Whispering Pines is the eighth album release in as many years from Woodstock, New York-based Professor Louie and the Crowmatix. While their touring and recording career does not quite span a decade, Aaron “Professor Louie” Hurwitz and his band have some deep roots in musical history. He and the Crowmatix got their start arranging songs for the latter day studio recordings of legendary musical group, The Band. The Crowmatix also backed both Garth Hudson and the late Rick Danko on several of their various solo releases. In addition, Professor Louie & company have a much-lauded career of their own. They hold claim to being the first artists to have a live album released by The New York State Museum (The Spirit of Woodstock) and, for the last eight years, have been regularly featured in the Americana Radio Roots Chart.

Their latest release for indie label Woodstock Records, Whispering Pines, is a soulful type of folky, funky, jam fusion that features a selection of original tunes and well-executed covers from such great recording artists as The Band, Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon, and Leonard Cohen. The ten-track collection features both studio and live offerings and is anchored by live renditions of The Band’s “The Weight” and the traditional “Ain’t No More Cane”. The final track, “Melody of Peace,” has been an international award winner and was recorded in the Czech Republic with the Prague Radio Symphony and Kuhn Choir.  Other highlights include a version of Leonard Cohen’s “In My Secret Life”, a fun reading of Warren Zevon’s “Nighttime in the Switchin’ Yard”, and the crowd favorite title track, “Whispering Pines.”