| WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT SARA |
"What a fine CD. Its beauties constantly renew.
You’ve done a great thing for traditional music.
It’s sometimes tempting to be afraid that, either
through style or repertoire, contempo-folk has
buried everything worthwhile in tradition. So your
CD is especially welcome and especially
satisfying.
I loved what you did on my songs – on all the
songs. Your restraint gives it a nice edge, too –
something most revival singers can’t touch. Among
special faves are Blue Mountain Lake and the Songs
of War. The trio harmony is really nice too.
Great work. I can only hope you may be convinced
not to make this quite your last record. I’m
honored to be included.
Cordially, Bob Coltman"
"… Sara has gained a reputation not only for her
excellent singing and playing … but also for the
sheer warmth and enthusiasm that she radiates to
her audience …" - Brighton’s "Friday Folk"
"… much loved and admired by almost anyone that
has seen her sing …" - Bob Walton, Southern Rag
"… everything she does is characterised by
freshness and enthusiasm … You couldn’t hear half
a dozen bars and think it was somebody else … She
is one of the select band of performers that still
breathe life and vitality into traditional ballads
…" - Vic Smith, Folk Roots
"… There are certain singers who have been
involved with traditional music over many years –
Ray Fisher and Sara Grey also spring to mind – for
whom the arts of a singer and of a story teller
merge to produce a web of tales and songs capable
of transporting an audience from a club room to
the intimacy of a kitchen fire side." - Brian
Peters in a review of a Roy Harris performance,
Folk Roots
"singing by turns restrained, triumphant, gentle,
strong, fun and deeply emotional, but always with
that beautiful rhythmic vitality that is Sara’s
voice." - Molly Nudds, Prittle Prattle
"… clear singing done from the heart … my opinion
is that her butterfly voice which expresses a
lyric so well, needs only her banjo behind it to
make a complete musical statement." - Roy Harris
"… An evening in her company is akin to sitting in
a friend’s kitchen, drinking her wine and sharing
her songs and stories. When it comes to an end,
you feel at peace with the world." - Mick Tems,
Taplas
"… Sara’s distinguished frailing style on the
banjo showed just how this instrument should be
played, stylishly enhancing her silky melodic
vocals. … new Hampshire born Sara Grey, one of the
warmest individuals you’re ever likely to meet …
her relaxed smooth singing style was conveyed with
effortless ease." - Maurice Hope, Hexham
"… New Englander, Sara Grey, stole the show at one
of the major concerts…" - Norman Chalmers,
Scotland On Sunday
“I was in awe of this truly remarkable singer of
the old ballads; not only for her incredible
breadth of knowledge and her obvious love of her
material, but in her combination of both singing
and prefacing the songs with fascinating
background stories, since Sara is also a master
story teller. A memorable performance. Sara, James
Francis Child would have been proud of you!” –
Merrick Jarrett, Old Chestnuts Song Circle
newsletter.
"Sara is a wonderful performer and scholar. Her
information about folksongs and their migrations
is very important and is not being pursued by many
in the generations coming along. She and her son,
Kieron Means, perform many of the traditional
musical styles (old-time string band, blues, folk,
cowboy, Irish, Appalachian) while accompanying
them selves on guitar and claw-hammer banjo. Sara
is a true American national treasure in the song
collecting field." - Tricia Hearn, Ozark Cultural
Rescource Centre, Mountain View, Arkansas |
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