BY PATRICIA DUFF
Whidbey Life Magazine
Janie Cribbs and Joe Reggiatore, known around these island parts as the folksy rock duo “Janie and Joe,” have been busy writing new music. After joining forces with Larry Mason and Kevin Johnson to form the band “Tambourine Sky,” they recorded a new CD titled “Desire.”
Tambourine Sky will be at Front Street Grill in Coupeville from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16 to celebrate the album. (Reservations are recommended.)
With their special blend of ample guitar work, bodhran, slide, mandolin, percussion and vocals led by Cribbs deep soulful sound, the record satisfies on many levels. It’s got a slightly country influence, married with Cribbs and Reggiatore’s down-to-earth lyrics about living in the world and grateful for a life well led on such songs as “Survive,” “When I Held You Tight” and the soulful ballad “Fortunate Man.”
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Robbie Cribbs at Sound Trap Studios in Freeland, “Desire” is a positive record that reflects lives leaning toward appreciation and light. It also cooks with some good ‘ol down home blues on “The Road Song.” Here the band gets to show its moxie with lots of guitar riffs, slides and that this-train-is-comin’ kind of licks with this lyrical homage to Highway 61.
This release party should be a fun way to hear this album initially as the whole thing is super easy to sit back and enjoy with its meaningful stories woven around some fine musical dips and turns played elegantly by this band. In a word, “Desire” is a positive album overall and makes you feel good after listening to its stories.
Cribbs said the album is getting lots of airplay on KISM in Bellingham, KPTZ in Port Townsend, KSER in Everett and KRZA in Southern Colorado and locally at Whidbey’s own KWPA.
Look for upcoming shows by Tambourine Sky Trio (which is Janie and Joe joined by Larry Mason) at Ott and Murphy’s in downtown Langley on the first Saturdays of the month throughout 2013 and at Blooms’ Taste For Wine at the Historic Bayview Corner on the last Sundays of every month.
The CD is available at Joe’s Island Music, Blooms Taste for Wine and will be available at www.cdbaby.com.
The Front Street Grill. Call (360) 682-2551 for a reservation.
