Reviews
DARIN AND BROOKE ALDRIDGE
DARIN AND BROOKE ALDRIDGE INNER JOURNEY Rounder Records 00681 On their breakout debut CD for Rounder Records, two-time IBMA Female Vocalist Of The Year Brooke Aldridge and husband Darin, along with an excellent production team and cast of stellar supporting musicians, have produced one of the first great bluegrass releases of 2020. Born and bred…
ROD McCORMACK
ROD McCORMACK FINGERPRINTS Sonic Timber Records 006 Rod McCormack is an elite-level guitarist, producer, vocalist, and songwriter from Australia. He’s won numerous awards there, including the Country Music Association Of Australia’s Musician Of The Year. On Fingerprints, McCormack channels his lifelong love of artists such as Alison Krauss, Tony Rice, Tom T. Hall, Gordon Lightfoot, New…
WILLIAMSON BRANCH
WILLIAMSON BRANCH CLASSY. SASSY. BLUEGRASSY. Pinecastle Records PRC1234 Williamson Branch offers plenty of variety, but on their latest effort, it’s the fast-paced work that shines brightest. There is also a change to the lineup with the addition of Anthony Howell joining the family band on banjo. What has not changed is the vocals and harmony…
ZOE AND CLOYD
ZOE AND CLOYD I AM YOUR NEIGHBOR Organic Records OR18312 The third album from this western North Carolina duo combines elements of bluegrass, old-time music, klezmer, and original songs to create a cohesive, authentic style all their own. In the publicity notes, John Cloyd Miller says, “This is an album that delves into the themes…
MARA LEVINE
MARA LEVINE FACETS OF FOLK No Label MBL CD 005 Mara Levine is a New Jersey-based singer and jewelry creator who has a clear, powerful voice that stands out ahead of the music on this, her third project. She’s joined by a host of artists (primarily her friends in the trio Gathering Time), which includes…
THE MOSLEY BROTHERS
THE MOSLEY BROTHERS Patuxent Music CD-336 The Mosley Brothers from central Maryland have won numerous regional band contests such as the Deer Creek Fiddler’s Convention and are becoming more well-known beyond the Maryland/southern Pennsylvania area. The band includes Jacob Mosley (mandolin), Joey Mosley (guitar), Johnny Calamari (bass), and Dean Phillips (banjo), with Michael Cleveland providing…