Review - Stephen Ide, The Patriot Ledger

Holt, a multi-instrumentalist and storyteller, combines music with the story of Arthel Doc Watson's career on "Legacy," a 3-CD set on Holt's High Windy Audio label.

Watson has entertained for more than half a century. His down-to-earth stage presence, his appreciation for heartland-bred songs and his overall sense of musicality have endeared him to audiences everywhere.

Known as a country-folk guitar flat-picking impresario, Watson is much more. He's a country gentleman steeped in old-timey values who's inspired musicians and fostered the tradition all of his life. He's picked up numerous awards along the way, including five Grammys.

Watson, 79, is in every sense pure Americana. Born in Deep Gap, N.C., his musical roots were cultivated by a father who loved music - and God-fearing gospel music. Blind from an early age, Doc was not treated as if he had a handicap.

In interviews with Holt, Watson tells of his childhood days. Some of this has been covered before in articles, like the story of the banjo drum his father made from the family cat. But so much of it is conversational - interspersed with song - the listener gets a good feel for Watson's beginnings on banjo, guitar and harmonica, his career, his family, the folk revival and more.

The first two discs contain interviews and song, while the third is called The Legacy Concert, featuring Watson and Holt. The set also includes a comprehensive booklet, with quotes from people close to Watson to lend perspective to the songs and the man.

The songs on the first two discs are ones Watson has played for many years. Signature tunes like "Deep River Blues," the fast-picked "Beaumont Rag," finger-picked "Freight Train" or harmonica on "Sittin' On Top of the World."

But it is the stories that inspire, as Watson reveals the aspects of his life that shaped his music. The concert disc is a pure listen for lovers of folk, bluegrass and traditional music. Delightfully informal, the show is rich in stories (like how and why they used a Craftsman socket as a slide), and some songs were rehearsed only once the night before.

The music, with Holt on banjo and Watson on guitar, banjo, harmonica or "gitjo" (a banjo/guitar amalgam), is characteristically musically complex, but the presentation is natural, warm and welcoming. They include classics like "Shady Grove," which Watson sang for his wife, Rosalie.

Holt plays buoyant blues in "Walk On," with Watson singing backup. Holt's musical enthusiasm is matched by Watson's on banjo in "Black-Eyed Susie."

Holt is an ideal interviewer. His music also has been steeped in the tradition, and he understands its roots. He met Watson in 1972 and was so inspired by him and the music that he moved to Asheville, N.C. the next year. Over the years, they performed together, and Holt developed a close bond with Watson, which became even deeper since both had children who died tragically (Watson's son, Merle, and Holt's daughter, Sara Jane). The unspoken bond gives Holt the ability to draw more of an interview from Watson, and it just feels right.

Unlike a "best-of " box set of Watson's work, this collection is as informative as it is entertaining, and fans of Watson or old-timey music will consider it a treasure from the heartland.