Reviews

ALI SHUMATE EVERY BIT OF ME Hadley Music Group HMG 1018     How does Ali Shumate deliver such nuanced performances of the many lovely and frequently uplifting numbers on this album? Certainly, it’s because she’s a fine and thoughtful vocalist. But, Ali knows her material to the core because she’s an impressive songwriter who has…

DAVE ADKINS BETTER DAYS Mountain Fever MFR190920 Better Days marks the seventh studio recording from Dave Adkins. This one is up to Adkins’ usual high standards, big voice, and contains songs from several well-known writers, as well as the title-track by Dave and his wife Katrina. “Better Days A Coming” is a hard-driving song that tells…

COX’S ARMY NEW RICHMOND TOWN No Label No Number Cox’s Army was founded in 2016 by Charles “Cousin Chuck” Cox who sings lead and plays guitar on all of these original tunes from Cox himself. He’s joined by Jack Campbell on bass, Laird Patten on banjo, and Jeff Burke on mandolin. Guest artists include Dan…

MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY TRADITION No Label No Number Having emceed twice for this group, I’ve witnessed their rapid growth on stage and in their music over the last couple of years, therefore my objectivity may be slightly biased. However, I think my positive impression is well merited. The bluegrass community is blessed with many family groups…

RICK FARIS BREAKING IN LONESOME Dark Shadow Recording DSR201901    Rick’s website indicates he lives in Topeka, Kans., but tours professionally with the world-trotting, Grammy-nominated bluegrass band Special Consensus from Chicago. He’s been on five of the band’s recordings, playing mandolin and guitar, as well as lending his tenor voice to the band. This is his…

Rob Ickes Expanding The Horizons Of The Resonator Guitar By Dick Spottswood No one seems quite sure who first discovered the steel guitar or the sound you get that creates glissando effects by sliding a solid object up and down a taut string attached to a resonant body. Hawaiian tradition credits Joseph Kekuku (1874-1932) who…