PETER BUFFETT

Wisconsin: An American Portrait

Don't Records (1998)

reviewed by Bill Binkelman

In his book, Travels with Charlie, author John Steinbeck wrote of his complete surprise when confronted with the natural beauty of the state of Wisconsin when he drove through it. Wisconsin resident Peter Buffett perfectly captures that same sense of beauty and grandeur with his soundtrack to the award-wining documentary Wisconsin: An American Portrait. While three other musicians (Randy Sabien, Bill Camplin and Sam Pacetti) also contribute tracks to the recording, it is Buffett's heart-rendingly beautiful and poignant string orchestrations and piano/keyboard work that lift this album up into the upper reaches of sincerely romantic nostalgic music. I have also seen the documentary, and the music (by all the artists) fits the visuals perfectly. However, the music also stands completely apart from the film - in fact, I heard the CD before viewing the video and it was the music that made me want to see the images, if you can imagine that!

Fans of one of Peter Buffett's previous albums, Lost Frontier, will hear faint echoes of tracks from that album (e.g. "Searching for a Place Called Home," "The Way Back," "Outside My Window," "Ashland," and, most notably the somberly beautiful "Nebraska") woven throughout Wisconsin. Worth special noting, though, is Buffett's genius in adapting a refrain from the classic American hymn, "Shall We Gather At The River" as the basis for the soundtrack's "theme." This decision was truly inspired - the melody swells with a true sense of both humility and awe on tracks such as "Wisconsin," "The Harvest Was Over," and "It Is The People Who Define Wisconsin." But those songs are not all that recommends this amazing recording.

From the gentle stillness of bells, piano, horns and strings on "Soon the Snow Would Come," to the foreboding march-cadence of "The Winds of Civil War," to the "western" motifs (expertly married to an adaptation of the hymn "The Water Is Wide") on "Promise of a New Land" to the sprightly pretty yet somewhat sad "The Land is Our Legacy/Out of History in to History," (highlighted by haunting flute counterpointed by harp arpeggios), Buffett reveals an incredible talent for crafting music that is highly visual and emotive. How anyone could remain untouched by this album is a mystery to me.

It's worth mentioning that the other three musicians do an excellent job with their songs, too. Randy Sabien contributes three tracks: "The Journey" (an acoustic guitar piece that starts slow and then becomes a rollicking good-time foot-tapper), the bluegrass tune, "Sawyer Creek" (a real barn-burner!), and the "rural swing" song, "Beaver Pond Lodge." Sam Pacetti's "Triplesec" showcases his adept fingers as they fly across the fretboard of his acoustic guitar at lightning speed. Finally, Bill Camplin's two tracks are quieter acoustic-guitar numbers. "Education" has an early "Windham Hill" feel - it's a charming low-key piece. Camplin also wrote the end credits track, on which he picks up the pace, but just slightly. His solo acoustic guitar playing moves at a moderate pace, imparting the feel of traversing the back-country roads of Wisconsin, winding through forests and farmland.

Well, obviously, I can't end this review without revealing my bias for the recording. I was born and raised in Wisconsin and have traveled all over the state for many years. Obviously, I can't be impartial about a soundtrack to a documentary about the past and present glories of my native state. However, I trust that you, gentle reader, will also believe me when I say that the music critic in me would still laud this fine recording whether I hailed from Milwaukee, Wisconsin or Milwaukie, Oregon (yes, that's a real city too). Led by Peter Buffett's lyrical and heartfelt compositions, Wisconsin: An American Portrait, is one of my favorite albums of recent years in any genre. The music literally brings tears to my eyes at times - it is that beautiful. I doubt it will ever leave my CD player entirely. And, as if it needs saying, I recommend the video equally as enthusiastically. The people at The Duncan Group deserve all the credit for producing a film that does my native state proud.

For information on the video and the CD, please visit The Duncan Group website (the only place to buy the album and video). Or, here is a direct link to purchase the CD.