Ordinary Mystery Geoff Oelsner doesn’t spend too much time thinking about writing songs. Inspiration, he says, just hits him. He calls them “givens,” and he knows that a gift like that is to be used.

On the recording (Ordinary Mystery), he was backed by Kelly Mulhollan, Robin Rues, Andrew Sieff, and also his family, including his wife and two grown children who now make their careers as musicians.

Oelsner chatted with the us recently about the gifts of songs, the importance of recording with his family and his love of Native American cultures. Four songs on the album are dedicated to the countries different native peoples, and proceeds from the recording will be donated to Native American charities.

--Kevin Kinder, Northwest Arkansas Domocrat Gazette

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Morning Branches If there's an award for Most Eclectic Local Album of the Year and Possibly Even the Decade, it will surely go to Geoff Oelsner for his new release, "Morning Branches.”

There is the unadorned informality of Geoff Oelsner, LCSW's Dream and the theatrical pandemonium of Mad Tom's Song. And there are some genuine folk songs delivered in Geoff's engaging resonant baritone and liberally sprinkled with tasty acoustic instruments and harmony. Two of these songs, My Shady and Borderguards, I would put right up there with the best of Joan Baez or Peter, Paul & Mary.

More than those of most singer-songwriters, Geoff Oelsner's lyrics read as poetry on the printed page…Oelsner, who once told me that he considers himself "a happy hand-puppet of the artistic process," often gets song ideas, and even entire songs, from his dreams… Geoff Oelsner is especially attuned to this phenomenon and tries to honor it and be faithful to it when it occurs.

--Emily Kaitz, Fayetteville Free Weekly

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Native Joy With so many people now writing poems and so many new poets in print, whether in traditional or nontraditional book form, I am captured by poets who don’t just write well, but poets whose poems tell the story of an ever-expanding consciousness, poets whose work pushes me to keep re-examining the journey of my own life, push me to keep growing my own circles of awareness. The great American poets always remind us that poetry begins most richly in “the spirit of place.” The great Sufi poets tell us that the spiritual journey ends in joy. The title of Geoffrey Oelsner’s remarkable book tells us that his own journey begins in the native American landscape—in his case, Kansas, Oklahoma, and the Ozarks of Arkansas—but it moves inexorably towards spiritual awakening and joy.

The poems gather up the threads of childhood, but spin them into a mature consciousness that is by turns sharply descriptive, calmly insightful, humorous, and ecstatic. At times, Oelsner approaches something that feels shamanic in the poems, something old-soul-like, drawing upon an easy kinship with Native American myth and lore and with the vision quest of the spiritual warrior. There are deeply personal poems, too, of loss and celebration, of mourning for the death of the father, of tenderness towards a beloved brother, and intimate poems that are wonderfully erotic love-poems, tantric poems of sexual union and illumination. I travel a lot in my work, and so I look for books of poems that can travel well with me, that can keep me company through a variety or changing landscapes and inner experiences, that keep me alert to the possibilities of revelation. The great contemporary Polish poet Adam Zagajewski is one such poet. Geoffrey Oelsner is another. Sometimes when you’ve finished a book, you want the poet for a friend. Better still, when you’ve finished this book, the poet is a friend."

--Sandford Lyne, Writing Poetry from the Inside Out

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Reviews If you’re weary of life in the fast lane, worn by all the agitating noise and word pollution, have a dose of this album—it’s an antidote. Ordinary Mystery is a deeply mellow, richly harmonized and a thoughtfully poetic album. And I like that it honors and pays great respect to our Native American forbearers.

At times Ordinary Mystery is haunting and prayerful, other times playful and funny; and often, it is deeply moving. This album has a variety with several types of songs: blues, hymns and love songs. Because Geoff is already a poet, his lyrics transport and inspire, and then, powered by fine music and harmonies, the whole thing becomes an experience that can evoke a sense of the extraordinary that is found in the simple ordinary things of life.

As with his previous album, Morning Branches, Geoff brings his rich baritone voice and poetic verses into a blend with sweet harmonies and just plain good music. The title gives you a bit of the flavor of this CD. It takes a poet’s heart to feel into emotions and visions of a people long past, to empathize with their views and culture and to express it in a way that we might feel into it too. This is a special art. And Geoff is well accomplished in this art. Considering the creative effort involved with writing the lyrics, making the music, and then the performance itself—this album is quite an accomplishment!

Talking with Geoff once, he mentioned to me: “...it was a dream of mine to include the whole family, plus a few excellent musician pals.” With Ordinary Mystery he has done just that. His wife Leslie and daughter Amy bring strong sweet harmony in it; obviously they all love one another. He’s also joined by his son Adam on electric bass, with Andrew Sieff on drums and Kelly Mulhollan on electric guitar.

Geoff has a lovely site on the internet: www.geoffoelsner.com. You can get his albums there: Morning Branches and Ordinary Mystery. Plus, he offers free poetry and songs, Leslie’s photos and other artful things.

I like Ordinary Mystery because it has a lot of heart in it and I also appreciate being reminded of our Native roots. It has a strong tie-in with nature and spirit which the album celebrates abundantly. Yes, these are things to sing about and appreciate listening to. This album goes deep and welcomes deep listening. I highly recommend it for your listening consideration.

Here are my comments on some of the specific songs in Ordinary Mystery:

Cherokee Trail Of Tears: Here come the haunting voices from the Trail of Tears; they pull hard on the heart because they refers to a human tragedy, so this lament is both sad and poignant: “And I’m gone, and it’s hard to be gone, see it was good to be here...” it would be hard to hear this sadness if it weren’t so beautiful at the same time.

Ordinary Mystery: This is a delightful little song, one of my favorites. It’s just plain upbeat fun and wise at the same time! Everyone likes it: kids, boomers, grandpa’s. It sort of happily bounces along: “Oh that’s an ordinary mystery, a boundless possibility, a gentle generosity an angel and a friend, ordinary mystery an everyday sublimity, the sum of all that’s dear in me, a love that has no end.” The harmony between father (Geoff) and daughter (Amy) here is precious.

The Listener: This sweet tune is a profound reflection of the hidden side of life, with melodic riffs that recur to you later in the day. “...the Listener in us stands far behind our plans and schemes. He has our dreams to feed on ‘til we know, ‘til we see Who’s ever waiting...”

Take Me To Your Side: Here’s a tune that reminds me of Donavan, guitar accompanied. He’s joined in sweet harmonies with Leslie and you can tell they love one another. “...Take me to your side. Take me in and let me know we’ll always be the wondrous flow, like mountain snow against the dark, take me to your heart.”

Aboriginal Day: Again, the haunting voices of our Native Ancestors, gone but not forgotten. “They don’t call ‘em Indians anymore...” This song is thick with irony as it gives voice to the Native view and poignantly juxtaposes it against the White culture, the “First Nations People” they faced as they were being culturally assimilated. If you ever wondered what that was like, this tune gives you a feel. From A Motel 6: “The chair is looking lonely, but this bed has seen it all....” Blues from motel room floor: “morning has broken, this land has been battered bruised and mauled, there’s a joyful bird in the junipers but those crows up there don’t sound amused at all.” The ancient voices talk to us through the sad chords of this lament. Great blues harmonica and throbbing acoustics carry it along.

Tesuque Pueblo: Voice and acoustic guitar carry you to New Mexico to visit a pueblo where you feel the vibes, even in a chard of pottery that lets you know, as you contemplate taking it as a souvenir, that: “this is still our home, ... and under the sun, I feel we’re seen and known by the ancient ones, and the raven’s a sacred go-between in this place of sentient stones.” I love the raven’s call at the end...

Pawhuska Pappa: This is hilarious! It’s one of my favorite songs on the album because it is very funny starting with Geoff rapping for the first two and a half minutes! Totally funny introduction! When he kicks into song, well it’s still funny. “I got a honey in Winona sings pretty as a crow, she’s always good to go... don’t you throw my wing nut and don’t you pull my plug...” Dig, it’s even got a bit of yodeling!

Dordogne River Hymn: This song flows like a river, images shifting as you move along. It’s a hymn to the incessant ongoing flow and ever changing scene of life. “She moves through Sarlat Market like a slow-flowing stream, bearing living water into our dry dream...” “Our human kingdom is a hard place to be. Love dissolves the walls between you and me...”

West Coast Farewell: This is a powerful way to end the album, with partings, farewells and sweet reminisce. Geoff’s voice shines brightly as he sings this one, usually I’m taken with his deep resonant tones, but here you get his upper range and it is lovely: “standing on the shore looking on, horizons so long I can hold the sun, ... time for me to die again into another dawn.”

--Eduardo Sierra

Thanks so much for sending your most excellent ' Morning Branches ' CD....... I enjoyed it so much that I took my time and only reviewed 2 or 3 songs each day . I receive lots of top class music so its always a thrill to say that you are as good as it gets in my opinion.....plus your album is so filled with variety . Cheers for now.....and best of luck with this fine work of art.

-- Eddie Russell, Texas DJ

Hi Geoff, I want to thank you for good music you sent me and that perfectly fits my format. I really like your CD (especially the second half ), the songs and your voice . Perfect for the Frenchie!

--Mike Penard, French Roots Music DJ

Your album is fantastic and we love your music. We already have a load of other tracks lined up for airplay. In fact, there are so many great tracks on your CD that it has been difficult to shortlist them for the show.

--Tim & Terri-B., British DJ’s

Oelsner's songs have a rich and timeless sound with hard hitting lines and choruses that stay with you long after the song has played.

--Ginny Masullo, Poet, Writing in the Northwest Arkansas Times

A serious bow to your magnificent effort on Morning Branches. It's rare that the same depth and compassion I feel in your poetry is matched in excellence by your sweet and expressive voice and chord progressions and lyrical riffs, also of high quality ...wow, all in one package ... I thank you and the stars you were born under.

--Eduardo Sierra, Nevada City, CA poet

This is a must have for any music lover! Every song is solid and substantial. Geoff's voice is wonderful, he sings with such emotional intensity. He plays solid rhythm guitar, mountain dulcimer and shares vocal harmonies with his wife Leslie. Kelly produced this CD and it shows. His creativity is woven into each and every piece with a myriad of instruments and style. The poetry that is laced through out this work sets it apart from other CD's in texture and tone. A highlight is a tribute to the Sufi poet, Rumi, with Keith Grimwood (Trout Fishing in America) on bowed bass. Donna Sterjna added fiddle to a cut as well.

--Review at Still on the Hill (Kelly and Donna’s) Website

Excellent folk-roots variety: -VERY cool music... also TOTALLY LOVE the attitude!!! (100% of the proceeds from the sale of the CD and all of Geoff Oelsner's live performances go the Seven Hills Homeless Shelter in Fayetteville, AR, USA, and to other organizations that reduce suffering and improve the quality of our lives.) -- the NEW SPIRIT!!!

--Lord Litter, German DJ

This modern-day bard has been writing songs nearly as long as he¹s been writing poetry. He performs lead vocals on the CD, as well as playing guitar, harmonica, harmonium and dulcimer. He blends disciplines in his two projects, including song lyrics in the book and spoken poetry on the CD.

Musician Kelly Mulhollan described Oelsner as an astute observer, solid songwriter and innovative musician. His work in the studio was “almost frighteningly” spontaneous, as Oelsner continued to elaborate even as tracks were laid down. “He’s got the real art gene,” Mulhollan said. “Geoff probably works further outside the box than anyone else… He has an utter disregard for commercial norms.”

--Bettina Lehovec, in The Morning News (Northwest Arkansas)

For 40 years Geoff Oelsner has been recording his visions, musings, and dreams, the stuff that poetry and music are made of. In his latest book of poetry, Native Joy, Oelsner leads his readers though various territories of the heart and mind. This lifelong collection includes memories of his boyhood, love poems, family poems, and poems about significant men and teachers. Oelsner moves the reader through wider horizons with poems that convey a strong love of the Ozarks, and poems about matters of the spirit. And he does not flinch from addressing what he calls matters of "hard Karmic weather" such as war, homelessness and poverty.

--Ginny Masullo, Writing in the Fayetteville Free Weekly

The quality of the format sets your poems off with the dignity and spare elegance they deserve. I am touched by the gentle quality of your voice nudging towards necessarily difficult depths. A very unique combination, especially in these times.

I'll be well armed with your mellow presence against the storm of the times we are in and those that are up ahead. The more of your kind of mature bearing is in the air, the better off we all will be.

--Chris Fiset, Poet from Seattle, WA

I continue to visit [your book]. The poems are amazingly new and fresh and create new venues for poetry. I love when I see something that makes me see the poem newly and in a different configuration. Not all the poems are intended to do that, but many do.

--Darrell Bourque, Poet Laureate of Louisiana

His performance here at the Library was just great. Geoff has a winsome ease with people-- a very personable entertainer. His broad range of performance [poetry and music] was a real plus, most especially his introduction of new and unusual instruments such as the shruti box and the harmonium.

--Ann-Marie LeBlanc, Programs & Special Projects Coordinator - William F. Laman Public Library

He really is passing it on,” said friend and fellow writer and musician Alison Moore. “It’s like he’s truly in his element when he’s up there singing,” Moore said. “There’s a real joy in the way he performs.”

--Alison Moore, Novelist, Poet, and Musician, Quoted in the Morning News