Reviews

MAC MARTIN & THE DIXIE TRAVELERS LIVE AT WALSH’S LOUNGE, 1971 & 1972 No Label No Number    Now let us praise great regional bluegrass performers of the 1960s, ’70s, and beyond—starting with Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers. Mac was among the talented performers directly inspired by Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers,…

NATALIE PADILLA FIREWEED Heartseed Music No Number Natalie Padilla, who plays fiddle and banjo and sings, has assembled an impressive cast of musicians, including co-producer Ben Winship on mandolin, guitar, tenor guitar, and harmony vocals, Chris Coole and Rick McCracken on clawhammer banjo, Scotty Meyer and Carter Bancroft on fiddle, Bancroft and Forrest Gibson on…

CASH STAUB ALL ABOARD: THE SONGS OF DEL DONE BY CASH No Label CS-201910 On his second self-produced CD, 13-year-old Cash Staub embraces the vocal tradition and dramatic songs of the great Del McCoury, one of his musical heroes. Backed by a competent studio musician band, the young performer warbles through ten well-known tunes by…

ADAM BURROWS IT’S CALLED BLUEGRASS No Label No Number North Carolinian Adam is the brother of Jake Burrows, and they used to perform under the title of the Burrows Brothers. They were previously part of the Lonesome Will Mullins Band, as well as the Kevin Prater Band. Adam has now released this project under his…

ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY WORLD FULL OF BLUES Compass Records 747362 The title of this new CD from two of the most accomplished and celebrated contemporary musicians, along with the presence of blues legend Taj Mahal on the title-cut, makes it clear this is a deep dive into the (mostly) acoustic blues. Yet, World Full…

JUSSI SYREN AND THE GROUNDBREAKERS BLUEGRASS HEADQUARTERS Bluelight Records, No Number    The hearts of hard-driving, honky-tonk, traditional bluegrass music fans will be gladdened by the release of the 11th album from Jussi Syren & The Groundbreakers from Finland. A prolific songwriter in the traditional style, Syren’s seven original songs fit easily with four covers from…