Reviews

ETHAN SETIAWAN FLUX No Label No Number Ethan Setiawan, a 2014 winner of the National Mandolin Championships at Winfield, Kans., is a rising star of the progressive acoustic style. Mentored by legendary mandolinist Don Stiernberg, Setiawan has produced a stirring CD of original instrumental music that sounds fresh and alive at its best. Filled with…

LEE KOTICK CIGARS AND GUITARS No Label No Number This project pulls together a group of session musicians to play a set of newer and traditional material featuring Kotick’s guitar playing. Kotick has had a friendship with the Rice family, and the first cut “Burnt Rice” is by the late Larry Rice. Jarrod Walker does…

ALLEGHENY DRIFTERS ROLLING ON No Label TAD-604 On the lovely Rolling On, Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Drifters deliver one of the most consistent, song to song albums I’ve heard. That takes a great deal of care and an ensemble with a lot of experience. On a recording with a generous 15 tracks, that is mighty impressive. It has…

WOOD BELLY SOLID GROUND No Label No Number This is Wood Belly’s debut project of original material from Aaron McCloskey (banjo), Chris Weist (mandolin), Craig Patterson (guitar), Taylor Shuck (bass), and Chris Zink (resonator guitar). The band was recognized in June 2018 at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival band contest with an award shortly after this…

WOOD & WIRE NORTH OF DESPAIR Blue Corn Music BCM 1801 Wood & Wire is based in Austin, Texas and this is their fourth project since forming in 2013. The band is Tony Kamel (guitar), Dom Fisher (bass, guitar), Trevor Smith (banjo, mandolin, organ), and Billy Bright (mandolin, mandola, guitar). They offer a blend of…

LOVE CANON COVER STORY Organic Records OR171322 Love Canon travels back in time to bring a fresh acoustic musical perspective to the pop hits of the ’80s and ’90s. Besides bandmembers Jesse Harper (lead singer/guitarist), Adam Larrabee (banjo), Andy Thacker (mandolin), Darrell Muller (bass), and Jay Starling (resonator guitar), the group is joined by Alex…