Shaking the Pumpkin

Violinist Marsh's second solo album, while containing some good ideas, is ultimately crippled by its '80s production values and instrumentation. What might have sounded contemporary, then, has not stood up well, and the mechanized drum sound and synth-heavy arrangements weigh down even the most adventurous tracks, such as his take on Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze." Guests on the album include Bruce Cockburn narrating the traditional Native American poem "How the Violin Was Born," and Robert Palmer, whose vocals adorn many of the tracks. Yet, it's the instrumentals, such as "Sempre Nel Mio Cuore," that save the album.