| reviews | clubs by night | bands in town | club directory |
| jazz clubs | pop concerts | classical concerts | jazz concerts | hot links |

*** John Gorka

THE COMPANY YOU KEEP

(Red House)

Folkie John Gorka appears to have gotten a second wind from slowing down a bit, having some kids, getting comfortable with growing older, and returning to the folk specialists at the Red House label. The Company You Keep is his second fine release since parting ways with Windham Hill, and he thanks Red House in the liner notes “for leaving me to my own devices.” His eye is as sharp and his easy baritone as mellow as ever as he delivers clever insights about love and life and being a restless fool.

The company he keeps here includes fellow singer/songwriters Ani DiFranco, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Lucy Kaplansky. Against a comfy folk-rock backdrop, Gorka engages in some fine, funny, Woody-esque wordplay in “Fisheries,” and more somber meditations in “When I Lost My Faith.” And “Walking Around the House” is a simple little rocker that may just be the perfect way for him to get his kids to do their chores.

— Bill Kisliuk