Along with audio engineering and producing, I have been writing songs ever since I can remember. I began playing guitar as a child, and have plucked away at it off and on at varying levels of intensity ever since. In the past 10 or so years, in addition to focusing on developing my studio I have been focused studying acoustic guitars--differing brands, different woods utilized in construction, and the incredibly diverse range in tonality based on these and other variables. Consequently, while writing and recording compositions for my new CD 'Pilgrim Song', I have also developed a respectable acoustic guitar collection as part of that study. Check out my website for lots of info on high end acoustic guitars, along with audio clip tonal comparisons of different guitars and woods used in each. Pilgrim Song is an acoustic instrumental journey demonstrating the variety of some of these different guitars. As most acoustic musicians know, each instrument played can evoke differing responses and creativity in the player--at least that has been my experience. I find the whole thing musically inspiring, uplifting, and downright intriguing. I am thankful to God for His hand in making all this possible, and hope that any gift He has given me in the area of music and audio engineering would bring glory and honor to His Name. Unlike other CDs I have recorded or produced, Pilgrim Song consists primarily of acoustic instrumental guitar music. The compositions are original, varied in style, and have been born out of my own personal struggles, victories, and search for solace in recent years. Additional instrumentation from percussion instruments, bass, mandolin and drums is added on many of the tracks as well. A few songs such as 'Twilight Serenade' nicely meld in original wildlife recordings in the background. It is my hope that you will find Pilgrim Song relaxing, inspirational, and soothing to the soul. With September 2001's atrocious attacks on our country, and a seemingly helpless feeling that so many of us experienced at that time, I felt that one small way I could help out is to commit all proceeds from this CD to help provide relief for families and victims of the attacks. That has clearly become an additional purpose for this CD. 'Wind And Wire' reviews Pilgrim Song, June 20, 2002 Reviewer: Bill Binkelman (Minneapolis, MN) KEN TOTUSHEK Pilgrim Song Graceworks Music (2001) Featuring the artist playing an assortment of acoustic guitars, as well as percussion, drums, bass and mandolin (and on one cut, synth strings), Ken Totushek's CD, Pilgrim Song, is a most pleasant and enjoyable way to spend seventy minutes. The songs on this album unwind at a leisurely pace, yet are also varied in emotional impact, musical approach and tempo; the 'leisurely pace' is more indicative of a mellow vibe that seems to run through the recording - nothing here is designed to get your blood racing too fast. Whether he is playing just guitar (sometimes overdubbing two kinds of acoustic guitars on a single track - one part playing lead and the other harmony) or accompanying himself on drums, bass or percussion, he shows a deft touch with both his primary instrument and enough virtuosity on the others that I had to recheck the liner notes to make sure it was just him. With seventy minutes of music spread over fifteen cuts, it's difficult to select favorites on this well-performed and friendly album. The opening track, 'Bliss!,' is a smooth easy-going beginning and is followed by the gently midtempo 'Twilight Serenade' on which guitar and mandolin gracefully duet. Some of the ensemble pieces here may remind you of Jamie Bonk but they're a little less adult contemporary in feel and perhaps a little more Windham Hill-ish than the Canadian artist. Among the ensemble pieces, I like 'Rebound,' 'Pressing On,' and the jazzy 'Higher Heights.' I'm also a fan of 'Questions,' which is the track where he discretely uses synth strings to great effect in creating a more somber song than others here (the cut may bring to mind Eric Tingstad - it did for me). All but three songs here are originals. The others include a relatively staid version of 'Greensleeves' (here referred to by it's other title, 'What Child Is This?') and two numbers penned by Jay Steele: 'April Breeze' and 'Rivers of My Heart.' The latter is a lovely delicate piece played on solo acoustic guitar and may be the most impressionistic cut on Pilgrim Song. The former begins with environmental sounds (birds, running water) and has a pastoral quasi-Renaissance feel to it (just a smidgen of ole England perhaps?)...
Along with audio engineering and producing, I have been writing songs ever since I can remember. I began playing guitar as a child, and have plucked away at it off and on at varying levels of intensity ever since. In the past 10 or so years, in addition to focusing on developing my studio I have been focused studying acoustic guitars--differing brands, different woods utilized in construction, and the incredibly diverse range in tonality based on these and other variables. Consequently, while writing and recording compositions for my new CD 'Pilgrim Song', I have also developed a respectable acoustic guitar collection as part of that study. Check out my website for lots of info on high end acoustic guitars, along with audio clip tonal comparisons of different guitars and woods used in each. Pilgrim Song is an acoustic instrumental journey demonstrating the variety of some of these different guitars. As most acoustic musicians know, each instrument played can evoke differing responses and creativity in the player--at least that has been my experience. I find the whole thing musically inspiring, uplifting, and downright intriguing. I am thankful to God for His hand in making all this possible, and hope that any gift He has given me in the area of music and audio engineering would bring glory and honor to His Name. Unlike other CDs I have recorded or produced, Pilgrim Song consists primarily of acoustic instrumental guitar music. The compositions are original, varied in style, and have been born out of my own personal struggles, victories, and search for solace in recent years. Additional instrumentation from percussion instruments, bass, mandolin and drums is added on many of the tracks as well. A few songs such as 'Twilight Serenade' nicely meld in original wildlife recordings in the background. It is my hope that you will find Pilgrim Song relaxing, inspirational, and soothing to the soul. With September 2001's atrocious attacks on our country, and a seemingly helpless feeling that so many of us experienced at that time, I felt that one small way I could help out is to commit all proceeds from this CD to help provide relief for families and victims of the attacks. That has clearly become an additional purpose for this CD. 'Wind And Wire' reviews Pilgrim Song, June 20, 2002 Reviewer: Bill Binkelman (Minneapolis, MN) KEN TOTUSHEK Pilgrim Song Graceworks Music (2001) Featuring the artist playing an assortment of acoustic guitars, as well as percussion, drums, bass and mandolin (and on one cut, synth strings), Ken Totushek's CD, Pilgrim Song, is a most pleasant and enjoyable way to spend seventy minutes. The songs on this album unwind at a leisurely pace, yet are also varied in emotional impact, musical approach and tempo; the 'leisurely pace' is more indicative of a mellow vibe that seems to run through the recording - nothing here is designed to get your blood racing too fast. Whether he is playing just guitar (sometimes overdubbing two kinds of acoustic guitars on a single track - one part playing lead and the other harmony) or accompanying himself on drums, bass or percussion, he shows a deft touch with both his primary instrument and enough virtuosity on the others that I had to recheck the liner notes to make sure it was just him. With seventy minutes of music spread over fifteen cuts, it's difficult to select favorites on this well-performed and friendly album. The opening track, 'Bliss!,' is a smooth easy-going beginning and is followed by the gently midtempo 'Twilight Serenade' on which guitar and mandolin gracefully duet. Some of the ensemble pieces here may remind you of Jamie Bonk but they're a little less adult contemporary in feel and perhaps a little more Windham Hill-ish than the Canadian artist. Among the ensemble pieces, I like 'Rebound,' 'Pressing On,' and the jazzy 'Higher Heights.' I'm also a fan of 'Questions,' which is the track where he discretely uses synth strings to great effect in creating a more somber song than others here (the cut may bring to mind Eric Tingstad - it did for me). All but three songs here are originals. The others include a relatively staid version of 'Greensleeves' (here referred to by it's other title, 'What Child Is This?') and two numbers penned by Jay Steele: 'April Breeze' and 'Rivers of My Heart.' The latter is a lovely delicate piece played on solo acoustic guitar and may be the most impressionistic cut on Pilgrim Song. The former begins with environmental sounds (birds, running water) and has a pastoral quasi-Renaissance feel to it (just a smidgen of ole England perhaps?)...
Along with audio engineering and producing, I have been writing songs ever since I can remember. I began playing guitar as a child, and have plucked away at it off and on at varying levels of intensity ever since. In the past 10 or so years, in addition to focusing on developing my studio I have been focused studying acoustic guitars--differing brands, different woods utilized in construction, and the incredibly diverse range in tonality based on these and other variables. Consequently, while writing and recording compositions for my new CD 'Pilgrim Song', I have also developed a respectable acoustic guitar collection as part of that study. Check out my website for lots of info on high end acoustic guitars, along with audio clip tonal comparisons of different guitars and woods used in each. Pilgrim Song is an acoustic instrumental journey demonstrating the variety of some of these different guitars. As most acoustic musicians know, each instrument played can evoke differing responses and creativity in the player--at least that has been my experience. I find the whole thing musically inspiring, uplifting, and downright intriguing. I am thankful to God for His hand in making all this possible, and hope that any gift He has given me in the area of music and audio engineering would bring glory and honor to His Name. Unlike other CDs I have recorded or produced, Pilgrim Song consists primarily of acoustic instrumental guitar music. The compositions are original, varied in style, and have been born out of my own personal struggles, victories, and search for solace in recent years. Additional instrumentation from percussion instruments, bass, mandolin and drums is added on many of the tracks as well. A few songs such as 'Twilight Serenade' nicely meld in original wildlife recordings in the background. It is my hope that you will find Pilgrim Song relaxing, inspirational, and soothing to the soul. With September 2001's atrocious attacks on our country, and a seemingly helpless feeling that so many of us experienced at that time, I felt that one small way I could help out is to commit all proceeds from this CD to help provide relief for families and victims of the attacks. That has clearly become an additional purpose for this CD. 'Wind And Wire' reviews Pilgrim Song, June 20, 2002 Reviewer: Bill Binkelman (Minneapolis, MN) KEN TOTUSHEK Pilgrim Song Graceworks Music (2001) Featuring the artist playing an assortment of acoustic guitars, as well as percussion, drums, bass and mandolin (and on one cut, synth strings), Ken Totushek's CD, Pilgrim Song, is a most pleasant and enjoyable way to spend seventy minutes. The songs on this album unwind at a leisurely pace, yet are also varied in emotional impact, musical approach and tempo; the 'leisurely pace' is more indicative of a mellow vibe that seems to run through the recording - nothing here is designed to get your blood racing too fast. Whether he is playing just guitar (sometimes overdubbing two kinds of acoustic guitars on a single track - one part playing lead and the other harmony) or accompanying himself on drums, bass or percussion, he shows a deft touch with both his primary instrument and enough virtuosity on the others that I had to recheck the liner notes to make sure it was just him. With seventy minutes of music spread over fifteen cuts, it's difficult to select favorites on this well-performed and friendly album. The opening track, 'Bliss!,' is a smooth easy-going beginning and is followed by the gently midtempo 'Twilight Serenade' on which guitar and mandolin gracefully duet. Some of the ensemble pieces here may remind you of Jamie Bonk but they're a little less adult contemporary in feel and perhaps a little more Windham Hill-ish than the Canadian artist. Among the ensemble pieces, I like 'Rebound,' 'Pressing On,' and the jazzy 'Higher Heights.' I'm also a fan of 'Questions,' which is the track where he discretely uses synth strings to great effect in creating a more somber song than others here (the cut may bring to mind Eric Tingstad - it did for me). All but three songs here are originals. The others include a relatively staid version of 'Greensleeves' (here referred to by it's other title, 'What Child Is This?') and two numbers penned by Jay Steele: 'April Breeze' and 'Rivers of My Heart.' The latter is a lovely delicate piece played on solo acoustic guitar and may be the most impressionistic cut on Pilgrim Song. The former begins with environmental sounds (birds, running water) and has a pastoral quasi-Renaissance feel to it (just a smidgen of ole England perhaps?)...
