Greetings -- This is the website for Dave Shiflett's music and writing.
There are lots of my Wall Street Journal reviews on the News page, including recent reviews of Valerie Fridland's ‘Like, Literally, Dude’ and Rick Rubin's ‘The Creative Act.’
NEW MUSIC: A new collection of instrumental guitar pieces with special guest Viktor Krauss called “For Tom” was released Sept. 15.
The recording is comprised of six acoustic guitar pieces -- three solo and three with special guest Viktor Krauss. Viktor is a genuine bass deity with over 500 recording credits with artists ranging from Martin Taylor, James Taylor, Chet Atkins and Bill Frisell to Carly Simon, Sheryl Crow, Dolly Parton and Lyle Lovett. Most recently (2023) he toured with sister Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. He also runs a studio in Nashville (www.ViktorKrauss.com). One of the nicest people on Earth.
There are just under 50 minutes of music on the recording, including the title track, which is dedicated to a slave named Tom who was often captured while attempting to reunite with his wife. "For Tom" imagines him finally succeeding and getting away. "Sunday Songs" is a collection of old melodies, mostly hymns, inspired by John Fahey. "G" includes arco bass lines and a roaming melody scheme, while "Fairest Brother," "The Girl in the Meadow" and a substantially reworked "In My Father's House" first appeared on "Down The Road."
Find it at: https://daveshiflett.bandcamp.com/album/for-tom
‘The Girl in the Meadow’ recently finished. A remake of an earlier guitar piece, featuring violin and contrabass. Inspired by a friend who buried her mother the old fashioned way: she dug the grave with a shovel. Don't think this happens much any more. Starts dark but brightens considerably.
Three new compilations of my songs are out (see below). You can listen to all the songs for free and download the collection for a small charge (single songs can also be downloaded). Directly under those links are a few ‘classical’ compositions that are around 7-8 minutes each. I will be posting lots more orchestral music soon.
You can also find “Songs from Life (both parts)” and “Siren Songs” (both parts) at Bandcamp:
https://daveshiflett.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-life-part-one
https://daveshiflett.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-life-part-2
https://daveshiflett.bandcamp.com/album/siren-songs-part-one
https://daveshiflett.bandcamp.com/album/siren-songs-part-two
It would be great if you'd hit the follow button. That will result in being notified when I put out a new recording. I am in the process of compiling all my music – pop, folk, country, and orchestral – in a dozen or so collections, which I'll be releasing over the course of the next year. Each recording will be $5 – the cost of a happy hour pint (in many places).
Attention literary rainmakers: I have a novel – ‘Three Clicks Past the Paraclete’ – looking for representation. It's about love and generational warfare in Richmond, Va. as the confederate monuments bite the dust. Funnier than it sounds.
Also, two highly unique screenplays. Daveshiflett1@gmail.com for more information.
Also below are two video/photomontages for songs included on ‘Siren Songs Part One’:
‘Smile While You Can’ and ’My Beautiful Friend.' The video version of ‘My Beautiful Friend' is sung by Jeanine Guidry, who was the first vocalist to record the song. Buttafly Vazquez sings it on ‘Siren Songs.’
Thanks for stopping by. I am always available at Daveshiflett1@gmail.com
This is an acoustic guitar/upright bass instrumental dedicated to a "notorious runaway" slave named Tom. I learned about him from an advertisement in the Virginia Gazette (pasted in below) while doing research for an article on slavery. This piece envisions Tom's successful escape. I am joined on bass by the legendary Viktor Krauss. This is the
This is an acoustic guitar/upright bass instrumental dedicated to a "notorious runaway" slave named Tom. I learned about him from an advertisement in the Virginia Gazette (pasted in below) while doing research for an article on slavery. This piece envisions Tom's successful escape. I am joined on bass by the legendary Viktor Krauss. This is the title cut from the upcoming "For Tom," set to be released this fall.
Virginia Gazette and General Advertiser (Davis), Richmond, January 14, 1795.
TEN POUNDS REWARD. RAN-AWAY from Bartholomew Stovall's, in the county of Powhatan, the 10th of August, TOM, a stout well set Negro fellow, of a very black complexion, about 25 or 26 years old, 5 feet 4 or 5 inches high, has a scar on his head, and a large one on one of his legs, and one on each wrist, ocassioned by handcuffs: his back much scarred by whipping; was raised by Coleman Brown, of Loudon county, passed through many hands, and was brought from thence by Peter Perkins.--He has a wife in the county of Prince William, the property of Joseph Asbury; it is therefore probable he will make that way. He is a notorious runaway, and lay some time in Dumfries jail in the summer of 1793.--Had on when he eloped, a felt hat, plains coat, and hempen rolls trowsers--Whoever takes up and secures the above run-away, and brings him to the above mentioned Stovall's, about 30 miles above Richmond, on James river, shall receive the above reward; or Fifty Shillings if secured in jail so that I get him again. JOHN ALLOWAY STRANGE. Buckingham County, November 14, 1794.
A piece for violin and contrabass. Starts sorta grim but brightens considerably.
This is the first compilation of my songs written for female vocalists. Seven of the songs, starting with 'A Simple Thing,' are sung by Buttafly Vazquez. Buttafly attended the professional performing arts high school in New York where she was classmates with Alicia Keys. I met her at the Cary Street Cafe in Richmond, Virginia. She had heard 'My
This is the first compilation of my songs written for female vocalists. Seven of the songs, starting with 'A Simple Thing,' are sung by Buttafly Vazquez. Buttafly attended the professional performing arts high school in New York where she was classmates with Alicia Keys. I met her at the Cary Street Cafe in Richmond, Virginia. She had heard 'My Beautiful Friend,' which was the first of my songs she learned. I wrote four others for her and we recorded all five at Jim Mohr's studio outside Richmond. That collection is called 'A Simple Thing' and was released in 2013, We later did 'Distant Star' and 'Smile While You Can' with producer Morgan Terry Hyde, who played (via keyboard) all the instruments except guitar (Dave Shiflett). Lyrics are included for all songs.
Jeanine Guidry sings 'All The Good Men,' 'Fly,' and 'Perfect Sky.' I met Jeanine during the recording of 'Songs for Aging Cynics.' She had been a missionary, including a stint near the Killing Fields in Cambodia. Jeanine, who sang harmony and three leads on 'Cynics,' is Dutch; English is her second language. She has an incredibly clear and beautiful voice. -- Dave Shiflett
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Smile While You Can 4:300:00/4:30
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A Simple Thing 4:560:00/4:56
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Perfect Sky 4:350:00/4:35
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Distant Star 3:330:00/3:33
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Somehow 4:230:00/4:23
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Fly 4:520:00/4:52
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Autumn Love 2:560:00/2:56
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Darlin' 2:580:00/2:58
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All The Good Men 4:270:00/4:27
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My Beautiful Friend 3:530:00/3:53
For A Friend Who Died Alone
Dave Shiflett
In memory of Jo Ellen Davis. She suffered an unspeakable crime in her early teens, struggled to make a good life for herself, and never forgot how to laugh. She died alone during the holidays. RIP
Waiting for the Ice
Dave Shiflett
Along Came Saturday
Dave Shiflett
A celebration of the seventh day of the week. Some hear some Copland in this one.