Walkaway
$15 plus $1.50 for shipping. No PayPal account required.
The first review is in! Click here to read it...
Tracks 2, 3, 4, and 6 all have .mp3 samples below so you can get a sense of the CD. Click on the "Listen" link and your computer will hopefully start downloading and then playing the sound file.
1. This Place is Not Enough
:: Megan Lynch & Phil Cornish (BMI)
Phil Cornish (lead), Pat Ickes (baritone), Megan Lynch
(tenor) Rick Jamison (guitar), Phil Cornish (mandolin), Megan Lynch
(fiddle), Pat Ickes (banjo), Mike Anglin (bass)
2. Walkaway :: Phil Cornish
(BMI)
Ron Lauder (guitar), Phil Cornish (mandolin), Megan
Lynch (fiddle), Ken Clarkson (banjo), Suzanne Suwanda (bass)
Listen, 767 KB .mp3
3. Lay Down and Die :: Paul
Lee (BMI)
Phil Cornish (lead), Jon McNeill (baritone), Megan
Lynch (tenor)
Rick Jamison (guitar), Phil Cornish (mandolin), Paul Lee (fiddle),
Jon McNeill (banjo), Suzanne Suwanda (bass)
Listen, 811 KB .mp3
4. Since You Walked Out on Me :: Phil Cornish (BMI)
Phil Cornish (lead), Ron Lauder (baritone), Megan Lynch
(tenor)
Phil Cornish (guitar & mandolin), Megan Lynch (fiddle), Todd Clinesmith
(dobro), Mike Anglin (bass)
Listen, 1.1 MB .mp3
5. Front Stoop :: Phil Cornish
(BMI)
Phil Cornish (guitar & mandolin), Megan Lynch (fiddle),
Pat Ickes (banjo), Suzanne Suwanda (bass)
6. The Bar Fight :: Phil Cornish
(BMI)
Phil Cornish (the Stranger), Pat Ickes (the Local),
Rick Cornish (the Bar Tender)
Rick Jamison (guitar), Phil Cornish (mandolin), Megan Lynch (fiddle),
Pat Ickes (banjo),
Todd Clinesmith (dobro), Mike Anglin (bass)
Listen, 1.6 MB .mp3
7. Bag of Beans :: Phil Cornish
(BMI)
Todd Kimball (guitar), Phil Cornish (mandolin), Megan
Lynch (fiddle), Ken Clarkson (banjo), Toni Murphy (bass)
8. I Always Come Back to You
:: Paul Lee & Phil Cornish (BMI)
Phil Cornish (lead), Jon McNeill (baritone), Ron Lauder
(tenor)
Paul Lee (guitar & fiddle), Phil Cornish (mandolin), Jon McNeill
(banjo), Suzanne Suwanda (bass)
9. Cold Room :: Phil Cornish
(BMI)
Todd Kimball (rhythm & lead guitar), Phil Cornish
(mandolin), Megan Lynch (fiddle),
Graham Murphy (banjo), Toni Murphy (bass)
10. California Gold :: Rick
Cornish
Rick Cornish (lead), Phil Cornish (tenor) Rick Jamison (guitar), Phil Cornish (mandolin) Rick Cornish/Megan
Lynch (fiddle), Dave Magram (banjo), Mike Anglin (bass)
Listen, 1.42 MB .mp3
11. All Alone :: Phil Cornish
(BMI)
Phil Cornish (guitar & mandolin), Suzanne Suwanda
(bass)
12. Bitter Wind Ain't Always
Bad :: Phil Cornish (BMI)
Phil Cornish (lead & tenor), Pat Ickes (baritone)
Rick Jamison (guitar), Phil Cornish (mandolin), Megan Lynch (fiddle),
Pat Ickes (banjo), Suzanne Suwanda (bass)
13. Not So Much :: Phil Cornish
(BMI)
Ron Lauder (guitar), Phil Cornish (mandolin), Suzanne
Suwanda (bass)
14. Canyon of the Kings ::
Ron Lauder (BMI)
Ron Lauder (lead), Phil Cornish (tenor)
Ron Lauder (guitar), Phil Cornish (mandolin), Paul Lee (fiddle), Todd
Clinesmith (dobro), Eric Guest (bass)
Listen, 1.10 MB .mp3
15. Merced :: Phil Cornish
(BMI)
Rick Jamison (rhythm guitar), Phil Cornish (lead guitar
& mandolin), Megan Lynch (fiddle),
Ken Clarkson (banjo), Eric Guest (bass)
Listen, .87 MB .mp3
16. Strumming Are the Sages
:: Tushar Parte & Phil Cornish (BMI)
Tushar Parte (lead), Phil Cornish (lead & baritone),
Ron Lauder (tenor), Suchita Parte (lead) Tushar Parte (lead guitar
and Indian instruments) Ron Lauder (rhythm guitar),
Phil Cornish (mandolin), Mike Tatar (fiddle), Phil Vostic (banjo),
Eric Guest (bass)
$15 plus $1.50 for shipping. No PayPal account required.
Special thanks to:
my Dad for falling in love with bluegrass music, the contributing
songwriters and musicians listed above, my wife Ivona for being really
quiet while we recorded, all my bandmates, both past and present,
that influenced my style and ideas, and my family for always being
interested in what I do.
Engineered and Produced by Phil Cornish
at CornStalk Studios, San Jose, California
Mixed and Mastered by Dave Earl Wellhausen, Backtrack Studio, Daly
City, California
Graphic design, prepress and production by CornStalkDesign.net, San
Jose, California
Photography by Jason Selman and Rick Cornish
© Phil Cornish, All rights reserved
Unauthorized reproduction is a violation of applicable laws.
Review by: Joe Ross, click here to visit Joe's Web Site
PHIL CORNISH – Walkaway
No Label, No Number
Playing Time – 53:18
Californian Phil Cornish’s bluegrass has engaging melodic moments and a
unique flair that is modest and self-effacing. Cornish picks mandolin and
guitar, and he sings most lead vocals. His talented and competent guest
musicians include four other guitarists, five banjo players, three fiddlers,
four bassists, and others. The musicians include Phil’s father Rick Cornish
(fiddle), Pat Ickes (banjo), Megan Lynch (fiddle), Mike Tatar (fiddle), Mike
Anglin (bass), Todd Clinesmith (Dobro), Paul Lee (fiddle), Jon McNeill
(banjo), Suzanne Suwanda (bass), Toni Murphy (bass), Todd Kimball (guitar),
Dave Magram (banjo), Graham Murphy (banjo), Ron Lauder (guitar), Eric Guest
(bass), Ken Clarkson (banjo), Tushar Parte (guitar, Indian instruments),
Suchita Parte (lead), and Phil Vostic (banjo).
Phil Cornish wrote or co-wrote all but three of the sixteen songs. The other
three were written by Rick Cornish (Phil’s father), Paul Lee, or Ron Lauder.
The set has plenty of both vocals and instrumentals. The former reveal
emotional depth, with the most evocative being “Since You Walked Out on Me,”
“I Always Come Back to You,” and “Bitter Wind Ain't Always Bad.” “The Bar
Fight” is a moving ballad with Phil, his father and Pat Ickes each singing
their respective parts as the stranger, the bar tender, and the local. It’s
a tad long for airplay because the story spans nearly five minutes. Sung by
Rick Cornish, “California Gold” conveys strong personal memories of the
family’s western roots and settlement, and the song establishes a stirring
groove. Ron Lauder’s lead vocalizing and Todd Clinesmith’s resonator guitar
provide for some mesmerizing variation in “Canyon of the Kings,” but the
song seems to be missing some energy to convey heartfelt passion and
emotional attachment to the message. Nevertheless, other artists and bands
looking for innovative, fresh material from out west should pay attention to
the songs on Phil Cornish’s album.
Cornish’s progressive instrumentals impart some stylistic departure from
Appalachian-rooted traditional material. Tunes like “Bag of Beans,” “All
Alone,” and “Not So Much” are jaunty adventures with interpretive twists of
individualism. Tunes like the title cut and “Cold Room” are new acoustic
displays of impressionistic enchantment. Phil’s notes on his Red Diamond
mandolin are clear and precise, and he also presents his melodic phrases in
a capricious and fanciful manner. I particularly tuned into some of the
tunes (e.g. Merced, Front Stoop, All Alone) where Phil plays both guitar and
mandolin. It would’ve been nice to see the liner notes include some
narrative about the musician, his captivating music, and his personal goals,
influences and inspirations. While some of the tracks work better than
others, there’s plenty here to hold one’s interest as Cornish alternates
poignant vocals with acoustic ambiance. The set closes with “Strumming are
the Sages,” an experimental composition that fuses bluegrass instruments,
sitar, percussion and vocals into a type of polyethnic Hindugrass that
conjures images of a 1960s vintage folk coffeehouse session in San
Francisco. Overall, “Walkaway” is a nicely animated and vivacious
representation of Cornish’s original songs, talent and presentation.
Review by: Brenda Hough
Phil Cornish is a second-generation bluegrasser and many in the Bay Area know him as an excellent mandolin player and the member of many bands in the area. The sixteen songs on the album include 13 written by Phil and show his versatility with composing instrumentals and song lyrics. Phil’s cherished Red Diamond mandolin graces the cover and liner photos and the mandolin’s warm, rich sound adds an intensity to the songs as deep as a fine red wine. The title cut, “Walkaway,” has a delightful bubbling quality to the melody and Phil is joined by Ron Lauder on guitar, Megan Lynch on fiddle, Ken Clarkson on banjo and Suzanne Suwanda on bass. The music box precision and clarity of the mandolin interplay with the darker tones of Megan’s fiddle and the banjo in the whimsically named tunes “Bag of Beans” and “Front Stoop.” Phil doubles on guitar and mandolin on “Merced” which has an effervescent sparkle and pulse to match the cascading sounds of its namesake river.
While the instrumentals have an optimistic upbeat tone, the songs’ lyrics show a darker side of life. There are tales of mismatched lovers and poor souls who are “liquored up and lonesome.” The song “Bitter Wind Ain’t Always Bad” has a hopeful reminder to be “grateful for what you have.” “The Bar Fight” is a classic western movie plot rendered in song and Phil’s voice rumbles in the Johnny Cash range while Dad Rick Cornish adds a surprise ending to the song. “Strumming Are The Sages,” written by Phil and Tushar Parte, adds a spice of Indograss with sitar and drums blending in a hypnotic mix with mandolin, Mike Tater’s fiddle, Phil Vostic’s banjo and Ron Lauder’s guitar. This is an intriguing album with a mixture of textures and tones that reveal more nuances with each listening.
Review by: George Ireton
Some may recall that I am one who seems to know songs with unusual twists and way more than three chords. Some songs I choose may be fun to play once you get the hang of them, but don’t necessarily contribute to a successful jam experience. Perhaps my tendency to seek the unique qualifies me to comment on the artistic prowess of Mr. Phil Cornish and his newest recording endeavor, “Walkaway”.
“Unique” is an accurate description of Phil’s music. This is a very good thing indeed. He has succeeded in creating a most entertaining (and dare I say commercial?) project. Just picture rafting down a gentle river when you listen to the title cut on track 2. You know there is a firm foundation below, and it is deep and strong. The melody flows like the current near the top so as not to upset the listener. The contrast of Arco Bass against the tasty mandolin duet gives evidence of the sensitivity we have come to expect from Phil. The smooth character of the guitar, and pristine fiddle solos are bound to take you on a great ride as well!
The project offers true value added. With 16 cuts there seems to be something for everyone. There are nice tunes fit for a movie soundtrack, and great story songs like “The Bar Fight”. That one is interesting not only because of the lyrics, but also that there are three distinct characters in the story, all singing their own version of the event. Phil Cornish is the Stranger, Pat Ickes is the Local, and Phil’s Dad, Rick Cornish is the Bartender who straightens out those two bad boys with his own brand of justice!
There are so many gifted instrumentalists on this CD, and they all took the opportunity to show why they are some of the best in the west. Track 10, “California Gold” written and sung by Rick Cornish is an excellent example of a memorable tune combined with a heartfelt lyrics filled with family tradition and truth. Way cool!
The entire project is jam packed with surprises and nuances to delight the mind. There is plenty of creativity laid upon a firm musical foundation. I think that kind of contrast is most engaging. Sometimes when listening to a CD, I find myself hitting the button to skip over tracks. This is not the case here. This is a listening experience worthy of multiple plays.
Finally, a little about the final track “Strumming Are the Sages”. At the beginning of this review I told you about my tendency to go for songs with a twist. Well, this one definitely falls into that category. I liked the words. I liked the instrumentation. I liked the chord progression. I liked the arrangement. It is the kind of song that will really put a smile on your face, especially if you are a baby boomer like me who actually went to parties in college where such music was very common. What a hoot Phil! Way to go Mister!
Review by: Steve Johnson
In total, this is one beautifully moody piece of work. Each cut sucks you into it's own space, be it a zippy upbeat tune or one of those growling deathbed ballads. You can't help but share in the emotions that went into making a song, and the reason simply has to be that every one of the musicians excels at their stuff and understands the big picture. And that picture must be a fresh histogram of Phil Cornish's mind.
I love the way it works. The instrumentals are so darned tastey and flowing. And the lyrical songs pull you into the story while the instruments don't sidetrack to get you lost along the way, so you're there and feeling the love or heartbreak or whatever.
I won't comment on specific tunes beyond that, because I hate CDs that just have a couple good tunes and the rest is blather or showmanship. Don't you? Well that's not the case here, not a turd in the bowl. This CD is very listenable and enjoyable from top to bottom.
So much so that you can't put it on and listen while you're working or you won't get much done. Hold this one close, it's a keeper. Enjoy.
Review by: Jim Davies
I have listened to this album over and over. The songs grow on you, ya know? When I play it for friends, they usually have an immediate attraction to the tunes which are quite enjoyable and well played. The cd is an easy listen and the lyrics convey heartfelt sentiments, just as they should. Pop this one in your car stereo and it makes driving down the road a pleasure.
