Giving credit where credit is due. Many thanks to songwriter and musician Beth Chrisman for the (official) introduction to The Carper Family, back in the day. Your AMM host was quite taken by those superb three-part harmonies so beautifully delivered by Chrisman, Jenni Miori-Hodges and Melissa Carper. Only one Carper in this acoustic trio, mind you, but the collective musical talent made it feel like a familial connection.
Even with The Carper Family’s popularity, and the opportunities it brought, Melissa Carper felt the need to follow her wandering spirit – which happens to be at the core of Ramblin’ Soul. Carper’s second solo LP is a mix of sweet twang, gospel and soul/R&B-inspired croons by a true rambler. Carper is reverential of the musical roots, while not being rooted to any one place herself. The ramblin’ continues onto the next journey.
Before heading back out on the road, Carper performs tonight, Friday Dec. 2, at Stateside at The Paramount. Doors at 7 p.m., and the performance starts at 8 p.m.
