Reviews

SPECIAL CONSENSUS RIVERS AND ROADS Compass Records 747092 The press material accompanying the latest CD from Special Consensus proclaims that the band has “never sounded better” in its 40-year career. After a good listen, it’s awfully hard to argue with that bold assertion. Rivers And Roads, produced and arranged by Alison Brown, is top-notch from start…

KATHY KALLICK BAND HORRIBLE WORLD Live Oak Records 620 Kathy Kallick, with her big engaging voice and compelling musical style, has been a keystone of the West Coast bluegrass scene for decades. A contemporary and peer of such greats as Laurie Lewis and John Reischman, Kallick has entertained audiences at festivals and clubs from California…

RED WINE CAROLINA RED: VINTAGE 1978 Red Wine Music RW 009 Red Wine celebrates its 40th anniversary with its release of Carolina Red: Vintage 1978. That is no small feat for any band, and a special accomplishment for a bluegrass group from Italy. Silvio Ferretti plays banjo and is the only member from the original band….

THE HILLBENDERS Compass Records 747212 After ten years together, The Hillbenders should have a pretty good idea of what they want to accomplish as a band. But given that this CD (their fourth overall) is their first since their unique tribute to The Who’s rock opera Tommyin 2015, it makes sense for them to circle the…

TURNING GROUND OLD COUNTRY STORE Bonfire Recording Co. BRC5004 Built on the voice and guitar of Nathan Arnett, this band includes Ralph Adams (guitar), Kayla Amburgey (bass), Josh Cantrell (banjo), Evan Maynard (mandolin), and Albon Clevenger (fiddle). They all dive into the music and drive it with a determined kind of soul. But what else…

GREGG WELTY COMMUNITY No Label No Number    Community, eh? Well, there’s a hot time in this old town tonight. North Carolina-born (and Pittsburgh-based) banjo picker (and medical student) Gregg Welty has followed up on his 2015 debut album Memoirwith what he bills as, “The largest collaborative bluegrass project ever recorded.” In between his studies and performing…