowboy On The Run.” This gentle song of protest is resurrected with a modern sound. It’s nice to have Marty Balin back. He brings his clear voice to the pure pop song, “Maybe For You.” Richard Farina wrote “The Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood” shortly before his death. Here Darby Gould sings the song a capella.

Jefferson’s Tree Of Liberty is not only an excellent album, it was also unexpected. Maybe that is the best part of Paul Kantner and The Jefferson Starship’s latest release. The twists and the turns take the listener on a wonderful journey through a history of American folk music. It is a journey well worth taking.

The Main Ten

* Paul Kantner – vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar, banjo, glass harmonica, 'George Harrison' lead guitar, 12-string electric guitar
* David Freiberg – vocals, acoustic guitar, washboard guitar
* Cathy Richardson – vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar
* Chris Smith – piano, bass, squeezbox, drone, pennywhistle, string synthesizer
* Slick Aguilar – tremolo & 'Soldano' electric guitar on "Genesis Hall", lead guitar on "Maybe for You"
* Prairie Prince – drums, snare, kick, bodhran
* Donny Baldwin – drums (supporting tour)
* Darby Gould – vocals on "Genesis Hall", "In a Crisis", and "The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood"
* Diana Mangano – vocals on "Royal Canal" and "Commandante Carlos Fonseca"
* Marty Balin – acoustic guitar on "Maybe for You", vocals on "Maybe for You"

Featuring

* David Grisman – mandolin on "Frenario" and "Pastures of Plenty"
* Grace Slick – background vocals, vocals on "Surprise" (uncredited)

Additional Personnel

* Jack Casady – bass on "Maybe for You"
* T Lavitz – keyboards on "Maybe for You"
* Jack Traylor – acoustic guitar on "Surprise", vocals on "Surprise" (uncredited)
* David LaFlamme – violin on "Wasn't That a Time"
* Michael Gaiman – flat-picked acoustic guitar on "Wasn't That a Time"
* Michael Eisenstein – acoustic guitar on "Wasn't That a Time"
* Barry Sless – pedal steel guitar on "Cowboy on the Run" and "In a Crisis"
* Alexander Kantner – electric bass guitar on "On the Threshold of Fire"
* Paul Lamb – french horn on "On the Threshold of Fire"
* The Wailin' Cowgirls (Cathy Richardson, Linda Imperial) – vocals on "Cowboy on the Run"
* The I-Jays (Paul Kantner, David Freiberg, Darby Gould) – vocals on "Imagine Redemption"

Production

* Michael Gaiman – manager, producer, mixer, art & booklet design, layout & direction, liner notes
* David Freiberg – producer, mixer, additional recording, liner notes
* Paul Kantner – producer, mixer, liner notes
* Paul Lamb – engineer, mixer
* Glen Doggett – 2nd engineer
* Cathy Richardson – additional recording
* John Ovnik – additional recording
* Recorded by at Renegade Studios in San Rafael, March 16th - 30th and May 14th - 18th
* Additional recording at FreeMountain studios and in Chicago
* Paul Stubblebine – mastering
* Rebecca Baltutis, Jesse Obstbaum – art & booklet design, layout & direction
* Mike Thut – photography

Track listing and author list from liner notes:

1. "Wasn't That a Time" (Lee Hays, William Lowenfels, additional lyrics by Paul Kantner) – 2:38
2. "Follow the Drinking Gourd" (Traditional) – 3:04
3. "Santy Anno" (Traditional, arranged by Kantner) – 3:14
4. "Cowboy on the Run" (Dino Valenti) – 4:34
5. "I Ain't Marching Anymore" (Phil Ochs, additional lyrics by Cathy Richardson) – 3:13
6. "Chimes of Freedom" (Bob Dylan) – 3:54
7. "Genesis Hall" (Richard Thompson) – 3:14
8. "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" (Paul Campbell, Huddie Ledbetter) – 3:30
9. "Royal Canal (The Auld Triangle)" (Brendan Behan) – 3:17
10. "Rising of the Moon" (J. K. Casey, Turlough O'Carolan) – 2:08
11. "Frenario" (Traditional) – 4:07
12. "In a Crisis" (World Entertainment War) – 4:45
13. "Maybe for You" (Terry Terrell) – 2:51
14. "Commandante Carlos Fonseca" (Carlos Mejia-Godoy, Tomás Borge) – 3:24
15. "Pastures of Plenty" (Woody Guthrie) – 3:22
16. "Imagine Redemption" ("Imagine" by John Lennon and "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley, from an idea by Michael Gaiman) – 3:13
17. "On the Threshold of Fire" (Kantner) – 4:49
18. "The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood" (Traditional, Words by Richard Fariña) – 2:58
19. "Surprise" (Jack Traylor, Grace Slick) (hidden track) – 4:53

Download includes front cover