Reviews

SISTER SADIE SISTER SADIE II Pinecastle Records PRC1223    In the liner notes, the women of Sister Sadie say: “We are in a very natural state when we perform as a group. No struggle…just in tune with thought, spirit, and musical expression.” The sophomore effort from this all-female band of bluegrass superstars does not disappoint. The…

ALAN MUNDE & BILLY BRIGHT ES MI SUERTE Munde’s Child Records MCR005 Alan Munde and Billy Bright probably need no introduction to fans of instrumental bluegrass. Munde, of course, is a legend in the banjo community for his earliest work such as Sam And Alan Together Again For The First Time, his wonderful duet of fiddle…

LORRAINE JORDAN & CAROLINA ROAD TRUE GRASS AGAIN Pinecastle Records PRC1219 This recording is the follow-up to Country Grass, released over three years ago, which featured several of country music’s biggest artists. True Grass Againcontains 11 songs, all with a bluegrass flair. Following the previous model, this latest project includes guests Junior Sisk and Danny Paisley on…

DOC AND MERLE WATSON BEAR’S SONIC JOURNALS NEVER THE SAME WAY ONCE, LIVE AT THE BOARDING HOUSE, MAY 1974 Owsley Stanley Foundation No Number In 1974, Doc Watson, along with his exceptionally gifted son Merle and bass accompanist T. Michael Coleman, stood at the absolutely zenith of their music powers. Honed into a frightfully tight…

CHAD DAROU RAISING THE BAR Bell Buckle Records BBR 140 Chad Darou is a resonator guitarist originally from Florida and now resides in Pennsylvania. He also plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass. He’s performed on the Grand Ole Opryand has toured with Bill Keith, James King, The Gibson Brothers, Lonesome River Band, Del Reeves, Bill Harrell,…

JIM LAUDERDALE & ROLAND WHITE YepRoc Records YEP-2597 This recording gives us an insight into two-time Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Lauderdale’s arrival in Nashville almost forty years ago and first meeting Roland White (the Kentucky Colonels and Country Gazette). They assembled in the summer of 1979 in the basement of Earl Scruggs’ home and created this…