Eric Brace & Thomm Jutz – Simple Motion
This duo has performed many times in the past decade & each member made their way to Nashville more than 20 years ago. Eric Brace came merely from Washington, D.C. where he had a fine roots-rock band Last Train Home. The Grammy-nominated Thomm Jutz comes from the other side of the world in Germany. Jutz makes Nashville his home now because he became an indispensable sideman/producer & songwriter to several major artists (the late Nanci Griffith & David Olney, as well as Mary Gauthier, Kim Richey & many others).
As a trio with the late Peter Cooper, they recorded 5 CDs. This tuneful set is Eric’s & Thomm’s debut produced together alone. The 14-track Simple Motion (Drops Feb 16–Red Beet Records/48:00) captures their newer music all recorded in Nashville at Thomm’s recording studio. There’s even a song written by Peter Cooper & Thomm Jutz that was dug up for this set – “Can’t Change The Weather.”
The music is general-fare originals with a traditional trace of melody that falls like a stone into a pond & causes ripples to concentrically spiral & spread. There’s a vivid construct to tunes like “Simple Motion,” that’s imaginative.
Songs sung in unison with harmonies & guitar picking with a stylistic approach are maintained throughout each tune. “Outside Views,” has its distinctive vocalizing reminiscent of folk-rock bands like West (“Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues”) & while not as gutsy as Lowen & Navarro the songs are expressive about living, appreciating life, the outdoors, adventures, memories & places.
There’s little in the way of showboating but lots of individuality & warming trends in the showcase as it charges each tune with assertive vocals, picking & danceable deliveries. “Just a Moment,” is even closer to that Lowen & Navarro tradition & “Anywhere But Here” is a musical attraction that’s well done.
A solid Celtic-oriented folk song (“Adam & Eve”) has shadings of traditional Irish-type musicality. While some songs stay in folk music’s first gear, they do provide a pleasurable listen nonetheless without nailing anything memorable into the ear. But there are so many that do stick – like bubble gum to a humid flat-top road on a summer day. “Arkansas,” & “Sea Fever” both will do this. A good sensitive & relaxing set that keeps an old genre fresh.
Highlights – “Simple Motion,” “Outside Views,” “Just a Moment,” “Can’t Change The Weather,” “Anywhere But Here,” “Adam & Eve,” “Arkansas,” “Sea Fever” & “Nashville In the Morning.”
Musicians – Eric & Thomm (guitars/vocals), Mark Fain (bass), Lynn Williams (drums), Tammy Rogers (fiddle), Mike Compton (mandolin), Richard Bailey (banjo), Justin Moses (dobro/banjo) & Jeff Taylor (accordion/tin whistle).
Color image courtesy of their Facebook site. CD @ https://www.redbeetrecords.com/
Song premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2024/01/17/song-premiere-eric-brace-and-thomm-jutz-simple-motion/
