"In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can be befall me in life which nature cannot repair."― Ralph Waldo Emerson
When I am alone in a quiet wood, I feel peace, joy, love, and often a connection with the divine. During my childhood years in the small wooded town of Mendham, New Jersey, my best friend Kevin O'Connor and I spent thousands of hours exploring and enjoying the acres of vibrant forest behind our homes. Even in my younger years I felt, and continue to feel to this day, as the poet Mary Oliver has described, that the trees seem to stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.”
I composed “Whispering Wood” to celebrate my love and gratitude for the beautiful trees and forests which have brought me so much peace and perspective. “Whispering Wood” features my daughter Mackenzie Tolk's amazing voice and the remarkable acoustic guitar playing of award-winning guitarist, Jake Workman. In late 2015, Jake got the call from Ricky Skaggs to join his award-winning band, Kentucky Thunder. Jake was featured on the cover of the May/June 2015 issue of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine and in 2020 he was awarded the IBMA Bluegrass Guitar Player of the Year. It was wonderful to have Jake add his beautiful guitar artistry to this recording.
Click below to hear “Whispering Wood” on your favorite streaming service: