The Olde Boston Tea Party
“It is eight years since my last CD, Dogwood Place, which I recorded at the Sound Studio in Nashville. With this new album I have had the pleasure of recording with musicians I have known and played with in England for many years. The current band, which gigs mostly in the West Country, was going to be called The New Boston Tea Party, but regrettably this would have clashed with Sarah Palin’s political movement. As a result, we settled on The Olde Boston Tea Party.
The title of this album, Back Across the Water, which was suggested by Jeremy Cozens, is appropriate for two reasons. In my own case, having recorded the last album in America, it was a matter of coming home. Secondly, bluegrass music derives from Celtic traditions here in the UK and in Ireland and it is our mission to reclaim that tradition. With this in mind I expanded the bluegrass line-up to include Will Flewett on the Irish “Uilleann” pipes on three tracks and Mark Fletcher on drums, famous for having been jazz legend, Ronnie Scott’s favourite drummer.
As with my previous albums, I have written all the songs and included a 16 page booklet showing the lyrics. Although some of the songs address serious issues, such as the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico, overall I think this has ended up being a ‘feel-good’ album. I hope those who listen will agree.
– Charlie Boston
Press
“Quite excellent and in every sense a feel-good album” – Music Maker
“Utterly listenable …. highly recommended” – Bluegrass and More
“so well crafted and so beautifully performed” – The Advertiser
Players
- Charlie Boston Guitar and lead vocals
- David Hatfield Double bass and bass vocals
- Jeremy Cozens Mandolin and tenor vocals
- Chris Comac Banjo
- Ced Thorose ‘Diamond Back’ Dobro
- Nick Pynn Fiddle
- Mark Fletcher Drums
- Will Flewett Uilleann pipes
Track Listing
- Long time coming down
- Half a pot of coffee
- Gulf of Mexico
- Worn out ties
- Cracks on an old window pane
- Your love will hold me
- Days of the long shadows
- Steel grey
- Touch and go
- If you just knew
- Trade with the Devil
- Mixed emotions
- Standards of their fathers
Recorded in 2010 – running time 49.49 minutes.
REVIEWS
Music Maker
It’s been quite a long time since we last heard from Charlie Boston and clearly the intervening years have been well spent – a variation on the name, an expanded line-up, a more varied approach to his music and subject matter, but still retaining that familiar and reassuring stamp of warmth and identity. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
It’s probably fair to say that British bluegrass acts struggle to achieve recognition where it counts but if there was anyone more deserving of broader acclaim then it has to be Charlie Boston and the boys. Gigging mainly in the West Country may limit exposure so let me give you the low down – Charlie writes all the songs, which are both contemporary or with a traditional feel. He also has a light but most engaging of singing voices, which is perfect for the musical form, warmly expressive and more than capable of capturing emotion when the subject deserves.
The musical flow is simply perfect and notably supplied by the dextrous banjo picking of Chris Comac, the ever-wonderful Ced Thorose and his magic blues infused slide-dobro, the smooth fiddle of Nick Pynn and Jeremy Cozens’ decorative mandolin. It all sounds so effortless and this warm infusion dances and interweaves throughout the songs. Joining the band for this outing is the notable jazz drummer Mark Fletcher, while Will Flewett chips in with Uilleann pipes, which work particularly well on the slower and more ecologically minded songs, the most topical of which, Gulf of Mexico, addresses the recent disaster.
What I like about this band is that they are not constrained by the limits of bluegrass and are quite happy to take risks and break free from its constraints in pursuit of variation. This stance is probably more evident here than on earlier outings – Steel Grey is an adventurous and funky jaunt, Days of the Long Shadows tips a poetic nod and a wink in the direction of the Celtic tradition, while Standards of their Fathers is pure folk song.
Quite excellent and in every sense a feel-good album – welcome back Charlie.
Peter Stevenson– Music Maker, April 2011
Bluegrass and More
Following a string of seriously good albums, along comes another brilliant offering from Charlie Boston and his current top notch band The Olde Boston Tea Party. In this inspired collection of original material penned by Charlie, the band are reclaiming their Celtic connections and traditions in a bluegrass line-up that extends very tastefully to drums and Uillean pipes.
The song topics are wide ranging as are the emotional reflections of the material. Charlie’s voice and singing abilities are classic bluegrass. His song writing is gifted and ranges from serious issues, happy themes to haunting themes . This highly original album is an utterly listenable and entertaining experience from seasoned and tight knit musicians. Highly recommended.
– John Sheldon, Editor – Bluegrass and More
The Advertiser
“Back across the water” is the fourth album of original songs written by Charlie Boston in a musical genre which embraces folk and bluegrass. It has been an eight year wait for this album, performed with Charlie’s current band, “The Olde Boston Tea Party”, but it has been well worthwhile. Charlie has always been an innovator and with this new album he has attempted to show how American bluegrass music originated with British and Irish folk music. With this in mind he has chosen to introduce British and Celtic themes and instruments into what many might regard as the property of Kentucky. So we find a guest appearance by Will Flewett playing Uilleann pipes alongside Charlie’s long-time partner the wonderful Ced Thorose (Dobro), David Hatfield (bass/bass vocals), Jeremy Cozens (mandolin/tenor vocals), Chris Comac (banjo), Nick Pynn (fiddle) and Mark Fletcher (drums) with Charlie taking lead on vocals and picking guitar. The thirteen songs are so well crafted and so beautifully performed that I believe Charlie has indeed brought bluegrass “Back Across The Water”.
– Pete Smith, The Advertiser
