Appalachian Journey

1	Hard times come again no
2	Slumber Song
3	Benjamin
4	Misty Moonlight Waltz
5	1B
6	Indecision
7	Limerock
8	Fisher's Hornpipe
9	Duet for Cello and Double
10	Emily's Reel
11	Cloverfoot Reel
12	Poem for Carlita
13	Caprice for Three
14	Second Time Around
15	Vistas
Appalachian Journey
1.	1B, for violin, cello & double bass 4:02
	Composed by Edgar Meyer
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor and Yo-Yo Ma
2.	Misty Moonlight Waltz, for violin, cello & double bass 4:46
	Composed by Mark O'Connor
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor and Yo-Yo Ma
3.	Hard Times Come Again No More 3:43
	Composed by Stephen Foster
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor, James Taylor and Yo-Yo Ma
4.	Indecision, for violin, cello & double bass 4:28
	Composed by Edgar Meyer
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor and Yo-Yo Ma
5.	Limerock 2:28
	Composed by Traditional
	Performed by Yo-Yo Ma and Mark O'Connor
6.	Benjamin 3:31
	Composed by James Taylor
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor, Yo-Yo Ma and James Taylor
7.	Fisher's Hornpipe 3:44
	Composed by Anonymous
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor, Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss
8.	Duet for cello & bass 5:53
	Composed by Edgar Meyer
	Performed by Edgar Meyer and Yo-Yo Ma
9.	Emily's Reel for violin, cello & double bass 2:48
	Composed by Mark O'Connor
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor and Yo-Yo Ma
10.	Cloverfoot Reel for violin, cello & double bass 4:24
	Composed by Edgar Meyer
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor and Yo-Yo Ma
11.	Poem for Carlita, for violin, cello & double bass 7:33
	Composed by Mark O'Connor
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor and Yo-Yo Ma
12.	Caprice for Three, for violin, cello & double bass 3:47
	Composed by Mark O'Connor
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor and Yo-Yo Ma
13.	Second Time Around, for violin, cello & double bass 4:31
	Composed by Edgar Meyer
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor and Yo-Yo Ma
14.	Slumber My Darling 4:52
	Composed by Stephen Foster
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor, Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss
15.	Vistas, for violin, cello & double bass 9:57
	Composed by Mark O'Connor
	Performed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor, Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss

Barnes & Noble

In the wake of their acclaimed collaboration Appalachia Waltz, classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma, bluegrass fiddler Mark O'Connor, and Nashville bassist Edgar Meyer have convened for another genre-bending hoedown. This time, they've brought along a pair of guest stars, too -- singer James Taylor and bluegrass belle Alison Krauss. Taylor gives a sweet yet husky rendition of "Hard Times," Stephen Foster's Civil War-era ballad, and whistles the tune on "Benjamin," his own tender instrumental composition. Krauss, a rising Country queen, makes a memorable cameo appearance singing O'Connor's gorgeous "Slumber Song." But like its predecessor, it's O'Connor and Meyer's original music -- and Ma's soulful bowing -- that's at the heart of this Appalachian Journey. O'Connor's style is steeped in the traditional reels and hornpipes of Appalachian folk music, while Meyer's compositions fearlessly fuse jazz, progressive country, and contemporary classical. On "Caprice," O'Connor puts the ensemble through its paces with a dizzying blend of Paganinian virtuosity and down-home folksiness. Meyer's "Duet for Cello and Bass" applies a countrified twang to an elegantly lyrical, Bach-like melody that's perfectly suited to Ma's singing tone. And as with most journeys, the end is a special highlight: "Vistas," the final track, is an O'Connor original whose pure counterpoint and gentle syncopations will haunt you long after the disc has stopped spinning. Andrew Farach-Colton

All Music Guide

The follow-up album to the highly successful Appalachia Waltz collaboration, Appalachian Journey continues the combination of classical music with Appalachian, bluegrass, and American roots music in general. Yo-Yo Ma, alongside violinist Mark O'Connor and bass player Edgar Meyer, runs through a number of original compositions fusing the traditions, as well as a few old standards from the genre repertoire. As stated by the artists, Appalachia Waltz explored the combination of the three artists' sounds put together, while Journey expands upon this theme, exploring the sound of the three artists as a singular group. Joining with the trio are James Taylor on a pair of works (on both guitar and vocals) and Alison Krauss on fiddle and vocals. The vocalists are added specifically on a pair of old Stephen Foster works, the songs themselves thematically bridging the gap between the classical and folk realms. The tone can change easily from cheerful jigging to outright nostalgic, depending largely on who's doing the soloing at any given time. There's an embracing down-home atmosphere set up by the artists, using warm tones and motives throughout the album. At the same time, the trio displays some remarkable virtuosity (as would be expected from this group), burning through some fiery sets of triplets on otherwise slow instruments (the cello and bass, specifically), but keeping up with the violin while avoiding the easily hit distortion sounds that usually come from high speed, low frequency playing. Reels fit easily with waltzes here, and also with traditional songs with virtuosic passages from original compositions. The old and the older are easily made compatible here largely on the strength of the performers involved. It's a worthwhile album for listeners curious about the newer directions being taken in the classical realm. Adam Greenberg