Reviews

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 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 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…

JESSE McREYNOLDS & FRIENDS PLAY THE BULL MOUNTAIN MOONSHINERS’ WAY Pinecastle Records PPRC1232 Talk about a legend. At age 90, Jesse McReynolds is celebrating his 55th year as a Grand Ole Opry member and 70-plus years as a professional musician. Yet the real star and centerpiece of Jesse’s first album in nine years is not the man…

LaTRESA & THE SIGNAL THE BLOOD AND THE RIVER Boon Dog Records No Number The third album from Nashville-based singer songwriter LaTresa Smith is a collection of bluegrass gospel music. Eleven of twelve cuts are originals from LaTresa, and the twelfth was co-written with band member Kyle Wood. In addition to Wood on mandolin (a…

RESCUE JUNCTION LIONS AT HEART No Label No Number Every so often, those who love bluegrass get concerned about the future of the music. Some of those fears have been set aside as newcomers from more recent generations. They aren’t always “traditionalists”—which sometimes seems counterintuitive since bluegrass itself was birthed as a new sound with touches of…