Various Artists – Treasures Left Behind: Remembering Kate Wolf
Nina Gerber, Kate Wolf’s longtime friend and musical collaborator, is an accomplished, versatile guitarist, and one of the most respected accompanists and arrangers in acoustic music today. For some time, Gerber has contemplated making a solo album. While compiling material, she realized that the enormous influence Wolf had upon her career needed to be acknowledged before she tackled any other projects. Thus, the Kate Wolf tribute album was born.
The 14 cuts presented here offer interpretations of Wolf’s material from such notables as Emmylou Harris, John Gorka, Nanci Griffith, Dave Alvin, Utah Phillips and others. Standout tracks include those by Lucinda Williams, whose haunting voice beautifully captures the bittersweet nostalgia of “Here In California”; and Cris Williamson, whose warm, sweet vocal caresses an aching rendition of “Carolina Pines”. Although the tracks do bear the stamp of the individual performers ( such as Peter Rowan’s breakneck bluegrass romp through “Like A River”, and Greg Brown’s world-weary yet delightfully wry take on “Tequila And Me”), it is always and inevitably the quality of the material that shines through. Some of the contributors knew Wolf well; others confess to never having personally met the woman. They are united by a passion for her direct, honest work.
Wolf died of leukemia in 1986. Her early passing, at age 44, robbed the acoustic music world of a major presence. She achieved a hallmark that few songwriters find: an ability to combine the deceptively simple with the remarkably profound. Her songs reflect a deep and abiding love for her “golden, rolling hills of California,” as well as an intimate understanding of the human experience. Ultimately, this heartfelt compilation invokes the response all good tributes should: a desire to return once again to the source.