Dick Kimmel & Co. – Dreamin’

DICK KIMMEL & CO.
DREAMIN’
DKC Records
2011-1

Veteran artist Dick Kimmel is joined here by regular bandmates Jerilynn Kjellberg (vocals and guitar), Lee Folta (bass), Tim O’Connor (banjo and vocals), and Bruce Bernhart (mandolin), with guests Becky Buller on fiddle and Kimmel’s son, Ian, on guitar. The group has a traditional bluegrass sound while also showing a willingness to tackle less-than-tradition material, specifically the Everly Brothers hit “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” one of the nicer vocal moments on the CD, and “Charmaigne,” a challenging instrumental tune which here gets a vocal addition.

This project is given a boost by the strong lead vocals of Kjellberg (“I Got Wise,” “I’ll Never Forget You,” “Sweetie Honey Baby,” and the oft-requested “Farther Along”). The three duets with Kimmel (“Dreamin’,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” and “I’ll Love Nobody But You”) are very effective vocally, and Kimmel does a nice job on “Love Of The Mountains,” “Don’t Call My Name,” and “Goodbye Old Pal,” all with fine harmony by Kjellberg. The fiddle work of Becky Buller also stands out, and really shines on “Farther Along.” Unfortunately, this release is somewhat inconsistent when it comes to the overall instrumental support. (Dick Kimmel & Co., P.O. Box 101, New Ulm, MN 56073, www.dickkimmel.com.) AW