Mary Flower & Leon Cotter – Chants of Rain
LIttle Village Records
11 Tracks – 41 minutes
Mary Flower and Leon Cotter bring a unique instrumental duo configuration to the world of blues and jazz. Mary is a seasoned fingerpicking and lap-slide guitarist with thirteen solo recordings and is a teacher of blues guitar for twelve years with her “Blues in the Gorge” intensive school. She helped found Denver’s Swallow Hill Music school. Jeff is an internationally touring reed player who plays clarinet and saxophone with the California Honeydrops. For this duo, he is playing clarinet.
Mary is a master of the Piedmont style of acoustic guitar. She was born in Indiana but relocated to Denver, and in 2004 she relocated again to Portland Oregon. Mary’s roots extend to Mississippi blues, swing, ragtime, jazz, and folk while writing much of her own music. She became the only woman finalist, Top 3, at the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship in 2000 and 2002. She was nominated for the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards in 2008, 2012, and 2016 and is a multiple winner of the Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Award. All of the odd numbered songs on this album were written or co-written by Mary.
In addition to playing with The California Honeydrops, Leon is active in the Portland, Oregon music scene performing regularly at jazz clubs and swing dance parties with Reb & The Good News world/ music & jazz band, drummer Alan Jones, and with his own band playing original songs inspired by African and New Orleans roots. He is currently working on his own solo release. All even numbered songs on this album were written by Leon.
Mary and Leon first met on an airplane several years ago. He recognized her and initiated a conversation about music. In 2025, they met again at a jazz festival and later at a backyard fundraiser. Leon suggested they play something together. Three months later the duo played for the first time together at a small local venue arranged by Mary.
The album kicks things off with a taste of New Orleans on “Mary’s Rag” with Leon’s clarinet blending with her guitar and quickly demonstrating the duo’s original and diverse style. The jazzy “Dauphine” features Leon’s clarinet on the lead with Mary supplying a steady rhythm. “Trip Around the Sun” is a smooth journey with Mary showing her guitar prowess. Leon slides in mid-song punctuating her playing. “Half Moon” is a jaunty stroll that will get your feet tapping along.
“Chants of Rain” starts quietly and slowly builds in intensity. “Chain” is another easy going and flowing tune that just makes you relax and enjoy. “Farewell Waltz” feels moody and perhaps reflective of some loss. “Eagle Creek Bounce” gets things jumping again.
“Eve of The Eve” moves back into a jazz feel with Leon’s clarinet taking the lead. “Strawberry Lane” is another quietly paced song. The album closes with “Wisecrack”, a fun tune with Mary’s guitar featured.
Both musicians establish themselves as masters of their instruments and a creative force of an unexpected diverse style of music providing a very pleasant listening experience.
