Nelson Wright was born and bred in America's Northeast and is now based in Seattle. Apart from these bare facts his bio and digital footprints reveals little about his background.
Still Burning is billed as his "recent album" but there's no information on his website or Facebook page about any previous releases or other musical history.
From the album's cover shot and the fact that he says "I like the neighbourhoods that Jimmie Rogers, Willie McTell, John Hurt and Hank Williams prowled", it's safe to assume that he's over 50. A man with a few stories to tell,in other words.
The album is produced by Michael Connelly who also plays mandolin, fiddle, accordion, upright bass and keyboards. Wright sings and plays acoustic guitar while Orville Johnson contributes dobro and lap steel.
Although Wright sings of love and loss (who doesn't?) in a frail and faintly world weary manner, there's more a sense of mild resignation than bitter regret.
The breezy and laid back tone is of someone nostalgically chewing the fat on the back porch while the 'still burning' message of the title track indicates there's life in this old dog yet.
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Mainly he takes a philosophical standpoint mixed with nostalgia as he sings of past romances with Molly who sang the blues at a bar (Five Feet Under) or Maddy who he met near the Mississippi (Red Wing) or an unnamed lover in It Ends With My Longing For You.
The memories are mostly fond ones with the exception of the opening track - Worse Things - where the bluesy folk comes with barbed lyrics like "Nothing could be worse than being anywhere with you".
A good set of tags for this album might read : analogue, vintage, folk roots, old songs, storytelling, Americana.
In other words, it's very old school and as predicable and well worn as an old hat.
Nelson Wright's website
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