Reviews

BRENNEN ERNST HAD A BIG TIME TODAY Patuxent Music CD-307 There was a time when a lot of bluegrass music was this good. The banjo rolls, the busy backup fiddle, the great vocals, and a wide range of material from many sources. The pulling in of traditional nuances, putting that edgy swing into the old,…

FLASHBACK DENVER SNOW Pinecastle Records PRC 1214 Flashbackwas a J.D. Crowe & The New South release from 1994 which featured Richard Bennett, Don Rigsby, Curt Chapman, Randy Howard, and J.D. This album, along with its predecessor Foxhounds & Fiddlesfrom 2017, features Bennett, Rigsby, Chapman, and banjoist Stuart Wyrick and is an offshoot of a recent reunion…

THE DOWNTOWN MOUNTAIN BOYS HEY JOHN No Label No Number    This Washington State band has a firm grasp of the genre and the winning combination of instrumental hot licks, strong vocals, and great material. They embody that West Coast sound originally heard from bands like the Country Gazette. While no one member stands out, the…

TENNESSEE JED PIMPGRASS No Label No Number “Tennessee Jed” Fisher has put together a project of mostly original tunes that cover the gamut of bluegrass, country, R&B, and Americana. On this fifth effort, he’s gathered an impressive ensemble of stellar musicians. There’s Scott Vestal (banjo) and Todd Parks (bass) from the Sam Bush Band, Luke…

BARCELONA BLUEGRASS BAND SET LIST  Red Pig Recordings DLBI/102 From the rolling bluegrass hills of España comes the third album from the Barcelona Bluegrass Band. Set Listis a collection of covers and fan favorites from the band’s live shows. The album launches with a stirring rendition of the Earl Scruggs classic “Reuben,” spotlighting the impressive chops…

THE CABIN CREEK BOYS FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN No Label No Number The Cabin Creek Boys (and ladies) play high-energy stringband music, which they describe as old-time or sometimes simply “hillbilly.” To my ear, on some of their vocals (especially trios), they sound more like a bluegrass-styled group. On the other hand, their instrumentals are…