Learning to Walk With Him

Australian native Kristy Cox has been named that country’s “Queen of Bluegrass” and has been bringing her singing and songwriting talents to the U.S. for a number of years. She has been nominated for, or has won, a number of awards in both countries, including Australia’s Golden Guitar Awards for Bluegrass Recordings and our own International Bluegrass Music Awards for Emerging Artist, Female Vocalist, and Momentum Vocalist, and the 2024 SPBGMA Female Vocalist.

On this new all-Gospel project, Cox plays guitar and sings, and she is joined by a host of talented musicians and singers spread throughout the recording. On guitar, there is Jason Roller and Stephen Mougin, and Roller also plays fiddle. On resophonic guitar is Justin Moses and Gaven Largent. Moses also plays mandolin, while Largent also plays banjo, and also on banjo is Aaron McDaris. On upright bass, there is Evan Windsor, Jeff Partin, and Mike Bub. The harmony vocals include The Blackwood Brothers, Donna Ulisse, Josh Swift, and Jerry Salley, who is the producer of the project.

Five of the songs on the project are written or co-written by Jerry Salley and include “I Love To Tell The Story,” “No One But Jesus Can (feat. Blackwood Brothers),” “An Old Abandoned Church,” “Send The Angels Down,” and the title cut “Learning To Walk With Him,” co-written with Cox. Salley also makes a nice arrangement of the classic “Amazing Grace.” Other selections include “God Never Made A Mountain,” “If Heaven Was A House,” a cover of Chris Stapleton’s “Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore,” and a beautiful a cappella cover of “I Still Pray.”

Overall, this is a welcome new release from Cox featuring her wonderful vocals, great harmonies, and excellent musicianship and arrangements of the materials, sure to be a welcome addition to one’s Gospel collection.