(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., April 10, 1998) -- Three new CDs focusing on a trio of key figures from the Sixties folk revival strongly make the case for the music's persistent impact on those who followed in its wake. Along the way, the participation of such contemporary stars as Bruce Springsteen, Ani DiFranco (at the Mullins Center in Northampton tomorrow night and Albany's Palace Theatre on April 10), Indigo Girls, John Gorka, Nanci Griffith and Tom Waits will undoubtedly introduce Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs and Ramblin' Jack Elliott to a whole new generation of listeners.

The two-CD set, "Where Have All the Flowers Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger" (Appleseed), features 37 new interpretations of Seeger songs (39 songs in all). As the exhaustive liner notes point out, Seeger has been very much the living incarnation of the "folk process," taking pre- existing texts (songs, poems, Bible verses) and re-writing them to new music, or putting new words to old melodies.

These new versions continue that process. Thus, the Indigo Girls render Seeger's "Letter to Eve" as contemporary industrial-folk. Bruce Springsteen gives "We Shall Overcome" his signature folk-rock anthem treatment, and Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt duet on a reggae-fied "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine." The whole affair kicks off with a stirring version of the title track, with vocals by Tommy Sands and Dolores Keane of Ireland and cello by Vedran Smailovic of Bosnia, by implication tying the Vietnam-era protest song to contemporary conflicts.

Other highlights include a Kronos Quartet-meets-psychedelic-world-beat rendition of "All My Children of the Sun" by actor/filmmaker Tim Robbins, and Native American leader John Trudell's spoken-word rock version of "The Torn Flag."

Included here are children's songs, environmental songs, political protest tunes, love songs, labor songs, instrumentals and spirituals. The diverse gathering of musicians -- an international lineup from folk, rock, Celtic, bluegrass, country, gospel and blues, ranging in age from 20s to 80s -- is a living testament to Seeger's singularly profound influence across age, styles and borders.

The two-disk, "What's That I Hear? The Songs of Phil Ochs" (Sliced Bread) pretty much follows the same model as the Seeger tribute, featuring 28 new versions of Ochs songs by traditional and contemporary folksingers, including Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, Sonia Rutstein of Disappear Fear, Tom Paxton, The Roches, Greg Greenway, Eric Andersen, David Massengill and Rex Fowler of Aztec Two-Step.

In spite of that impressive lineup, it's the songs that take the spotlight here. Ochs is perhaps best remembered for political satires like "Draft Dodger Rag," performed here by his old pal Tom Paxton, and "Outside of a Small Circle of Friends," done up by old mate Dave Van Ronk.

But "What's That I Hear?" equally makes the case for Paxton as a groundbreaking, introspective singer-songwriter. Ballads like "Changes," rendered here by Nancy Tucker, and "No More Songs," sung by Karen Savoca, are as incisive about matters of the heart as other of Ochs songs are about political struggle. They suggest that Ochs deserves a place alongside Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell as one of the original singing poets.

It's only fitting that Arlo Guthrie's is the first voice you hear on Ramblin' Jack Elliott's "Friends of Mine" (Hightone), counting off the beats on Gene Autry's "Ridin' Down the Canyon." Elliott was the original urban cowboy, early on leaving behind Brooklyn and his true identity as Elliott Adnopoz and adopting the style and substance of his idol, Arlo's dad Woody.

So complete was Elliott's transformation that he became one of the most influential figures of the folk revival, helping to keep Woody Guthrie's songs alive when the folksinger became too sick to perform them himself in the mid-'50s. On "Friends of Mine," a stellar gathering of vintage and contemporary performers are on hand to pay tribute to Elliott on songs by Joe Ely, Merle Travis, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie and the Grateful Dead.

In addition to Arlo Guthrie, Elliott's collaborators here include Jerry Jeff Walker, John Prine, Peter Rowan, Rosalie Sorrels, Guy Clark and Bob Weir. Standout tracks include a duet with Tom Waits on his "Louise," and a trio rendition of Townes Van Zandt's "Rex's Blues," featuring Elliott with Berkshire Music Festival headliners Nanci Griffith (at the National Music Foundation on May 2) and Emmylou Harris (last year). Elliot's solo version of Tim Hardin's "Reason to Believe" is much more affecting and natural than Rod Stewart's popular version.

Never known for his own songwriting, Elliott includes "Bleeker Street Blues," a talking blues he wrote last year within hours of hearing the news that his old friend and playing partner Bob Dylan was hospitalized with a heart infection. A sort of prayer for Dylan's life, it tells the story of their friendship and collaboration with humor and tenderness.

Of special note to Berkshire readers: Arlo Guthrie, of Washington, appears on both the Ochs and Elliott CDs. On the Ochs volume, he sings "I Ain't Marching Anymore," backed by son Abe and recorded at Greg Steele's Derek Studios in Dalton. Strangely, Guthrie -- who more than just about anyone is associated with Seeger -- is not on the Seeger tribute. There are plans for three more volumes of the Seeger tribute -- perhaps Guthrie will be included in the future.

BRAZILIAN JAZZ AT WILLIAMS: Jazz musicians have been attracted to the sounds and rhythms of Latin America going back at least as far as Dizzy Gillespie, and arguably all the way back to Jelly Roll Morton. This tradition continues today in the work of younger musicians like guitarist Freddie Bryant, who brings his ensemble, Brooklyn Rain Forest, to the Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall at Williams College tonight at 8.

In addition to taking listeners on a musical journey via jazz improvisations atop Brazilian rhythms, Bryant's latest CD, "Brazilian Rosewood" (Fresh Sound New Talent), showcases his use of the classical guitar in the jazz setting, lending his arrangements a unique, organic quality. Joining Bryant -- who has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Max Roach and Kenny Burrell among others -- at Williams will be trumpeter Scott Wenholdt, saxophonist Shamus Blake, percussionist Portinho and bassist Dennis Irwin. Williams types take note -- Bryant is an alumnus of arch-rival Amherst College.

Also at Williams this weekend is the sixth annual Collegiate Jazz Festival, featuring big-band student ensembles from across New England, at Chapin Hall beginning at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

For more information on these programs call 597-2736.

[This column originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle on April 10, 1998. Copyright Seth Rogovoy 1998. All rights reserved.]

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