Pat Surface lives in Ely, Minnesota, with his wife, Donna, and son, Trevor. Pat Surface is big in folk music. By big, I mean he's 6'8" tall.
But what makes him stand out is not his height but his depth. He is an accomplished singer/songwriter who has eleven albums to his credit:
Listening Point (with Eli Bissonett), The Wilderness Within (2003), House Of Amazing Grace(Aug. 2004), Our Singing Wilderness (2003), Portages (2002), Home For The Holidays (2002), Pass The Music On (2000), Everyday Man (1999), Homeland (1998), and Mountain Of Dreams (1992). The Long Goodbye was released in February, 2004. The title song refers to the situation with Donna's father who has Alzheimer's disease. A portion of the income from this recording goes research on Alzheimer's. Pat comes to his music with a vision of One People, One Planet. He says, "My music is hard to classify, but if I had to try it would be a blending of God, nature, and love."

The selections on this CD are bookended by Jay Unger's "Ashokan Farewell," performed by Surface with violinist Eli Bissonett. Surface's "The Long Goodbye," the title song of the album, is a poignant observation of the pain of watching a loved one with Alzheimer's. The traditional gospel tune, "Wayfaring Stranger," is next with nice support by percusiionist Robin Adnan Anders. British singer/songwriter Ralph McTell wrote "Streets of London," which Surface renders very well. The lonesome-sounding "New Kind of Lonesome" is another song by Surface, here with effective accompaniment by violinist Bissonett and drummer Anders. The well-known "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" is done as an instrumental with an appropriately mournful violin by Bissonett. "Lay Me Down Gently" could easily be thought an old folk song but it is actually a Surface composition.

"The Water Is Wide" gained great popularity in the folk music boom of the 1960s and deservedly so. It is a beautiful song and Surface and Bissonett do a fine performance here. The metaphor of a storm at sea is used to describe a love affair in "Eye of the Storm." Another old 'chestnut,' "Wild Mountain Thyme,"is lovingly rendered by Surface and Bissonett. "Daddy's Chair" is a sweet memory of a father who has passed away. Garth Brooks' and Joe Henry's "Belleau Wood" tells the story of the legendary Christmas Truce in WWI, also told by John McCutcheon's "Christmas in the Trenches." Dan Fogelberg's "Blind To the Truth"is a strong call for environmental responsibiltiy. An "Ashokan Farewell Reprise" closes out The Long Goodbye.

Pat Surface may say that his music is hard to classify, but I find it easy to classify—I classify it "very good." He has a very smooth voice and a good delivery. He is an excellent guitarist and songwriter as well with an obvious love of the music. One can gain a sense of his dedication to sharing his vision of faith in God, sharing the world, and resposibiltiy for caring for the environment. The accompanying musicians are excellent. Special credit goes to Eli Bissonett for his violin work.
This is a very nice album, a fine mix of traditional folk tunes and new material in the same tradition. Recommended.

My Favorite Songs: "Wild Mountain Thyme," "Daddy's Chair," "The Water Is Wide"

Rating: [Rating: 4 notes] 4 notes

Copyright 2004 William Theron Yates

8/25/2004