Title: This Road
Artist: Sarty, Jonathan
Label: CD Baby
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 884501580953
Genre: Rock
The Valley Voice: Summer, like fame, is ever-fleeting ... By Tom Eastman Aug 19, 2011 12:00 am SOLD OUT!: Jonathan Sarty 's CD release party set for Aug. 21 is sold out at Stone Mountain Arts Center. It's for his new solo CD, "This Road." "We've been rehearsing all week, and the band is sounding great," said Jonathan when he called Thursday. The Conway Daily Sun - By Tom Eastman Jonathan Sarty rocks on 'This Road'/Local singer-songwriter to play at solo CD release party Aug. 21 Jonathan Sarty recently released a solo CD of original music, "This Road." He's performing a CD release party at Stone Mountain Arts Center in Brownfield, Maine Sunday, Aug. 21. (JAMIE GEMMITI PHOTO) JACKSON - Jonathan Sarty has become a mainstay of the New England music scene over the past decade, whether performing country music with the White Mountain Boys, hosting the Legendary Hoot Night in Jackson NH., or playing a solo throughout the tri-state area. The White Mountain Boys earlier this summer released a CD of covers of country tunes. They continue to tour and will be playing Aug. 6 at the annual Jackson Covered Bridge Dance from 6 to 9 p.m. Now, in addition to maintaining his band gigs, Sarty's proudly stepping out with his first solo rock CD of all original songs. "This Road" was recorded over the past year and released on his independently-formed label, White Mountain Music Group. A CD release party for the 13-song collection is set for 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, at Stone Mountain Arts Center in nearby Brownfield, Maine. Tickets are $20, and have been selling well in advance, according to Sarty, a charismatic singer and occasional TV actor who can yodel, croon and rock with the best of them - Elvis and Hank Williams included. "I'm really proud of how it came out, and very pleased with the songs and the sound," said Maine native Sarty in a recent interview, during which he previewed the mostly-rockin' CD on his van's CD player. Also listening in from the van's back seat was his faithful 13-year-old canine sidekick, Virtue whom Sarty has had since a 7 week old puppy. Asked which of the 13 songs was Virtue's favorite, Sarty smiled and pet Virtue on the nose, saying, "Ah, he loves all of them." And rightly so - This CD is a very strong collection of work, sounding much more in the rock and Latin rock music vein than Sarty's regional following of country music fans may have expected. There are also ballads and love songs to go along with the rock and Latin rock. "Of course, I still love playing country music," said Sarty. "I started doing a lot of roots country back in 2002 when I formed the White Mountain Boys. It's family friendly music and playing country made sense to me in a lot of ways. "But," said Sarty, talking rock and roll yet nonetheless wearing a cowboy hat and looking a bit like John Travolta in his "Urban Cowboy" days, "before I started doing country, all I did was original rock songs and some rock covers. So to me, this [CD] is a return to where my roots really are - I always felt my true calling as a singer-songwriter, and though I have focused on roots country and being an entertainer the artist in me has continued to write my own songs. With this project I have gotten back to the start and am digging in again to reach out to the listening audience who are looking to hear a new voice with something to say." Sarty produced the CD, and assembled a top lineup of players to back him on the tracks. The CD was recorded over the past year at Baked Bean Studios in Harrison, Maine. Performing on the CD are such talents as bassist and recording artist Don Walden, Boston area accordionist/pianist Joe Sonny Barbato, and esteemed guitar virtuoso Duke Levine, as well as the acclaimed fiddler Joyce Andersen. Also on the CD is renowned drummer Dave Mattacks. Mattacks - who really got his high profile start with Jethro Tull and moved on to play drums with Richard Thompson and Fairpoint Convention, and has also worked with artists such Paul McCartney and Rosanne Cash, among many others - gives the CD a real 'pump', while Levine's guitar artistry shines through the compilation complementing Sarty's arrangements. A true rocker-Sarty is looking forward to playing live at Stone Mountain. Joining him for the Aug. 21 show are bassist Walden, Barbato, Mattacks, and special musical guests. Regional guitarist Simon Crawford will join the band for the show as Levine is currently on the road with the J Giels Band. "I'm really looking forward to the show," said Sarty, who retains his youthful exuberance for performing music. "We'll be making a video that night. After that, it's one step at a time," said Sarty, with his eye on taking "This Road" to greater acclaim.
Tracks:
1.1 Call Your Children Home
1.2 Tell Me with Your Pretty Eyes
1.3 Don't Go That Way
1.4 Fallen in Love
1.5 And I Always Will
1.6 I Believe in You
1.7 Can't Take It Anymore
1.8 I Guess I'm the Bad Guy
1.9 I've Got a Home
1.10 More Trouble Than I'm Worth
1.11 The Window of Our Love
1.12 This Road
1.13 Try Again
1.14 [Untitled Track]
