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THE GIRL
& THE MUSIC
By: Martha
Galep
 It
was midnight at the Winter Weekend in 1999 the first time
that I heard Sandi Scott sing. I had wandered into the mega jam
just in time to see this gal hand a baby over so that she could
sing. What came from those pipes was pure Bluegrass Heaven. I knew
then that I’d heard something special. This little blonde gal was
singing her heart out. I knew that I’d have to find out who she
was. This was worth hearing again and again. Little did I know
that I would be getting to hear that voice a lot!
Now many folks have
tuned into Sandi and her music. Her first solo CD project is fresh
off the press and it’s getting great reviews.
It didn’t happen overnight. Like
most singers, Sandi began singing the stuff she knew best, for her
it was Rock-and-Roll. A trip to the 1991 Minnesota Bluegrass and
Old Time Music Association’s Festival in Zimmerman changed all of
that. Sandi discovered a love she didn’t know she had: singing and
playing bluegrass music. Sandi was hooked. Soon,
Art and Sandi’s Pretty Good
Bluegrass Band was born. Sandi Scott’s recording with
Art Blackburn in 1996 featured their fine duet singing and gave
Sandi a chance to work with some superb local musicians like Barry
St. Mane, Mark Kreitzer, Mark
Anderson, and Chris Silver. “The Flame in My Heart” won local
acclaim and served to debut Sandi into the Minnesota
bluegrass community. “After I left, it took me a few years to
really find the sound that I wanted and now that I have, it seems
like everything is starting to fall into place” Sandi reflects.
When asked about that
early exposure, Sandi laughs in retrospect. “I didn’t even know
how to sing harmony until I met Art Blackburn. I was pretty young
at the time and just figuring out how I wanted to sing”. Sandi
left the band in 1998 but by then she certainly was well on her
way to “figuring it out” and the next few years were spent working
on collecting songs that suited her sound. This time was very well
spent.
THE CD & THE BAND
 Enter
the inspiration for “One More Time”, Chuck Millar.
Sandi met Chuck in
2002 and the two have been an item, musically and, well, you know,
ever since. “Chuck is the best musician I have ever played with,
and I’ve been fortunate to play with some of the best. He has been
one of the main driving forces behind “One More Time”. One needs
only to listen to the CD to understand fully the talent and
quality that Chuck brings to Sandi’s Music. No wonder these two
get along so well!!!
Recording “One More
Time” was the result of hard work and devotion to her music. When
asked how she felt about recording again, she said, “I just felt
like I was on top of the world! That had a lot to do with my
confidence to try these new sounds.” And new sounds they are! When
asked to describe the music, Sandi laughs. “Jim Whitney described
our set at Winter Weekend as ‘folkgrass’ and I guess that’s
accurate.” The new
CD has something for everyone.
The project took
about a year and a half from start to finish, partly because of
the desire on Sandi’s part to have it “just right” and partly due
to Chuck’s illness that slowed things down for a good six months.
But it was sure worth the wait as those who have listened will
tell you.
The variety of song
selections allows Sandi to sing different “grooves” while still
sounding earthy. The songs come from many sources, but two in
particular stand out simply because of the local connection.
“I’d Sooner Be Crazy”
came from the pen of Duluth based singer and songwriter Kim
Curtis-Monson, and the title cut,
“One More Time” was
written by Steve Schley of Free Range Pickin’. “The first time I
heard “One More Time”
I loved it” Sandi remembers. “I knew immediately that I wanted to
record it. It is a song that everyone can relate to at some point
in their lives. I’m glad Steve gave me the chance to put my own
arrangement on the song.” All the songs collected here benefit
from Sandi’s interpretation and if you ask her which her favorite
she’ll admit, “that’s a really hard decision but if I had to pick
one, I’d have to say that “If
I Were You” is my favorite song. It is a fun song and
everyone can sing along with it. “If
I Were You” is getting the most reviews which is really
exciting for me!”
The flavors of the
songs go together well, from the dreamy, swing toned
“I Wonder” to the
heart rendering touch given to
“God Rest My Momma’s Heart”.
I asked Sandi about that song and her choice to have Becky
Schlegel sing the harmony (which is perhaps one of the finest
vocal blends since Linda and Emmylou recorded “I Can’t Help It”).
“I’m so glad Becky came into the studio to sing with me, and I was
really pleased with the end result.” she said. When asked if she
realizes how phenomenal the track sounds, she smiles. “I think it
was a beautiful addition to the song.”
The tune that pushes
boundaries on the CD is Sandi’s version of the old R&B sounding
“Mr. Big Stuff”.
Chuck Millar’s defiant fiddle and the hefty funk of Brian Barnes’
guitar do a call and response break that is pure arrangement
genius and I asked Sandi whose idea that was. She smiled and said
with guilty pleasure, “Well, it was my idea. It just seemed like a
good fit.”
The entire CD is studded with talent
from the Twin Cities and beyond. Sandi explained her choice of
recording musicians: A well known instructor in the twin cities,
Chuck Millar is
featured on mandolin, fiddle, and guitar,
Marc Anderson who
toured with the marketing phenomenon, Lorie Line for six years.
Gordy Johnson is a
stellar Jazz bassist and popular studio musician. Gordy has won
the Minnesota Music Awards “Bassist of the Year” among many other
awards. He is
currently working with Becky Schlegel.
Brian Barnes, former member of the nationally known
band “Stoney Lonesome”, he is currently working with Café
Accordion. One of the most talented flat pickers,
Geoff Shannon has won
guitar and mandolin contests in Texas, New Mexico,
California and Colorado. Becky
Schlegel, who really needs no introduction, is a
premier vocalist and is Minnesota’s “Bluegrass Artist of the
Year”. John Wheat,
he is a world-renowned banjo legend 9-time Kentucky State and
7-time Indiana State Banjo Champion who studied under Bela Fleck.
Clay Hess won a
Grammy Award when he toured with Ricky Skaggs for “Instrumental
Band of the Year”. Sandi Notes: “I actually got the chance to
perform with him. He is a remarkable player and has a stunning
voice. It was amazing working with such extraordinary
musicians.” Jim Tierney,
engineer from Long Lake Sound, had the hardest job of all and his
professionalism can be heard throughout the project.
“One More Time”
features songs that folks will often hear during a “Chuck and
Sandi” (the duet) or “Acoustic Obsession” (the band) performances.
The musicians in the band include Chuck Millar on fiddle,
mandolin, guitar and vocals, Bruce Johnson on banjo, Nick Larson
on bass and vocals and Jim Tierney on guitar. Sandi sings and
plays both guitar and mandolin"
As I write this “One
More Time” is getting airplay across the US and in Australia,
Ireland and Canada. Phil Nussbaum and Pam K have both been playing
it on their local shows at KBEM and KFAI respectively. It has been
a fixture in my kitchen CD player. Congratulations Sandi!
The Minnesota music scene just added a gem to its crown.
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