The Harvest
Grandiflora, 2023
9/10
The Nashville artist Afton Wolfe brings in a handful of friends for this album of songs by L.H. Halliburton, where many genres are touched upon via his inimitable vision.
The title track opens the listen with Ilya Portnov’s warm harmonica and Seth Fox’s smooth flute adding a nice contrast to Wolfe’s gruff vocals, and “New Orleans Going Down” follows with Madison George’s fluid drums and Anthony Saddic’s strategic keys for the rugged blues delivery.
Halfway through, “Hello, Mr. Wolf” recruits spoken word and minimal instrumentation that includes Mark Robinson’s gentle guitar, while “Til The River No Longer Flows” is a thick album highlight that meshes Erik Mendez’s skilled bass and the dense keys amid Wolfe’s gritty singing. The last track, “Here To Stay”, doesn’t disappoint either, where the raw piano balladry is poetic, thoughtful and stirring in Wolfe’s heartfelt formula.
It’s hard not to think of Tom Waits when absorbing Wolfe’s gravelly pipes, and the folk, blues, gospel, Americana, jazz and country influences only enhance the power and lasting ability of this fantastic listen.
Travels well with: Keturah Allgood- Shine; The Burnt Pines- Don’t Look Down