The HercuLeons

John Cowan, formerly of the Newgrass Revival, is one of the most distinctive and versatile singers to emerge from modern bluegrass. In recent years, he’s kept a high-profile touring with the rock band, the Doobie Brothers.

Andrea Zonn, with whom Cowan partners on this album, is an equally impressive and versatile vocalist and fiddle player. She has performed and recorded with everyone from George Strait, James Taylor and Alison Krauss to Vince Gill and Alison Brown.

Stylistically, these two cover a wide range here, and there’s even a trace of bluegrass in an acoustic version of a stirring ballad called “Face of Appalachia,” which was penned by John Sebastian and Lowell George.

“Resurrection Road” is an equally moving number that sounds like it could be an overlooked Doobie Brothers classic, while “Straight Up” has a funky R&B flavor, complete with swirling organ.

The song selections are uniformly excellent. Cowan, for example, turns in a show-stopping performance on a lovely R&B-tinged ballad called “When I Stop Loving You.”  On the contemplative side, “Barbed Wire Boys” is a heartfelt tribute to the silent generation of men who never learned to wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Additional members of The HercuLeons are: Jody Nardone (piano), Andy Peake (drums), Tom Britt (lead guitar) and multi-instrumentalist Paul Kramer.  On various tracks, The HercuLeons are joined by guests Michael McDonald, Darrell Scott, John Hall and Reese Wynans.