Reviews

RUDI EKSTEIN CAROLINA CHIMES Foxfire Recording No Number Blessed be the tune writers, for they shall give the pickers new things to play. Cursed be the tune writers, for they shall have a hard time getting their new tunes heard. Therefore, many composers of new bluegrass instrumentals have taken the same road followed by mandolinist…

RANGER DOUG SONGS OF THE FRONTIER Rural Rhythm RUR-1146 Old-time music was the popular music of the U.S. from about the Civil War until World War II. It was and remains a very diverse genre with many regional variations. One of those is cowboy music, the focus of this new CD from Ranger Doug Green…

BRANDON LEE ADAMS TIME THAT I WAS LEAVING Tritium Music TM180324 Adams is an interesting songwriter having written the 11 pieces here. He’s backed by talented session men as he drives through the program with ease on vocals and guitar. He comes out sounding a bit like a young Elvis with his voice ensconced in…

NEWTOWN OLD WORLD Mountain Home MH17202 This is the fourth release for this Lexington, Ky., band which consists of Kati Penn (fiddle), Jr. Williams (banjo), Aaron Ramsey (guitar), Travis Anderson (bass), and Mitchell Cannon (mandolin). The project includes song selections from Tyler Childers, Donna Hughes, and Eric Cummins, among others. Each tune is presented with…

CLAY HESS BAND JUST ANOTHER STORY Pinecastle Records PRC1216 Clay Hess has come a long way since playing guitar with Ricky Skaggs. Here, along with his current band, Hess brings a hard-driving guitar style and earnest singing to a varied set of bluegrass. They don’t break any new ground, but do put their stamp on…

BORROWED TYME BAND Bonfire Records BRC 5003 The Borrowed Tyme Band hails from Central Indiana and consists of Roger Brown (mandolin), Dan Canerday (vocals), Rick Wilson (bass), and Josh Woods (banjo). Joining the band on this project are Tony Wray (guitar), Tim Crouch (fiddle), and Dara Ray (vocals). The selections include a mix of original…