Jefferson's Tree of Liberty

Tree of Liberty is everything you've ever loved about Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship (exorcise the memory of the emasculated Starship.) Driven by Paul Kantner's ringing 12 string Rickenbacker, the soaring harmonies, this collecton is a call to arms, to dream, to go to the edge and beyond. Jeffersonians past, present, future, and even retired, are mostly present and accounted for. (Only Jorma is among the missing, and his finger picking acoustic skills would've fit right in. Maybe next time?) Never has America needed to be reminded of righteous anger, and putting that anger into positive motion to change the world, more than it does now.It's an album of rebels and revolutionary anthems - across the times, across the oceans, across the continents. From Ireland, to Nicaragua, to union workers in the fields of California, to 13 upstart colonies declaring their independence from an oppressive monarchy, along the Underground Railroad, to utopian dreams of redemption, brotherhood, and peace, 19 soul rousing and blood pumping songs. Who would've thought the lustiest and loudest collection of songs would be made by (mostly) wooden instruments? Who would've thought the most passionate album to be released this year would come from Jefferson Starship?Lest you think this is a dreary collection of political polemic dirges, think again. This is an album to listen to with people, two big bottles of wine, and to sing along to. After a few listens you won't be able to help yourself. The songs choices range from Woody Guthrie, the Weavers, Phil Ochs, Dylan, Lennon, Marley, and Sandy Denny. And from the greatest of them all, Traditional.It kicks off with a rousing nod to "Volunteers" before it settles into the Weaver's classic "Wasn't That A Time." Cathy Richardson is a welcome addition to the crew. She has the vocal chops and power of, dare I say it? Grace Slick, but with a gritty undertone that can go any way she wants to take the songs. David Laflamme's violin soars above the acoustic guitars and martial drums."Follow The Drinking Gourd" is from the days of the Civil War, a road map for the Underground Railroad. Look up at the stars to the Big Dipper and imagine following it to freedom. The Weavers unearthed "Santy Anno." Paul can't resist reminding us that in the future it will be space ships, before he leads the crew into a lusty sea shanty, you can practically feel the waves rolling with the banjo and squeezebox.David Frieberg takes a solo turn on Dino Valenti's poignant "Cowboy On The Run," with beautiful pedal steel guitar by Barry Sless and piano by Chris Smith. David's wife, Linda Imerial, and Cathy Richardson provide sympathetic backup. It's pure Nashville.It would take all day to hit all the highlights. But I would be remiss not giving a shout out to longtime Jefferson collaborators Darby Gould on Richard Thompson's "Genesis Hall," Diana Mangano's full throttle support on "The Royal Canal" - beloved to Pogues' fans as "The Auld Triangle." As befitting a guy born on St. Patrick's Day, Paul O'Kantner gruffly sings the prison lament of Irish Rebel Brendan Behan, with a dirty ole man "heh heh" during the part about the women's prison, followed with a storming "Rising Of The Moon".The mash up of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" with John Lennon's "Imagine" somehow works, heartfeltly delivered by Cathy Richardson. If there is one song to pick as a "single" - if things like that are still done - it's this one.Both "In A Crisis" and "On The Threshold of Fire" remind me of the Paul Kantner circa BATE/Sunfighter. "In A Crisis" refrain sticks with you long after the song has stopped playing - "In a crisis we cut away what we don't need anymore. In the good times we fight our way, fight our way back home." The whining guitar riff underneath, played with judicious economy by Slick Aguilar, underscores the haunting melody. "On The Threshold of Fire" could've fit right in the Hijack / Starship Suiteon BATE.Marty Balin contributes "Maybe For You" if anybody needed to reminded of his talent with a love song. I miss his sweet tenor. It's too bad he's not singing on the rest of the songs. Jack Casady makes an appearance on bass with his Armageddon-announcing rumble.Darby Gould's acapella version of Sandy Denny's "Quiet Joys of Brotherhood" sent shivers down my spine. Only one thing could top it, and that's Grace Slick singing "Surprise..." Some of Grace's best work was singing backup and harmony, as she is here. Too bad my CD says "Untitled" and there's no additional information as there are for the other songs.Surprise, indeed. This is one of the best releases of the year. If you love great songs, passionate singing and playing, need reminding that all evil needs to triumph is for good people to do nothing, then Tree of Liberty is for you. Lay your money down.

This is a wonderful set, in spiritual the tradition of "Volunteers" and "Blows Against The Empire." Once Kantner wrested his band's name back, it's fitting that he chose to cover these great old Folk songs. Kantner, David Freiberg, Cathy Richardson and their other musical comrades shine throughout. The mashup of Imagine/Redemption gets my eleven-year-old daughter singing along, and the original composition "On The Threshold Of Fire" is classic Paul Kantner at his provocative and inspirational best, with lyrics like "I dare you to care. I dare you to risk your life. I dare you to believe all the things you learned in childhood that were right." If this doesn't stir up your old Hippie soul, you probably don't have one.

I really love this release and Jefferson Starship is one of my all time favorites.This should be called Paul Kantner and friends as very little of the old band is on all the tracks,but appear thru out.This is some serious drinking music to get loose on.Some of the songs sound like basement tapes and there is not really much hard guitar rock and roll ...instead some fantastic 12 string acoustical work by Kantner.It is very,very good,but you would have to be a fan to appreciate to fine work they do.A stranger to this band probably would miss the great tunes and complain about it not being flashy or bold for a rock band,however the fifty plus crowd who grew up in the sixties will enjoy some of the old hippie music from the old days.The best songs are the new Kantner songs.I love this guy like a brother and hope he can get another CD before he retires.I have rated this as the best release of the century so far, by any band.Second place is the outrageously fantasticly great STONE PONIES W/LINDA RONSTADT(EVERGREEN) I just love that CD to pieces.Third place goes to LEVON HELM / DIRT FARMER.It may be really my number 1.This is all sort of Americana/country folk music that is so popular right now.

I still love the old Jefferson Airplane. I sort of liked the first couple of Jefferson Starship albums like "Blows Against The Empire", but pretty much hated what came later. When I read some of the reviews on this new release, I wanted to get hear more out of curiosity than anything else. I can see where anybody listening for the Airplane or Starship might be disappointed. Thats not what is going on here. You have to really sit down and give it a listen on it's own merits. It has more of a roots folk feel to it, with some outstanding vocals. The songs are coming from the past, but don't look for the Airplane. This is something else, and its good.

All Brian Wilson needed was Mike Love and Alan Jardine to complete a perfect L.A. pop cd. Same for Paul Kantner who should have used Marty Balin and David Freiberg as his primary male singers. "Tree Of Liberty" is by far The Jefferson's finest studio work since The Airplane 1989 reunion album. Contemporary unplugged folk songs in the mode of "Today" are quite effective. Powerhouse Cathy Richardson is a welcome addition to a large group by committee that includes guests David LaFlamme, Jack Casady and Grace Slick. As we get transported back to the 1950/60's the well produced effort is a welcome change for a band known for protest songs. After hearing though "Cowboy On The Run" and "Maybe For You" I had to wonder why artists who have access to superior singers use themselves instead of others who can sing better. Inspite of this folkies proceed. The substance is there. If anything else it makes for a good excuse to pull out those old Weavers, Sandy Denny and Byrds records from out of the closet.

One of the best by Jefferson Starship. Thanks to everyone. God bless all involved.

At an interview during last years San Francisco 40th Summer of Love concert, Kantner insisted that the Jefferson Starship and Airplane were never political bands, that politics were uninteresting, and the bands had for example never played political benefits. Obama will just have to settle for Weir. The playback did not show any tongue in cheek. If there was any irony, Kantner stayed deadpan. As I recall the Starship then played "Volunteers", about as political as a song can get. I guess he could have meant that mainstream politics were irrevelant.So this year comes the "clarion call". It is not preachy, in your face, I-know-better-than-you-politics, like Neil Young's CSNY played last year. Jefferson Starship's politics are now almost implied, and seem independent of political movements. The San Francisco alternate quantum universe. Folk music is used to conjure up another time and ideal vision. Kantner picks a Nicaraguan Sandinista song; oh-oh, "Impeach the President" bile? No. The song instead tells of a dissident who Christ-like forgave his torturer and even subsequently employed him. Compare Springsteen who tried his hand at folk music recently, but no message came through. He just tried to sound authentic.A while back, Bear Family came out with a 10 cd set called Songs for Political Action, which collected politically oriented songs, many connectable to Folk Music. Jefferson Starship's new cd updates this theme. The reputation of the Weavers was such that anything they sang, even the most innocent love song texts, seemed to be an implied political message.It is surprising how conservative and hung-up so many listeners are. If the current group lacks this or this person, or if the musicians are over a certain age, the cd cannot be so good. All these pre-judgements restrict listener's ability to listen clearly and take in. Free yourself, fellows, and take this cd in because it is good for you and you will like it.

Great playing and singing on an eclectic set of songs

this release is something different from Jefferson Starship.Songs relating to the old America.

JEFFERSON STARSHIP１０年ぶりのスタジオ作は、1970年頃を思わせるPaul Kantnerのプロジェクト形式でなんと総勢18名のミュージシャンが参加、デビュー４４年を迎えてなお衰える事を知らない創作意欲を見せる力作になった。まず、PaulのルーツであるフォークミュージックをJEFFERSON流に料理した曲が目をひくが、これは２０数年来暖めてきたアイデアだと言う。また、Paul Kantnerのトレードマークでもある１２弦ギターや渋いボーカルをこれほどたっぷり聴ける作品は久しぶりで、'60〜'70年代からのファンには堪えられない。Jeffersonには欠かせない女性シンガーは再結成以後に加入した３人を一挙に起用、2005年から復帰しているDavid Freiberg（Quicksilver〜Jefferson Airplane〜Jefferson Starship）もボーカリストとして全面参して過去最高に豪華なボーカル陣がJEFFERSONスタイルのコーラスワークを盛り上げ、後期Airplane〜７０年代Starshipの香りも漂うバラエティに富んだ内容が実に魅力的。最新メンバーのCathy Richardson（キャシ・リチャードソン）は、シカゴで自分のバンドを持って活動し、オフブロードウェイヒット『Love Janis』の主役もつとめたという実力派で、素晴らしい歌唱を聴かせている。今年１１月には、このアルバムのコンセプトを基本にした編成での来日公演（これも１０年ぶり！）も実現することになった。新譜からの選曲に加えて過去２回の公演では聴けなかったAirplaneクラシックスやソロ作品からの楽曲も披露してくれると思われるで、是非、新譜・旧譜を聴き込んでライブにも足を運びたい。

１０年ぶりのスタジオ作で、何とこの１１月には待望の来日も決まった模様！新作は名マンドリン奏者David Grismanなどをゲストに迎えた総勢１８名のプロジェクトで、ルーツであるフォークミュージックにアプローチしながらAirplane〜初期Starship時代の香りもするバラエティに富んだ内容になった。女性シンガーを３人も起用、新メンバーのCathy Richardsonは、ミュージカル『LoveJanis』の主役もつとめた実力派。復帰したDavid Freibergのボーカルや、Paul Kantnerの１２弦ギターの音色もたっぷり楽しめる力作。

フライバーグの歌声も衰えなく素晴らしい内容です。本年11月フライバーグ（元QSM〜JS)は初来日！（東京コットンクラブ）詳細は下記ウエブ参照下さい。[...]ｂｙ蝦夷シポリナ