The Joy of Joy Wilson

During the summer of 1996, I snuck into the Pelican's Nest to see a singer/songwriter that a friend of mine had been raving about. Little did I know that after one show I, too, would be singing the praises of Joy Wilson to anyone who would listen.

If you don't know Wilson alone, you might remember her as part of Earthtone, a popular Durango band that disbanded in March of 1998 after releasing a self-titled album. Joy's first album, You Had To Be There, was released the year before and enjoyed a warm reception locally, due in part to her one-of-a-kind live performances and the easily identifiable emotions of her songs.

You Had To Be There is a compilation of songs about aspects of life that everyone has experienced - love, freindship, heartbreak, and lazy summers. She also touches on more serious subjects such as domestic violence and personal growth, capturing all these with a melodic voice and catchy guitar rhythms.

On Friday, May 14th, Reber's Lesson, the long awaited follow-up album to 1997's You Had To Be There, will be released. The title album was inspired by a painting lesson that, Wilson says, taught her to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. That lesson is reflected in the songs on Reber's Lesson. The album has more funk and a wider variety of instrumentation than her first, and it broadcasts Wilson's sense of comfort with her musical style. Also, while You Had To Be There has separate, concise tracks, the songs on Reber's Lesson flow together in a magnetic groove.

All the songs on Reber's Lesson demonstrate Wilson's musical growth and versatility as an artist, but those qualities are highlighted in "Water My Bones," a track found in different versions on both albums. "Water My Bones" deals with death and the mourning that comes afterwards, but the new version becomes a celebration of life and new beginnings - the extraordinary in hte ordinary. Reber's Lesson is the last album Wilson will be releasing in Durango. In January 2000, Wilson and her drummer, Dave Sachs, will be moving to Porltand, Oregon. Portland offers Wilson a proximity to a larger music scene, she says, as well as a wider varity of venues.

"I want to make music the priority in my life," Wilson explains. "I don't want to have to have a day job to support myself. I want to be able to wake up in the morning, pick up my guitar and go play. Coffee shops, street corners, theaters... I'll do anything."

Wilson's decision to move was bolstered by an expressed interest in her music from Putumayo World Music, a label that approached Wilson about including her song "Fisherman's Catch" on its next singer/songwriter compilation, an inclusion that would put Wilson on the national music scene.

Before she heads out into the big world of music, though, be sure to catch wilson around the Four Corners this summer.