Tribute to the Big Three
Masters of Song: Cat Stevens, Roger Whittaker en Neil Diamond
Artist: Mathys Roets
Producer: Matthys Maree
Mathys Roets launched his singing career some twenty years ago with the music of legends like Koos du Plessis and Leonard Cohen, performing their songs with great gusto at venues countrywide and following up with equally successful recordings.
This year Roets collaborated with the versatile musician Matthys Maree to pay tribute to three great singer-songwriters in the Masters of Song CD-series, in which he undertakes a nostalgic journey through the music of the greats whose music has been an integral part of his formative years when he performed in Pretoria’s restaurants.
On the first album in the series he celebrates the timeless ballads of Cat Stevens, sing-along favourites such as Moonshadow, First Cut is the Deepest, Father and Son, Wild World, Another Saterday Night and Morning Has Broken.
The second album in the CD-series focuses on the British singer, guitarist and whistler Roger Whittaker, who has sold more than 50 million CD’s worldwide. “Some of Roger’s hits have been my signature songs for years,” Roets says. This CD will be released at the end of August 2008.
The album offers 11 tracks of Whittaker’s evergreen hits: Durham Town, Gentle on My Mind, Morning Please Don't Come, Send in the Clowns, Mamy Blue, I Don't Believe in if, The Last Farewell, New World in the Morning, Stranger on the Shore, Medley: Annie Song, When I Need You, Try to Remember, Sunrise, Sunset and Why.
The production values are high, aiming to keep as close to the original material as possible, with some small adjustments. “We were at pains to create the most strirring instrumental adaptation, using real strings. It sounds so much better than electronic imitations.”
“Everybody is always promoting original music, and although it makes sense to me, I’m a singer first and must sing material I enjoy and which fits in with my style and voice,” Mathys believes. “In this way there are so many more songs I can sing. The decision isn’t always a purely commercial one to sing the songs of someone who enjoys a great following, but rather about the songs I enjoy singing, songs I performed long ago, with some new ones thrown into the mix.”
The third album in the series is dedicated to Neil Diamond, a veteran who is back in the limelight. Some of Diamond’s best known songs will be included on the CD, most chosen to complement Roets’ signature style, gripping ballads such as Morning Side, Brooklyn Roads, Mister Bo Jangles, I am I said, and a few brand new songs from his recent three albums. The third CD will be released at the end of September 2008.
Producer Matthys Maree was responsible for the musical adaptations on the recordings. His attention to quality and a layered acoustic approach is apparent on all three recordings. Roets and Maree are partners in the Master of Song concept.
The idea for Masters of Song originated in St Francis Bay in the Southern Cape, where they relaxed on a boat: “We started dreaming about having our own boats. The plan was to do the recordings, hoping to buy our boats from the proceeds. At this stage we almost made enough for canoes,” Roets quips.
Concerts based on the Masters of Songs-series have been performed countrywide before sold-out audiences, including at the Aardklop Kunstefees and Cultivaria, where the first release sold well. Roets is planning more performances of the three masters’ compelling music, once again promising to be quite a drawing card. |
