Owen Canfield: Belle of the Fall hits the road again

The duo makes sweet music. They call themselves “Belle of the Fall.” Tracy Walton plays upright bass. Julia Autumn Ford plays guitar. Both sing, often in sweet harmony. He lives in Northfield, she in Winsted.

They got together a year or so ago, when Ford came to Walton’s recording studio, On Deck Sound Studio in Northfield, seeking to record an album. There was almost instant recognition, each for the other’s talents, and a certain musical chemistry. The most natural thing in the world happened after that. They became a performing duo. It’s been going hummingly for them ever since.

Soon the duo will be off on a whirlwind tour that will take them all the way to Austin, Texas, with many stops.

Tracy, who does the talking for the duo, grew up in Torrington and played high school sports. His grandfather, Leonard Walton, had been a sports star. But, with a fine singing voice and obvious other talents, the pull of a musical career was irresistible.

“I studied under Dave Santoro at the Hartford Conservatory,” Walton said. “He is a world class cellist and is now associated with Berkeley in Boston.”

Tracy has strong hands and large forearms, which suggest that the big bass vile, a very large instrument, is just right for him. And when he begins to play, a listener realizes this is true. It does his bidding.

“I just always liked it,” he said. “I love the sound. My ear goes there.”

He also plays drums, guitar, ukulele and mandolin. There are times when he has use for them all.

Julia plays the guitar. Beautifully. She is tall and slim, with long blond hair.

I poked into the Internet (Belleofthefall.com) and discovered that Walton was a 2014 and 2015 Northeast Music Award nominee for Best Male Performer. A notation added that besides being an accomplished bassist and song writer, Walton taught at the National Guitar Workshop.

It says of Ford, “She was a Connecticut Music Award nominee for Best New Artist of 2014 and Song of the Year, 2015. Her debut solo album has gained her attention as a singer of rare talent.”

To which I may add, having heard the duo sing and play recently at Brookdale, that my untrained ear, while . . . er . . . untrained, hasn’t been so pleasingly treated in a very long time.

Belle of the Fall provides unique and easy listening. And it’s a different sound. They use tunes of their own composition and standards from artists like Simon and Garfunkle. Their arrangements are spectacularly entertaining.

They have played many places locally, including Torrington’s Nancy Marine Theatre at the Warner and Infinity Hall in Norfolk. Walton is business manager, agent, producer and he says they make a decent living.

Walton’s sound studio earns money, and their tours are carefully planned and executed. They travel in a van, going from city to city. Walton says they seldom have to drive more than four hours in a day, which keeps them fresh for each performance. Often, they rehearse and practice their harmony while driving.

And where do they perform? Wherever they are wanted, including theaters, clubs, festivals, folk music shows, coffee houses, libraries . . . On their upcoming tour starting in Connecticut they will perform at 25 sites in 30 days.

That’s getting after it, wouldn’t you say?