KRISTI STANLEY

KRISTI STANLEY
HEART WIDE OPEN

Union House Records
UHR-0004

This is Kristi Stanley’s debut release on Union House and she is joined on this project by a great collection of talent, including Austin Brown (guitar, bass), Nick Goad (mandolin), Rod Smith (banjo, resonator guitar), and Adam Haynes (fiddle). Guest artists include Travis Houck (resonator guitar), Mike Bentley (guitar), Jeff Brown (guitar), Wayne Taylor (vocals), Alecia Nugent (vocals), and Marty Raybon (vocals). Stanley is married to Ralph Stanley II, and it’s through that association she can tap into the Stanley legacy. But she also explores some of the newer material that contemporary writers have to offer. Her Stanley covers include Carter’s “Our Last Goodbye” and Ralph’s “I’m Lonesome Without You,” but she also has included songs from Rick Lang (“It’s Raining The Blues”) Becky Buller (“Raven Tresses”), Candace Randolph (“Never Say Never”), Dicky Minor (“Somebody Else Will”), and Vickie Austin (“Running Blind”). She also collaborated with Union House’s Jeff Brown to pen “My Best Friend,” and the title-cut “Heart Wide Open” comes from Alex Masters and Larissa Lundstrom. Kristi Stanley has a very nice voice that easily complements the material, and this project is a welcome outing for this new artist. (www.unionhouserecords.com)BF